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A Structural Theory of the 5,000-Year World System

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Theory and Methodology of World Development

Part of the book series: The Evolutionary Processes in World Politics Series ((EPWP))

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Abstract

Our thesis has been articulated in several articles and was outlined in our book, The World System: Five Hundred Years or Five Thousand? (Frank and Gills, 1993). Its main theoretical premises are as follows: (1) The existence and development of the world system that stretches back not just for 500 years but for 5,000 years; (2) The (political) world economy is a world system; (3) The process of capital accumulation is the motor force of (world-system) history; (4) The center-periphery structure is one of the characteristics of the world (system); (5) The world system is depicted by hegemony and rivalry of political power although system wide hegemony has been rare or nonexistent; (6) Long economic cycles of alternating, ascending phases and descending phases underlie economic growth of the world system.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Humboldt State University, USA

    Sing C. Chew (Professor, Senior Research Scientist)

  2. Department of Urban and Environmental Sociology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, Leipzig, Germany

    Sing C. Chew (Professor, Senior Research Scientist)

  3. Arizona State University, USA

    Pat Lauderdale (Professor of Justice)

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  1. Sing C. Chew
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Humboldt State University, USA

    Sing C. Chew (Professor, Senior Research Scientist) (Professor, Senior Research Scientist)

  2. Department of Urban and Environmental Sociology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, Leipzig, Germany

    Sing C. Chew (Professor, Senior Research Scientist) (Professor, Senior Research Scientist)

  3. Arizona State University, USA

    Pat Lauderdale (Professor of Justice) (Professor of Justice)

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© 2010 Sing C. Chew and Pat Lauderdale

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Chew, S.C., Lauderdale, P. (2010). A Structural Theory of the 5,000-Year World System. In: Chew, S.C., Lauderdale, P. (eds) Theory and Methodology of World Development. The Evolutionary Processes in World Politics Series. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230108509_4

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