World-systems analysis
World-systems analysis
- Author
- Immanuel Wallerstein Yale University, USA
- DOI
- 10.1177/205684601311
abstract World-systems analysis is a perspective that argues that the two basic elements in scholarly social constructions are the choice of unit of analysis and of pertinent temporalities. It proposes a worldsystem as the appropriate unit of analysis, and analyzing social constructions in historical depth. However, the origin of social science disciplines must itself be explained. After 1945, the usefulness of these categories was challenged because of a changed geopolitical situation, permitting the constitution of worldsystems analysis as a recognized knowledge movement.