General Systems Theory and World-Systems Analysis

This paper explores the relationship between general systems theory and world-systems analysis. General systems theory was developed by Ludwig von Bertalanffy (1950). The concept and application of world-systems analysis were developed by Immanuel Wallerstein (1979).

The findings of the exploration of the relationship between general systems theory and world-systems analysis are presented in four discussions. The initial discussion reviews general systems theory. The following two discussions review world-systems analysis (a) as conceived by Wallerstein (2005) and (b) as interpreted by Taylor (1993). The final discussion provides concluding remarks concerning the relationship between general systems theory and world-systems analysis.

General Systems Theory: von Bertalanffy

In relation to general systems theory, Juarrero and Rubino (2008) noted that, "Bertalanffy explicitly acknowledges the role that interactions among components play in producing organized complexity" (p. 103). Importantly also, Juarrero and Rubino (2008) brought to the attention of readers the conclusion drawn by Bertalanffy that all living systems are characterized by a, "tendency to reach the same final state despite tracing very different trajectories" (p. 103). Within the context of these ideas, von Bertalanffy (1950) contended that in order to understand and to assess a system it is necessary to view the system from a holistic perspective, as oppos

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am Western economists and political scientists. The kindest rejections were those that viewed him as a more or less harmless and out of touch leftist, liberal, socialist, or whatever designation came to mind. The worst denunciations considered his ideas to be dangerous to the health of society, and considered his arguments to be a support for an unrealizable Marxist utopia (Savchenko, 2007). The growing problems with the global economic system and the global financial system that have been evident throughout the first decade of the 21 century, however, have persuaded some mainstream economists and political scientists that Wallerstein's (2005) world-systems analysis deserves another and a closer look (Eckhard, 2005/2006; Smith, 2005). World-Systems Analysis: Taylor Taylor's (1993) perceptions of world-systems analysis are necessarily dated. Dated perspectives are not always a bad thing; however, the rapid transitions that have occurred in the global economic system and the global political system since 1993mean that Taylor's (1993) views much be considered within the context of changed and changing global environments. Taylor (1993) stated, however that, "global concerns are by no means a new theme" for politic

Category: Economics - S