Immanuel Wallerstein

This book was written during a year’s stay at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences. Countless authors have sung its praises. Aside from splendid surroundings, unlimited library and secretarial assistance, and a ready supply of varied scholars to consult at a moment’s notice, what the center offers is to leave the scholar to his own devices, for good or ill. Would that all men had such wisdom. The final version was consummated with the aid of a grant from the Social Sciences Grants Subcommittee of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research of McGill University.

"...one of the important books of the year....all are sure to agree that Wallerstein has written a most impressive book."

--THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW

"This is an exciting and highly intelligent book...Wallerstein has produced a splendid stimulant to our historical imagination, and deserves a wide readership."

--HISTORY

"[This] is a visionary workÂ…this may be one of the most important theoretical statements about development since the time of Max Weber."

--CONTEMPORARY SOCIOLOGY

"...Wallerstein has provided what can only be called a major work of analytical and synthetic sociological history...Wallerstein's work is indispensable to those who wish to understand the background from which the contemporary world has emerged."

--POLITICAL SCIENCE QUARTERLY

Dutch l978

Italian l978

Norwegian l978‑79

Braille l979

Spanish l979

French l980

Japanese l98l

Hungarian l983

German l986

Serbo‑Croat l986

Portuguese 1990

Romanian 1992

Chinese 1998, 2000

Korean 1999