Structure, Culture, and History Recent Issues ta Social Theory EDITED BY SING C. CHEW, AND J. DAVID KNOTTNERUS ROWMAN & LITTLEFIELD PUBLISHERS, INC Published in the Ur by Rowman A Member of the Rowman & Publishing Gi 4720 Boston Way, Lanbar, Maryland 20706 ‘won rowmanlititild.com P.O. Box 317, Oxford OX2 9RU Copyright © 2002 by Rowman & Library of Congress Catalogi Structure, culture, and history : res and J. David Knottnerus. > on ‘Includes bibliographical references and index. SBN 08476-9836.X (cloth: alk. p 1. Social structure, 2, Cultre, 3, Social scienca Knottnerus J. David M706 $77 2002 2002007368, 9 Paradigms Bridged: , Institutional Materialism and World-Systemic Evolution se-Dunn and Thomas D. Hall Christopher CI ‘The Comparative World-Systems Perspective We have recently contributed to t research program based on a reconcept perspective for the purposes of comparing the contemporary 2 regional intersocietal systems (Chase-Dunn and Hall stems, not single societies, have always been rocessee of structural reps lobe sy 7). We contend that wor! past twelve thousand years. This ands of social science that wore brought and revisits the problem of how institu-198 (Chase-Dunn and Hell ‘been subsequently reconstituted. Our reconceptualizaton of world-systems con- cepts is obviously indebted to those who created the world-systems perspective. It also draws on tho work of many other thinkers who have studied processes of long-term social evolution.' Debra Straussfogel (1998) suggests that our model is congruent with discussions of self-organizing di by complexity theorists. Once we have sketched our approach and model, we ‘ill return to this discussion, and indicate what additional insights, suggest and questions it generates. Institutional Materialism inary sources of inspi ‘our formulation bridges many disciplinary chasms. The term we now use for our general ap- lism.” We see human social evolution as pro- to the emergence of new probl ast so far. Rather, they are problems at one level usual the basic constraints are never really overcome, ly indebted to David Wilkinson, though we nology and his meaning to some extent (see Chase-Di 133). Tt is the whole package that is new, ‘embeddeciness of economies in cultures. This does not mean thal we su to the idea that rationality was an invention of the modem world, We agree Harris and Sanderson and many anthropologists that people in economic maximizers for themselves and their families, at least in a general sense. But it is also important to note the differences, constructions 199 al societies. Here n Friedman (1994), hesis of semiperipheral developme locations for the emergence ‘This i th systems are the most impor Thus, the uoits of analysis to v hese are defined as networks of incorporated the late tern casa re cased by te main proes which systemic expansion hear Aevelopnent are explained as connauences shoe se changes intensify population gro th each “iteration” the proves repeats seal. The positive amos fgue 91 variable leads to an increase in the second vari arrows indicate that an intese fn the fi toy cxpand hat an nae nef second variable [negative feedback], Stret Sega arable [negative fesdback) Stengih of eff model describes the history ofall wor ‘Many have goten sic et one level of hierarchy foomaron or eae lopment. Our model accounts for those istances in which hierarchy form and tchnoogical development ecure. We do nei tae a tem evolved in rectly the same way Rater We hold dt he ee grctercomplenity and hierarchy and nev technologies da eee ver, flowing Hern elm ha ree especialy by premodern methods was days coats neParadigms ‘Chase-Dunn and Hall 201 200 Figure 9.1 Iteration Model ferentially desirable dependi ogi people have preferred to live in the way Pressure ot other push factors can technologies in order to occupy new lands. Si ities and differences in technology, social ves between current occupants and migrants fechnique that can increase the pro- id (such as horticulture ove 2), they may be able to for a share of the expanded mn increases the likelihood of Pressure because the lack ‘occupation the only alternative, despite higher costs ns can lend to several different kinds of warfare, but also to in- etal struggles and conflicts (ciyil war, class reduce Popul people die. Some systems become mired in a vi ir forms of confi regulator, e.g. the Marquesas Islands (Kit that such eyeing in people fended to ease sich ret proved. Given tha weather i eel Both ap and downswing hen Andeson (199) show hi un froth will exed the carying capacity ofthe envi EEetoogy te thr shows that with sorag capcts offs sons only takes af Comes, nly two) bad years to preci dovwnvad presses. : Population Growth Yes to Intensification, defined by Marvin met of mere sol ate, ners, of eet sation of production leads to Environme it best exer and ‘ctvity modi the envionment. Topher I - o a sts for the produc 7 bec the feed more peopl, hunters must tavel fret because te game ewes fo home become’ exhasid. Ths he an eto of Engin ome e ghen sent of fv x, Soe ens eh cto depletion han ees (eg sh compared fog a2), ‘aly euneseventual rig ast, Ot pes oF ernment! dpraaon tv dur the sae effets of prodeton, sich a he buldop of wastes and pol Intion of water sores, These also increase the cots of contined prod ns a citcumseribed situat l be the locus of the emer fan (1986) conte nomy and equality-—if they can, But ‘exhaustion from may make a new level accept a king than chiefs, and emperors) emerged from resistance to centralized power. This of those who hold to the funct ym the usual portrayal . The world-system the newly emergent mm regions that have been semiperipheral. This is because semiperipheral actors are unusually a assemble effective campaigns for erecting new levels of hierarchy. This may involve both innovations in the “techniques of power" and innovations in pro- ductive technology (Technological Change). Newly emergent elites often im- plement new production technologies as well as new wayes of intensification ‘This, along with the more peaceful rogulation of access to resources organized by the new ates the conditions for a new round of Population Growth, climatic fluctuations, and in tum int As long as new lands are 2 Migration. This is why humans poy ve Cpamsrption (Cars 1970) occurs when the css flavin ihe‘Chase-Dunn and Hall 202 Short-Cutting: How Institutional Inventions Modified the Iteration Model al be basic problms produced tmoda, The model played ‘changes in hierarchies that leads through Migré Secondary tate fomation lon shorts the proves athe Bottom of Figure Figure 9.2 Effects of Population Pressure ou Hierarchy Formation and ‘Technological Change Paradigms Bridged aos ‘means that once states fare present in-a region, a much lower level of intensity wi tion of new states. Phrased alternatively, first inventions and cost more than diffusion of alread form is developed, it tends to spread conditions are approximate! the new form does not spread, or have very differ State fe ‘changes in technology. The specialized organizations racies and armies) sometimes use their powers and of invent new kinds of productive efficiency and to im duction. Governing elites sometimes projects, clearing new tand for agricultu and so forth, The port logically moribund is isunderstanding resides ‘muich more powerful teridency in capt ize technology. But compared to eat iary empires increased the rate of tech ‘mented thei across vast areas, for instance roads, The emergence of market forces produced by population press and technological change, Obviously mar and to develop cheaper sul sources. But markots and cay ‘mation occurs. Once eapit fom of regional core states, the sequ empires is replaced by the rise and fal hegemonic power is based as much on et of core commodities as on superior mi more directly respond fo the changing, by ecological degradation and po Again, cor not eliminated, duce new levels of based less on is is tue, there are good rea- round of world war among core states might well rove to be fatal for the human species. B the formation ofa global state that would outlaw warfare, ainted by Warren Wagar (1999, 1991 msmits population hierarchy formation process, ereating incentives gence of global governance.208 ‘Chase-Duon and Hall ism in the late nineteenth and twent of population pressure by producing th ‘countries. Marvin Ha the consequence of the concurrence and revolution, the job revolution, and the co ising wages and then a decrease in fertility and family size, These changes lower population pressure in the core countries and, able on a world scale, population pressure mi of social change. As Harris argues, the demographic transition in the core s since the latter quarter ofthe nineteenth century was due to conditions that be difficult or impossible tor Hiartis contends that average ‘until the last quarter of the: dratiff wave and the long cycles of pri Hackett Fischer (1996), Fischer its evidence of rising wages and returns to labor throughout the nineteenth century ‘was produced by a combination of rising wages wi sive and effective methods of birt control and the tmultiptied geometrically the amount of energy 1994)}, Harris also emphasizes that tbese concurrent and intersctive “revolt ‘were probably a bubbie rather than the early stages ofa global transcendence of Population pressure. The non-renewable charac ion/equilibrium studied by David ie best expert projections of proven niques and current consumption levels are around seventy yes ‘much time in the perspective of human social evolution, is isto say that the current system has probably not permanently tran scended the nasty bottom part of the iteration model. As did states, capitalism has allowed ber of people on Earth to increase great duced the tantalizing possi ‘has been brought under control, sition to peripheral countries, or rather to reduce ity, has resulted in population pressure on a scal der such circumstances a rotum to some new ¥ seem to be likely. 1s this iteration model testable? In principle, yes—but not with existing data. In Rise and Demise (Chase-Dunn and Hall 1997) we began a study of bounded ‘world-systems over long time periods, but we have few cases. This problem ‘ight be overcome by time series analyses on individual world-systems. Also, it reserves with eu lity after reducing mortal- seater than ever before. Un- the nasty route would Poradigms Bridged 203 study as many separate systems as possible in order to see tems, ransformations, may seein far and states, and the roles of may point to deeper understandings of idicates how and why cl ic fluctuations may trigger or cat various processes beyor in a different way, That tion of new forms of soc We note that such sol Dasis. That ly adopted on a satisficing, not an op- viable solution encountered or developed is toward optimal solutions. A. seini« refers to social group, not individuals) le secondary formations of new types of tes, or empires—often lerarchies—sccondary chiefdoms, original type. This is why after an eve riod of eycles with gradual petfection, y change (See figure 9:3 however, raises another puzzle: Why do cyclical processes stems, even though of very different kinds? And why hange interrupted by much more dramatic is puzzle may be found in the new theories Figure 9.3 Stalr-step with Imposed Cycles Form of Social Change Chiettioms206 ‘Chase-Dunn and Hall ‘Complexity, Chaos, and Cycles Debra Straussfogel (19978, 19976, 1997c, 1998) summarizes tlya Prigogine's be contingent on the specific con words history matters (Straussfogel 1998; model os ‘ber of minor fluctuations atthe time of a tra system to emerge fror terms of what type of wi jevelopmental change. ads owe form of eganizatin she aussfogel 1998:20-21), She goes on to observe ‘that an eal ‘model (Chase-Dunn and Hall 1993, 1994) imp iy reognzed these wo yes of change: developmental and exciton, In terms of the current iteration of the model, figure 9.1 represents the develop Paradigms Bridged 207 ry form. If we follow this complex ternal oscillation that grows disturbance of wary change. As hit is ii. colt to predict ex system shape nge. Straussfogel argues that the existen ld be testable empirically by examining specific tran make precise predictions does not vi istributions of the results of evot . is from kin-ordered to tributary ‘of accumulation ‘are so many different types of tributary modes, which ily resemblance” (Chase-Dunn and generating pr hhave been repeated s use “a particular sequence ad to happen” (Straussfoge! 19976: igh evolutionary, disposes of tovalizing the ‘most cataclysmic moments in human history. what ite possibly the least likely thing to occur. We there challenge any type of ‘cer fogel 1998:25), y did occur was 1OW have a basis to syst Rather, in these terms, solution to over specifically the more decentralized, leave this ibutary systems, s. For the moment we must that the emergence of the rest ofthe world was singularly unlucky}—people do win loteen [This model of change can be combined with Tainter's (198 collapse to help explain how cur model wor ‘other possibilities of severe system overload is 1999) model of As Taintor shows, one of the lapse. What is not clear in the208 (Chase-Dunn and Hall least strongly modify, the developmental-evolutionary modelo failures to reorganize which collapsed back to an increment ae increment) system. If the late instances of system disturbance to study. Most tionary change, only a few. This is why the ts, along, by Cheistopher Chase-Di Press and re ate can precipitate or catalyze sometimes diat changes, The climate change can be any of several secular trends; dropping below, ofr Tength of frost free season; a’sigi increases the likelihood of exceeding an envi Jong to prompt evolutionary change or collapse; [comet or voleanic eruption)" ard Lensk AburLughod (1987, d 988, 1991, 19, 195%, 1993 by Richard Blanton (19 stan ‘We do not mean to imply that ecological or nuclear dooms a 1977), Eaward But we do think they are unacceptably probable. Because ofthe ims suman, ftagedy that is likely to accompany future core wats or global ecological di ter, we must educate the citizens of the world about how the ‘evolution work, and we must organize the pol the capitalist world-system in order to. prever also prepare for the possibilty that partial dooms may ready to reshape the system of survivor tional global commonwealth that {global ecosystem, and regulate popul technological diferent 10s cases the incoming group ext incorporating them, and Mann 1998), snd in many oth te Cireumse Northern California the word Acknowledgment This chapter combines two earlier papers, presented in the session on “Macro- Historical Dynamics: Bridging Paradigms,” at the annual meeting of the Social210 (Chase-Dunn and Hall on only one of many ways in which humen agency and specifi historical conditions center this general proces the ninetoenth century. 17. For more detailed discussion ofthese point se’ 8. Fora recent References Anderson, David G, 1994, The Savannah River Chieflome: Politeal Change th the Late Prehistorle Southeast. Tuscaloosa, Als: University of Alabama Pross. Abu-Lughod, Janet I. Money, Power and the Origins of Blanton, Richard E., Stephen A. Kowalewski, and Gay Felnmen, 1992. “The ‘Mesoamerican World-Sys ns of Agricultural Growth. Chicago: Aldine 1981. Population and Technological Charge. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Femand. 1979. The Perspective of » Robert L. 1970, "A Theory of th Boserup, Anthropol ‘by Ronald Cohen and Elman R, Service. Phi York: Cambridge. ‘Chase-Dunn, Christopher and Thomas D. cepts and Working Hypotheses,” Soclal Forces —— =, 1994, “The Historical Evolution of World-Systems." Sociological Inquiry ‘64:257-280, ——. 1997. Rise and Demise: Comparing World-Systems. Boulder, Colo: Westview Press ‘Chase-Dunn, Christopher and Kelly M. Mann. 1998, Dhe Win anid Their Nelghbors: Very Small World-System in Northern California. Tueson: University of Arizona Press ‘Coben, Mark, 1977. The Food Crisis in Prehistory, New Haven: Yale University Press “Comparing World-Systoms: Con- 6. Paradigms Bridged an Rendall. 1978. “Some Principles of Long-term So of Stes.” Pp.l-34 in Research ‘The Territorial ns and Change, of States.” Pp, 71- ins, New York: Academic. ie World-Systems of Kinship-Based and 15:373-88, Trae in World History. Cambridge: Cambridge ‘and Dynamics of Anthropology.” Pp, 61- by Leonard Blusse, H. , Wessel for the History of European Expansion, Leyte 16 in History and Underdevelopment, edited by L, Blusss, H. L. Wesseling and G. D. Leyden: Centr for he History of European Expansion, Leyden Feinman, Gary. My ard Linda, M. Ni sv Periphery.” Pp. 240.76 elatlons in Precaph ted by Christopher Chase-Dunn ‘and Thomas D. Hall. Boulder, Colo. Westview ing Sucre of Macspal Mesoanca” Jounal 2:7, . ket, 1996, The Great Wave: Price Revolutions and the Rlythm of aptalism, Socialism,” Cri- Asia, Amsterdam: VU University Press for , Comparative Asi ics No8. ‘and its Cycles.” Current Anthropology ystem in Asia before European Hegemony.” The Systom Revisited: Rereading B: w and World-Systems: Two Appre ted by Stephen K. Sanderson. Wi Frank, Ande Gunes and Bary Gls. 1993, The World stem: 500 o 00 Year? Leadon Routledge Fed, Morton 1952 "Land Tenure, Geography a ean Fura of Cena abo The Evalton of In Poltialdnhrepolg sw York: Random House. nf = 1975. The Notion of Tribe, Menlo Park, Calit: Cummings. logy in the Contact of Cultures.” sal Society: An E202 ‘Chase-Dunn an Hall Paradigms Bridged | New York: Doubled ‘of Chicago of Global Sys- of Selthood in System” Pp, 39-50 ia and Gary M, Feinman. Pre-Colunbian World Sy Madison: Prehistory Press, e, EA. and Shela Hopkins. 1956, “Seven Centuries of the Pries of Con- Johnson, Allen W. and Timothy Earle, 1987 Foraging Grow to Agrarian State. Staforé Stanford Univers “Lessons fom the Nonlinear Peradigm: Appl cal and Economie Origins of ime.” Pp, 12-26 in Trade and Pearson. Chicago: Regnery, 1977. The Livelihood of Man, edited by Harry W. Pearson, New York: Acie demi Press, ‘onrad M. Arensberg, and Harry W. Pearson (eds). 1957, Trade and Early Empires. Chicago: Regnery. 1. 1997. The End of Certainy: Time, Chaos, and the New Laws of Nature, ‘The Free Press ngers. 1984, Order ow of Chaos. New York: Bantam Boo hacology and Language: The Puzzle of Indo-European Cape. hn F. Cheny, eds. 1986. Peer Polity Interact idge: Cambridge University Press, “The Segmentary Lineage: An Organization of Predatory Exe n Anthropologist 63 322-45. 3 Man, Rich Man, Big-Man, Chief: Politeal Types in Mefenesia and Polynesia” Compar ands, Mo- ty Press Pp, 163 in Chief Prigogin, Rents, CCenire and Periph ed by Jean Gottmann, Beverly Hills, Calif Lenski, Gethard, 1966, Power and Privilege. New York: MeGir <=" 1976, “History and Social Changs." American lournal of Sociology’ 82:548-64, Mann, Michael. 986. Sources of Social Power, Volume 1. Cambridge: Cambridge Uni- West: A History of the Human Community,‘Social Tranef 4 ‘expanded ed, Lanham, Md: Rowman Blackwell). Schneider, Jane. 1977. “Was There a Pre-cap 3-29. (Reprinted pp. 45-65 in Core/Per edited by Christopher Chase-Dunn and Th Prehistory.” Pp. 37-95 in Advances ‘New York: Academie Press. es. Between Temperate ‘nal of European Archacelogy |: 1993. 1991. "From Luxuries of Mediterranean Bronze Age Trading Systems.” Studies 1 ology Volume 90, Bronze Age Trade in the Mediterranean, N. Paul Astroms Forlag ‘Toward a Heuristic and Pedag > Avmals of the jon to the Continuation: 1999, “Post Collapse Societies.” Pp. 988 Archaeology, edited by Graeme Barker. London 19 in Companion Eneyclapedia of eee. Paradigms Bridged Petes. 1996. The Way ‘passe. New York: foha Wi ‘Thompson, William R. 199 the Pelopoanes International Political Econ UK; Edwerd Elgar ¥. Warren, 1999. 4 Short History of the ago Press, ion of the rom, Volume 1 Chase-Dama, Al Sed ed. Chicago: University of Capitatist Gemparatve Srdies i Society and ise Agriculture and the tenth Century. New York: Acae 8b, “The Quality of Li Pp. 147-58 in The i. Cam Social Systems: The Model and the Worl eonony, edited by Irimanel volution." Journal of WorldSystms 'mparative Civilizations Review 1731-Chase-Duna and Hall 221-46 in 10 Ecology in Command Sing C. Chew In the socisl and historical sciences, especially in the field of world systems analysis, studies of historical structures and processes over the long-term and large scale have been undertaken quite extensively for the last three docades. ‘The delineation of these structures and processes (the process of the aecumul- tion of capital, core-periphery relations, economic/political cycles) of the world m/s has provided some coherence to our understanding of long-term social change. What is missing fro —perhaps with the exception of the work of Femand Br 1984) and the Annales School and the recent Dunn and Hall (1997}-—is a consideration of relations between Culture and Nature, and how these relations impact on long-term social change. ‘The absence of such consider cial change based on anthropoc seen in the works of some of the main propones as Imianuel Wallerstein (1974) and Samir pocentrc explanations of transformations and long-term social change of Wal- lerstein to the recent works of Andre Gunder Frank (1992, 198), we find ‘ourselves looking for some possible resolution towards understanding long-term transformation. In the ease of Gunder Frank—who has asserted that the world system that we kiow of might have a longer history than originally envisaged (Perhaps 5,000 years old)—the question of transformation of Gomes ble. if we age with Frank's hss that an veStructure, Culture, and History Recent Issues in Social Theory EDITED BY SING C. CHEW AND J. DAVID KNOTTNERUS ROWMAN & LITTLEFIELD PUBLISHERS, INC. Preface Part I. Structural Anal Past, Present, a L, History of Social Structural Analysis Charles Crothers 2. Social Structure: The Future ofa Concept Douglas ¥.Porpora Part IL Cuiture and Social Strueture 3. How Ate Structures Meaningful? Cultaral Socfology and ‘theories of Structure Lyn Spiliman 4, Ageney, Structure, and Deritualica ‘of Extreme Disruptions of Social Order J. David Knottnerus 5. Global Power, Hegemonic Decline, and Cul Albert J. Bergesen 6._Situating Hybridity: The Positional Logics of « Discourse Jonathan Friedman A Comparative investigation tees Part IH, Bistory and Social Structure 7. A Structural Theory of the Five Thousand Year World System Barry K, Gills and Andre Gunder Frank mary Pulsations ia the World System George Modelski and William R. Thompson 8. By 43 8 85 107 125 i” 197 a to Social Structures of 231 Simpson and Davie Willer Part IV, Micro and Macro Structures: Interactions and Organiay 257 am 303 323 341 ions 343