Global Formation

This book is by far the most comprehensive discussion of the structure of the world-economy from the world-systems perspective. Chase-Dunn builds his theory and analyses on the earlier works of Wallerstein, Arrighi and others but takes a critically important step by emphasizing the interactions of economic, political, and military power and how they impact the structure of the world-economy and reproduce certain structural constants of the modern world-system. With all due respect to the previous reviewer affiliated with a law school--this is directly a message for you--your are wrong and your historical analysis is completely faulted. Furthermore, your critiques illustrate either your lack of understanding the text or your ignorance of history.

Christopher Chase-Dunn has performed a monumental service to academics and students alike by providing this overview of contemporary world-systems thinking. Global Formation provides a thorough discussion of current research, theory and application of the world-systems perspective. With this book, Chase-Dunn has done much to extend the importance of the social aspects of the global political-economy. The book should have a wide readership owing to the great utility the perspective has for integrating disciplines in the social sciences.