In this short, highly readable highly readable book Immanuel Wallerstein provides a condensation of the central ideas of his monumental study of capitalism as an integrated, historical entity: The Modern World System. In developing an anatomy of capitalism over the past five centuries, Wallerstein traces those elements that have constantly changed and evolved, while giving equal attention to features of historical capitalism that have necessarily remained constant. Particular attention is paid to the emergence and development of a unified world market, and the concomitant international division of labour. He argues forcefully, against the current of much contemporary opinion, that capitalism has brought about an actual, not merely a relative, immiseration in the countries of the Third World. The economic and social problems of underdeveloped countries will remain unresolved countries will remain unresolved as long as they remain unresolved as long as they remain located within a framework of world capitalism. Historical Capitalism with its continuation Capitalist Civilization, is a stimulating synthesis of one of the most challenging and influential assessments of capitalism as a world-historic mode of production.

Author Biography

Immanuel Wallerstein is director of the Fernand Braudel Center for the Study of Economies, Historical Systems, and Civilisations at Binghamton University.