Immanuel Wallerstein

Immanuel Wallerstein (1930–2019) was a renowned American sociologist and historian, best known for his development of world-systems theory. Wallerstein’s academic work focused on the historical development of global capitalism, arguing that the modern world-system emerged in the 16th century and was characterized by a division between the core, periphery, and semi-periphery countries. His influential multi-volume work, The Modern World-System, redefined how scholars understood global history, economics, and political power, emphasizing that nations do not operate in isolation but are part of an interconnected system where wealth and power are unevenly distributed.

Wallerstein’s ideas extended beyond academia, shaping discussions on globalization, social justice, and geopolitics. He critiqued the traditional capitalist system for perpetuating inequalities and predicted its eventual decline due to its inherent contradictions. A scholar with wide-ranging interests, Wallerstein was influenced by Marxism, but his work also incorporated insights from a range of disciplines, including economics, political science, and anthropology. His contributions have left a lasting impact on the fields of sociology, political economy, and international relations.