World-Systems Analysis

World-systems analysis, previously known as world-system theory, is a broad approach to the interactions and interrelations among various societies. It was first developed by sociologist Immanuel Wallerstein in an attempt to explain why some countries developed and others either did not or did so much more slowly. Wallerstein drew heavily from the work of the Annales school in France, especially the work of Fernand Braudel. In the intervening three and a half decades, [Page 1537]many scholars from all the social sciences have contributed to and critiqued this perspective. This entry begins with a few cautions then turns to a discussion of key terms. Then, it briefly outlines later elaborations. Throughout, there is an emphasis on how world-systems analysis relates to consumer culture.

Some initial caveats are in order before turning to basic definitions. First, as Wallerstein himself argues, the world in world-system means self-contained. The modern world-system became truly global only in the nineteenth century. Second, a world-system is a fundamental unit of analysis, not simply a system of connected states. Third, it seeks to explain both how the overall system shapes its various components—states, ethnic groups, regions, and so on—and how those components shape the overall world-system. The claim that the world-system is a fundamental unit of analysis means that it serves as a context for understanding interactions among its various components. It does not mean that it is only a top-down analytic approach. It can also be a bottom-up approach. Indeed, a key idea here is the interaction or interplay between local-level processes and systemwide processes. Fourth, it is an intellectual approach that has given rise to many theories, some of them contradictory, hence it is best referred to as world-systems analysis, or a world-systems perspective. Fifth, the modern world-system originated in Western Europe in the “long sixteenth century,” 1450 to 1640. Sixth, the modern world-system has a specific historical origin. This raises questions of what preceded it, and how it did arise. Several scholars suggest that there have been many different world-systems, which is why the term system takes the plural in world-systems analysis.