World-systems analysis emerged in the early seventies as a new approach to research on long-term social change. In this chapter, I will try to discuss the evolutionary, comparative-historical approach on world-systems analysis developed by the American sociologist Chris Chase-Dunn and his collaborators, among whom the American anthropologist Thomas D. Hall has perhaps played a major role. Chase-Dunn’s perspective, institutional materialism, compares the modern capitalist world-economy, emerged during the 16th century, with earlier social systems. This comparison allows to identify patterns of reproduction and transformation that occur in all the world-systems, from the simple, stateless systems of the past to the current global capitalist system. The chapter outlines the approach developed by Chase-Dunn and collaborators, in order to highlight its main features and its usefulness for the analysis of social changes in the world of today.
The Historical Sociology of Long- Term Social Change: Notes on the Contribution of Christopher Chase- Dunn to World- System Analysis
Domenico Maddaloni
2023
Abstract
World-systems analysis emerged in the early seventies as a new approach to research on long-term social change. In this chapter, I will try to discuss the evolutionary, comparative-historical approach on world-systems analysis developed by the American sociologist Chris Chase-Dunn and his collaborators, among whom the American anthropologist Thomas D. Hall has perhaps played a major role. Chase-Dunn’s perspective, institutional materialism, compares the modern capitalist world-economy, emerged during the 16th century, with earlier social systems. This comparison allows to identify patterns of reproduction and transformation that occur in all the world-systems, from the simple, stateless systems of the past to the current global capitalist system. The chapter outlines the approach developed by Chase-Dunn and collaborators, in order to highlight its main features and its usefulness for the analysis of social changes in the world of today.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.