Inter-Societal Dynamics: Toward a General Theory

✍ Scribed by Jonathan H. Turner, Anthony J. Roberts

• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 2023
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 260
• Series: Emerging Globalities and Civilizational Perspectives
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

This book by Jonathan Turner and Anthony Roberts proposes a new theoretical approach for explaining the dynamics of inter-societal systems. The authors argue that inter-societal systems have existed since the beginning of human societies and the dynamics of these systems are a fundamental property of the social universe. However, while world-systems analysis has emphasized this latter point, the authors argue the reluctance to theorize complex abstract models and systems of explanatory propositions on the dynamics driving inter-societal systems hinders scientific explanation of inter-societal dynamics. In this context, the authors critically look at contemporary theorizing and review key theories that have been developed to explain geo-economic, geo-political, and geo-cultural dynamics, from the classic period through present-day world-systems analysis and cliometrics. The book summarizes these theories clearly, emphasizing their strengths and weakness, finally developing a theoretical synthesis through new models and propositions on the dynamics of premodern and modern inter-societal systems.

Professor Turner’s decades of experience writing theory books for undergraduates have ensured that this book presents abstract ideas clearly and with examples so that students can understand the arguments. This book is a must-read for all social theory researchers, academics, serious undergraduate students, graduate students, and interested laypersons.

✦ Table of Contents

Preface
Contents
List of Figures
List of Tables
1 Fundamental Properties of Societies
1.1 The Fundamental Properties of Human Societies
1.2 Social Structures in Societies
1.2.1 Institutional Domains in Human Societies
1.2.2 Stratification Systems in Human Societies
1.3 Cultural Structures in Societies
1.4 Infrastructures in Societies
1.4.1 A Model of Infrastructural Dynamics
1.4.2 Impacts of Infrastructure on Societal and Inter-societal Dynamics
1.5 Societal and Inter-Societal Systems
References
2 Current Theorizing of Inter-Societal Dynamics: Origins and Critiques
2.1 Immanuel Wallerstein’s and World-Systems Analysis
2.2 The Evolution of the Modern World-System
2.3 The Theoretical Roots of World-System Analysis
2.3.1 Imperialism and Capitalism as a Global System
2.3.2 Dependency Theory and Unequal Exchange
2.3.3 Exchange Theorizing in Sociology
2.4 The Limitations of World-Systems Analysis
2.4.1 Descriptive Theorizing
2.4.2 The Marxist Ideology of World-Systems Analysis
2.4.3 The Return to Marxism: William Robison’s Critique of World-Systems Analysis
2.4.4 The Absence of Geo-Cultural Dynamics
2.4.5 Scope Conditions and Pre-modern Inter-Societal Systems
2.4.6 The Predictive Power of World-Systems Analysis
2.5 From the Beginning: The Pervasiveness of Inter-Societal Relations
2.5.1 The Beginnings of Geo-Economic Relations
2.5.2 The Evolution of Markets and Money
2.5.3 The Beginnings of Geo-Political Relations
2.5.4 The Basis of Power
2.6 Conclusion
References
3 Key Ideas for Building a Scientific Theory of Inter-Societal Dynamics
3.1 Two Early Theoretical Approaches
3.1.1 Herbert Spencer
3.1.2 Ibin Khaldun
3.2 Contemporary Theoretical Approaches
3.2.1 Peter Turchin
3.2.2 Christopher Chase-Dunn and Colleagues
3.2.3 Randall Collins on the Dynamics of Geo-Political Inter-Societal Systems
3.2.4 Fernand Braudel and Randall Collins on Markets
3.2.5 Jack Goldstone on State Breakdown
3.2.6 Ecological Theories and Inter-Societal Dynamics
3.2.7 World Society Theory and Geo-Cultural Dynamics
3.3 Conclusion
References
4 Scientific Theorizing of Inter-Societal Dynamics
4.1 Developing Scientific Explanations of Inter-Societal Systems
4.1.1 Fundamental Properties of Inter-Societal Dynamics
4.1.2 A Typology of Inter-Societal Patterns
4.1.3 A Strategy for Developing Scientific Theories
4.2 Conclusion
References
5 Geo-Political Dynamics
5.1 The Evolution of Polity
5.1.1 Consolidating Bases of Power
5.1.2 Centralizing Bases of Power
5.1.3 Bases of Power in Geo-Political Dynamics
5.1.4 A Model of Power Consolidation and Centralization
5.2 Expansion Through Warfare: The Intersection of Geo-Economic and Geo-Political Dynamics
5.3 Success and Failure in Geo-Political Actions
5.3.1 A Model of Geo-Political Dynamics
5.4 Strategies of Domination, Point of Over-Extension, and Collapse of Geo-Political Systems
5.4.1 Mutual Defense Pacts
5.4.2 Kin-Based Geo-Political Formations
5.4.3 “Plantation” Geo-Economic Systems and Power Use
5.4.4 Tributary Patterns of Geo-Political Inter-Societal Systems
5.4.5 Colonial Patterns in Geo-Political Inter-Societal Systems
5.4.6 Geo-Political Inter-Societal Systems and the Emergence of Capitalism
5.5 Additional Theoretical Principles
5.5.1 Success and Size of Geo-Political Expansion
5.5.2 Duration and Stability of Geo-Political Systems
5.6 Conclusion
References
6 Geo-Economic Dynamics
6.1 Reconceptualizing the Economy
6.1.1 Technology
6.1.2 Physical Capital
6.1.3 Human Capital
6.1.4 Transactional Capital
6.1.5 Property
6.1.6 Structural Formations
6.1.7 Cultural Formations
6.2 Models and Principles of Geo-Economic Dynamics
6.2.1 Basic Economic Forces
6.2.2 Dependency in Geo-Economic Relations
6.2.3 Modern Patterns of Geo-Economic Relations
6.2.4 Modeling Recent Trends in Geo-Economic Inter-Societal Systems
6.2.5 Additional Theoretical Propositions on Geo-Economic Systems
6.3 Conclusion
References
7 Geo-Cultural Dynamics
7.1 Drivers of Geo-Cultural Dynamics
7.1.1 Proximity and Language
7.1.2 Diffusion of Geo-Cultural Formations
7.1.3 Structural and Cultural Equivalences
7.1.4 Infrastructural Equivalence
7.1.5 Market Development and Exchange
7.1.6 Political Domination and Culture
7.1.7 Economic Domination and Culture
7.2 A General Model of Geo-Cultural Dynamics
7.2.1 Explanatory Principles on Geo-Cultural Inter-societal Systems
7.3 The Interplay of Geo-Cultural, Political, and Economic Dynamics
7.3.1 Geo-Political Strategies of Domination and Institutional Change
7.3.2 Geo-Economic Strategies of Domination and Institutional Change
7.3.3 Structural and Cultural Equivalences
7.4 Conclusions
References
Epilogue
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The Invasion of Ukraine and Tension Between Geo-Political and Geo-Economic Forces
The Limitations of Prediction
Bibliography