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World-Systems Theory

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The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Global Security Studies

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Definition

The world-systems theory is a fundamental unit of analysis for social evolution. Also known as world-systems analysis or the world-systems perspective, it is a multidisciplinary, macroscale approach to world history and social change. It takes up a more inclusive unit of analysis, the “world system,” which reflects a particular understanding of history and a set of questions people pose related to it. Although its intellectual origins lie on classical sociology, Marxian revolutionary theory, geopolitical strategizing, and theories of social evolution, it emerged only in the 1970s in explicit form. The most prominent figure behind the world-systems theory is the late Immanuel Wallerstein (1930–2019).

Introduction

World-systems theory or core-periphery theory is a fundamental unit of analysis for social evolution. Also known as world-systems analysis or the world-systems perspective, it is a multidisciplinary, macroscale approach to world history and social change. In...

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Notes

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of History and Civilization and Center for Turkish Studies, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an, China

    Nikos Christofis

Authors
  1. Nikos Christofis
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Correspondence to Nikos Christofis .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. International Centre for Policing and Security, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, UK

    Scott N. Romaniuk

  2. Institute for International, Political and Regional Studies, Corvinus University of Budapest, Budapest, Hungary

    Péter N. Marton

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Christofis, N. (2023). World-Systems Theory. In: Romaniuk, S.N., Marton, P.N. (eds) The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Global Security Studies. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-74319-6_372

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