Merging WST and complexity science

Has anyone made a serious attempt to merge the world-system theory with 
Prigogine's theory of dissipative structures?

Wallerstein has written favorably about Prigogine's affirmation of 
irreversibility, unpredictability, probability, nonlinearity, etc., which 
are easily applicable to the far-from-equilibrium world-system and its 
component nation states.

Geographer Debra Stroessfogel has been an avid advocate of the merger of 
WST and Prigogine's theory although I have not been able to locate any 
study reflecting this long-overdue merger.

The arrogance of the Age of Rationality led us to believe in the 
"superiority" of Occidental positivism. Prigogine implicitly points out the 
relevance of Eastern metaphysics to explain the power of nature over 
humanity. The Buddhist concepts of impermanence, self-organization, 
interdependence, etc., are integral elements of Prigogine's theory.  Is it 
not time to merge Eastern thought with Western "science"?


Shelton A. Gunaratne, professor
Mass communications department
Minnesota State University Moorhead
1104 Seventh Ave. S.
Moorhead, MN 56563
U.S.A.

Tel.:  (218) 236-4035 (office)
        (218) 233-0453 (home)
Fax: (218) 291-4333
E-mail: gunarat@mnstate.edu