Studying a System in Transformation

In short, world history is a history of world systems, and the two basic pillars of world systems are accumulation and hegemony-rivalry. Our world system happens to be going through restructuring and transformation. In fact, all world systems are always in a state of evolution and change. They are never static. Also, the world system … Continue reading Studying a System in Transformation →

Interlinking Hegemonic Powers

Perhaps the key to understanding current events is to understand that there has never been a single global hegemon, but rather, the world system has always been characterized by “interlinking hegemonic powers.” To borrow from one scholar: “The world system as a whole is certainly never simply dominated by one great hegemonic power, but rather … Continue reading Interlinking Hegemonic Powers →

An Asymmetry of Power

But even in matters of foreign policy and international relations, one cannot escape the issue of class, given that class pertains in large part to the issue of structure, and in the end, we are dealing with structure. As Marx and Engels wrote: “The proletariat and wealth are opposites. As such they form a whole. … Continue reading An Asymmetry of Power →

Change the Sun

Both capitalist social relations and the racism which are immanent in American foreign policy ended up creating problems for the Western system over the long run. And given that the detriment caused by both factors are so blatantly obvious, it puts the West at a psychological disadvantage vis-à-vis its adversaries. If Hamas and Hezbollah are able to … Continue reading Change the Sun →