Utopistics: Or Historical Choices of the Twenty-First Century

(Paperback)

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The 20th century has witnessed both the triumphs and failures of the dreams that have informed the modern world. In this text, Immanuel Wallerstein argues that the global order that nourished those dreams is on the brink of disintegration. Pointing to the globalization of commerce, the changing nature of work and the family, the failures of traditional liberal ideology, and the danger of profound environmental crises, the founder of world-systems analysis argues that the nation-state system no longer works. The next 25 to 50 years, it is argued, will see the final breakdown of that system, and a time of great conflicts and disorder. It will also be a period in which individual and collective action will have a greater impact on the future than has been possible for 500 years.

Reviews

Praise for Immanuel Wallerstein: "Lucid, informed, and insightful." - New York Times - "Wallerstein draws on his historical erudition and formidable theoreticla powers to cast light on the ongoing transformation of our society. Even more impressive, he dares to think about the future." - Francs Fox Piven, the author (with Richard Cloward) of The Breaking of the American Social Compact - "Provocative, even profound, insights." - Contemporary Sociology

Author Bio

Immanuel Wallerstein directs the Fernad Braudel Center at Binghamton University, and teaches at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales in Paris. His many books include After Liberalism, The Modern World-System, and Historical Capitalism.