Immanuel Wallerstein

   

Study Questions: Address the following questions fully and completely in your own words and voice; save your answers electronically. You will see at least one of these questions on your next unit exam in which you will be asked to demonstrate that you have read and mastered the material. Prepare your answers now.  What are idiographic and nomothetic methodologies?  Which does Wallerstein consider most valid for understanding sociocultural systems? What are the functions of the Core?  The Periphery? The Semi-Periphery? Compare and contrast the two types of world-systems. How does the capitalist world-system maintain political stability?   What does Wallerstein mean by a "liberal state"? What is a hegemon? What is its life cycle? According to Wallerstein, why is the capitalist world-system about to fail? Evaluate his arguments.

Required Reading: