Ascent and decline in the World-System / edited by Edward Friedman

The intent of this series of annuals is to reflect and inform the intense theoretical and empirical debates about the "political economy of the world-system. These debates assume that the phenomena of the real world cannot be separated into three (or more) categories-political, eco nomic, and social-which can be studied by different methods and in close spheres. The my is "institutionally" rooted; the polity is the expression of socioeconomic forces; and "societal" structures are a conse quence of politico-economic pressures. The phrase "world-system" also tells us that we believe there is a working social system larger than any state whose operations are themselves a focus of social analysis. How states. and parties, firms and classes, status groups and social institutions operate within the framework and constraints of the world-system is precisely what is debated.

These theme-focused annuals will be the outlet for original theoretical and empirical findings of social scientists coming from all the traditional "disciplines." The series will draw upon papers presented at meetings and conferences, as well as papers from those who share in these concerns.