WORLD-SYSTEMS ANALYSIS

“People resist exploitation. They resist as actively as they can, as passively as they must.” ~ Immanuel Wallerstein

World-Systems Analysis was first published in 2004. The author has a 2013 publication of another book with the same subject titled: “Uncertain Worlds: World-Systems Analysis in Changing Times”. The former book is discussed here, that delves into many important and must-know topics with regards to the world-system, which has marked this book as a classic. In fact, the author touches upon so many important areas in less than hundred pages that cause a summary review turn out to be an arduous task. The book starts with the following sentence: “WORLD-SYSTEM ANALYSIS originated in the early 1970s as a new perspective on social reality,(P.1) however it stems from earlier works of scientists and philosophers: “When Laplace in the beginning of the nineteenth century wrote a book on the origins of the solar system, Napoleon, to whom he presented the book, noted that Laplace had not mentioned God once in his very thick book. Laplace replied: ‘I have no need of hypothesis, Sire’,”(P.2). Classification of World-System into a certain academic branch is the next subject discussed; stressing that whether subject of study is categorized as science or as philosophy had evolved throughout centuries: “in the late eighteenth century, there occurred what some now call the ‘divorce’ between philosophy and science,”(P.2). 

MILITARY- The Prince

“It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both.” ~ Niccolò Machiavelli

“The victor will never be asked if he told the truth.” ~ Adolph Hitler

In order to survive, primitive man had to use his strength to overcome hunger and other basic needs. He fought over small rations he could find, until he realized that hunting in a group and as a team could achieve better results. Cooperation meant sharing the spoil equally. However, there were those who were not able to join the hunt and needed a share, and that was the beginning of altruism. As man evolved, so did his brain. To facilitate hunting they made tools. This, coupled with agriculture (planting seed and growing and harvesting crops) put human being one-step above animals. After many wars, leaders discovered that they could enslave prisoners of war (instead of exterminating them) and exploit slaves’ labor for their own benefits. Hence, slavery became another reason for wars, resulting subjugation of captured warriors. As societies developed into civilizations, wars became a tool for ambitious leaders in order to expand their empire and benefit toil of others. In the advent of a big empire such as Iran, Greece, or Rome, the necessity of having a regular army was envisaged. In order to recruit people into such armies, patriotism (regarding the government or the king, not necessarily the populous) was encouraged. Although the military was characterized to exist for defense of the mother nation, it has always been utilized for attacking weaker nations when opportunity arose. Ordinary people were still against wars, but they had no choice when the dictator forced them to join his army. Afterwards, in addition to nationalism, governments found separation and division (race, religion, creed, and even sexual preferences) combined with propaganda, as suitable tools to persuade people into acquiescence. When there was no enemy, it became necessary to create one.