Andre Gunder Frank

Macrosociological Theory and the World System Syllabus

GRADUATE SEMINAR PROPOSAL
Department of Sociology
University of Toronto
Sept.- Dec. 1996
Instructor: Andre Gunder Frank
Area: Macrosociology, Political Institutions and the State
Course: 6005/6105 Social Change and Development I or II
Content: Macrosociological Theory and the World System

PRINCIPAL BIBLIOGRAPHY

• F. Braudel - The Perspective of the World 1982
• I. Wallerstein - The Modern World-System 1974-89
• Shannon - Introduction to World-System Perspective 1989
• S. Sanderson, Ed. - Civilizations and World Systems: Two Approaches to the Study of World Historical Change 1995
• A.G. Frank & B.K. Gills, Eds - The World System: Five Hundred Years or Five Thousand? 1993

MAIN TOPICS AND READINGS

1. Classical Social Theory on the Rise of the West and Capitalism
   E.L. Jones - The European Miracle [a contemporary summary]
   K. Marx - Selections
   M. Weber - Protestant Ethic and Spirit of Capitalism, etc.
   K. Polanyi - The Great Transformation
   Tawney, Sombart, Sorokin, etc. - selections?
2. Civilizationism
   Toynbee - A Study of History Somervell one volume abridgement
   Quigley - The Evolution of Civilizations
   Spengler - The Decline of the West
   Sanderson,ed.- on civilizationism [contemp statements]
   D. Wilkinson - on civilizationism [a contemporary summary]
3. World-Systems Theory
   Braudel - The Perspective of the World
   Wallerstein - The Modern World-System, Historical Capitalism & Selections
   Palat/ Wallerstein-Of What World-System was pre-1500 India Part?
   Shannon - Introduction to World-System Perspective 1989
   
4. The Five Thousand Year World System
   Frank & Gills-The 5000 Year World System in Theory & Praxis 1995
   - The 5000 Year World System:Interdisciplinary Introduction [in Frank & Gills, eds]    - World System Cycles, Crises and Hegemonic Shifts 1700 BC - 1700 AD [in Frank & Gills, eds]
   Wilkinson-Civilizations,Cores,World Economies,Oikumenes[Frank,ed
   
5. Early Modern World History
   W. McNeill - The Rise of the West 1963 & "The Rise of the West after Twenty-five Years" 1990
   The Pursuit of Power [on China,etc] 1983
   J. Abu-Lughod - Before European Hegemony 1989
   K.N. Chaudhuri - Asia Before Europe 1990
   Trade and Civilization in Indian Ocean 1985
   J. Blaut - The Colonizer's Model of the World 1994 [critical]
   A.W. Crosby - Ecological Imperialism 1986 others - ?
   
6. Historical Critique and Defense of World-System & Social Theory
   Frank - The Modern World System Revisited: Re-Reading Braudel and Wallerstein [in Sanderson,ed]
      - Transitional Ideological Modes: Feudalism,Capitalism,Socialism [in Frank, ed]
   Frank & Gills - The Modern World System under Asian Hegemony,'94
   Wallerstein - World System versus World-Systems [in Frank,ed]
   S. Amin -Ancient World-Systems vs.Modern Capitalist World-System
   I. Zeitlin - selections
   
7. Eurocentrism in History, Sociology/Social Theory & Alternatives?
   M. Bernal - Black Athena 1989, 1993
   Amin - Eurocentrism 1989
   Blaut - The Colonizer's Model 1994
   Frank & Zeitlin - to be written 1995?
   

REGIONS AND PROCESSES IN MODERN WORLD SYSTEM HISTORY & THEORY: STUDENT HISTORICAL RESEARCH PAPERS & their seminar discussion 0N

• China
• Japan
• Southeast Asia
• Central Asia
• Russia
• India
• Persia
• Ottomans
• Africa
• Europe
• Americas and/or others of student interest
• feudalism/capitalism transition/s?
• world trade
• money
• migration
• hegemony and/or war
• cycles
• race
• ethnicity
• gender
• ecology
• culture/religion/ideology and/or others of student interest

SEMINAR PURPOSE/ORGANIZATION/SCHEDULE/EVALUATION

PURPOSE- This seminar is to assess how Eurocentric or not received "classical" social and world-systems theory and historical writing are, and to explore more "humanocentric" [eventually also "ecocentric"?] alternative/s. The instructor and his writings suggest that received theory/history has neglected the real historical role of Afro-Asia in world history and that the time is ripe to set the record [and theory?] straight, especially now that East Asia is [again!] pushing to the forefront of the making of world events and history.

ORGANIZATION-hopefully in consultation/agreement with students. This is to be a COLLABORATIVE SEMINAR, for the discussion of readings and the writing and discussion of student research papers - at or near [if possible beyond!] the frontiers of knowledge in this area.

Basic READINGS will be common to and for discussion by all. Particular students can, by pre-arrangment according to their interest/choice, take [major] responsibility for particular subsidiary/exemplifying readings [on particular authors, theories, regions, etc.] and can make short written and/or oral reports on them for seminar discussion.

A RESEARCH Paper topic [one piece of a jig-saw puzzle common to, and for eventual assembly by, all] is to be chosen by each student by the third week. A first draft is to be prepared for photocopying, distribution to, and reading/discussion by the entire seminar in the 6th and 7th weeks [or thereabouts by common agreement]. A final draft is to be presented for photocopying, distribution, reading/discussion by the entire seminar during the final two weeks.

SCHEDULE - subject to amendment

• Wk 1 -Introduction of content,readings,organization,paper topics
• Wk 2 -Topic 1 & discussion of paper topic choice
• Wk 3 -Topic 2 & one page hand-in/discussion of paper topic choice
• Wk 4 -Topic 3
• Wk 5 -Topic 4
• Wk 6 -Discussion of paper first drafts
• Wk 7 -same continued
• Wk 8 -Topic 5
• Wk 9 -Topic 6
• Wk 10-Topic 7
• Wk 11-Discussion of paper final drafts
• Wk 12-same continued
• 13th week - contingencies

EVALUATION 25% on the basis of student reports and participation in seminars and 75% on the student research paper.