Subject: Lund Conference Program
Below is a description of a conference on World Historical Systems that
is being held at the University of Lund in Sweden March 25-28,1995.
The World Historical Systems Group is a sub-section of the International Political
Economy Section of the International Studies Association.
Objectives:
We seek to hold a conference of the world historical systems group's
present active members and invited specialists. The meeting would have
two primary goals. First, we would review and assess the adequacy of the
existing conceptual equipment for dealing with the 5000 years of world
system history: its evolution, its transformations, and the regularities
underlying these processes. Second, we would clarify the possibilities
of convergence among extant approaches on substantive and methodological
issues, and as regards data collection.
Structure:
In order to accomplish these goals we will need to provide clear
statements of the fundamental propositions of each of the four
perspectives. These perspectives would have to be addressed to each
other in a manner as to both clarify positions and open genuine
dialogue. They would have to be evaluated by both other world system
scholars, and those equipped to provide more specific information on
critical historical issues and areas. A final requirement would be to
bring greater clarity to a number of critical concepts. Each of the
perspectives deals in a somewhat different manner with a series of
critical concepts. An important barrier to a more unified perspective
lies in the different (or inadequate) ways in which these concepts have
been used. Hence we will focus our discussions around the following:
l. The "World System"
While fundamental to each of the perspectives, the term "world system"
continues to draw methodological fire for its lack of specificity.
Critical questions remain open. What constitutes a system? What are to
be considered legitimate parameters? By what processes is such a system
defined? Does systemic logic undergo fundamental transformations, or are
all systems basically the same? Has there been a single evolving world
system, have there been areas external to it, or have alternative systems
existed side by side? Can different world systems be compared?
2. Perspectives on center-periphery relations
By what processes are centers and peripheries created? Do all
intersocietal systems have center-periphery hierarchies? Do
center-periphery relations work in basically the same ways in all
systems, or are there fundamental differences that emerge by context?
3. Hegemonies, leadership, and zones of innovation
The nature of global leadership is among the most hotly contexted issues
in contemporary political science, and plays a fundamental role in each
of the four perspectives offered by world historical system authors
regardless of discipline. The rise and decline of various areas, and the
reasons for the implications of that process, require concerted attention.
4. World economy: long-range and evolutionary approaches
Questions about the world economy mirror those regarding the world
system. The term is not consistently defined, nor are the nature of its
units and the processes which link them consistently identified. The
relevance of evolutionary conceptions of the economy as a complex
adaptive system may need to be explored.
Content/Agenda
The proposed meeting is designed to accomplish these goals. Each of
the principal perspectives will be represented by a paper that expresses
its fundamental position and deals in an explicit manner with each of the
critical concepts that we have agreed upon and listed above. Half day
sessions will be scheduled for each. Discussants will be assigned to each
major perspective, one of whom will be from among the other principal
perspectives, and another, or other, particularly relevant scholars.
Other papers will also be presented providing important additional
information or perspectives. Papers dealing with possible convergence or
synthesis will be presented on the final day and serve to open general
discussion of future research directions.
* * * * *
Conference Mechanics
It is particularly important that the four principal papers be
destributed as quickly as possible. Please forward these to as many
people on the list as possible. Papers can be reproduced for others if
needed at the conference. The more specific papers should also be
forwarded as soon as possible to as many participants as possible. Again,
it is vital that Denemark and Friedman receive these immediately. These
papers may also be reproduced at the conference for those who have not yet
received them. For those who wish to transmit the papers to Friedman for
reproduction at the conference you should try to do so via ftp. Jonathan
has an external server. (host gemini.ldc.lu.se, the ID is socjfr - it
should come up on the screen - and the password is kivik.) The ftp is a
windows model. Sending in wordperfect or word format would be best.
On the attached program please note your tasks and the times
scheduled for them. Papers presenters will be allowed 30 minutes, though
papers that have been distributed well in advance may require only cursory
introduction so that more time may be devoted to discussion. Discussants
are to be given 20 minutes. We hope to leave significant time for general
interaction.
A number of publishers have expressed an interest in our project.
We ae moving ahead with plans for a volume based on the conference. If
possible, discussants should have written copies of their presentations.
Most travel and hotel expenses are being covered by the conference.
Please keep all receipts, ESPECIALLY ORIGINAL TRAVEL RECEIPTS, to help us
with our bookeeping. North American participants are traveling as a
group. Meet near the relevant desk in Newark. We will be met at the
airport in Copenhagen and escorted to the Hovercraft to be taken across to
Sweden. Transportation to Lund has also been taken care of. North
Americans should have their tickets. If not, please contact Patti
Kirkpatrick. Non-North Americans should be hearing from Jonathan Friedman
quite soon with final arrangements. We are working to cover the cost of
some meals as well. We will let you know how these efforts develop.
Our group is a large one and we had some difficulties getting a
sufficient block of hotel space. Our first night in Lund will be at the
very small Hotel Concordia on Stlbrogatan. Their telephone is 46 46
l35050 and fax is 46 46 137422. The first session is in the Grand Hotel,
Piratensalen (Pirate Room). It is just around the corner from the Hotel
Concordia. The second day we will all move to the Grand Hotel. The rest
of our sessions will all be in the seminar room at Palais d'Ask.
All of us are looking forward to a successful meeting. See you in
Lund.
* * * * * *
PRELIMINARY PROGRAM
WORLD SYSTEM HISTORY:
THE SOCIAL SCIENCE OF LONG-TERM CHANGE
MARCH 25
l:00 Welcome: Kajsa Ekholm Friedman
SESSION l l:l5-3:30
Chair: Robert A. Denemark
Paper: "The Five Thousand Year World System in Theory and Praxis"
Andre Gunder Frank and Barry K. Gills
Discussants: Stephen Sanderson
David Wilkinson
Kajsa Ekholm Friedman
BREAK 3:30-4:00
SESSION 2 4:00-6:30
Chair: Andre Gunder Frank
Paper: "World System Evolution: I. A Perspective; II. Comparing
Perspectives"
George Modelski and William R. Thompson
Discussants: Claudio Cioffi-Revilla
Chris Chase-Dunn
MARCH 26
SESSION 3 9:00-ll:30
Chair: Thomas Hall
Paper: "Civilizations as World Systems"
David Wilkinson
Discussants: William H. McNeill
Barry K. Gills
Michael Rowlands
LUNCH ll:30-3:00
SESSION 4 3:00-5:30
Chair: Jonathan Friedman
Paper: "Rethinking the Evolution of World-Systems -- Another Round"
Christopher Chase-Dunn and Thomas Hall
Discussants: William R. Thompson
Andrew Sheratt
DINNER
MARCH 27
SESSION 5 8:30 - l0:30
Chair: David Wilkinson
Papers: "Information and Transport Nets in World History"
William H. McNeill
"Can We Situate the Bronze Age Indus Civilization Within A World
System?"
Shereen Ratnagar
"Cyclical World System Regularities in the Prehisory of Europe
(lst and 2nd millenium BC)"
Kristian Kristiansen
BREAK l0:30-ll:00
SESSION 6 ll:00-l:00
Chair: Michael Rowlands
Papers: "World System and Social Change in Agrarian Societies, 3000
BC to l500 AD"
Stephen Sanderson
"The Evolution of the World-City System 3000 BC to 2000AD"
Andrew Bosworth
"Some Thoughts on the Genesis of C/P Systems"
Andrew Sherratt
l:00 Break for the rest of the day
MARCH 28
SESSION 7 9:00-ll:30
Chair: Chris Chase-Dunn
Papers: "Neglecting Nature: World Accumulation and Core-Periphery
Relations 2500 BC to l990AD"
Sing Chew
"World Systems in the Andes"
Alf Hornborg
"Origins and Evolution of War and Politics"
Claudio Cioffi-Revilla
LUNCH ll:30 - l:00
SESSION 8 l:00-2:30
Chair: Barry K. Gills
Papers: "World Systemic Crises and the Importance of Cultural Strategies"
Jonathan Friedman and Kajsa Ekholm
"Cumulation and Direction in World Historical Systems Research"
Robert A. Denemark
BREAK 2:30-3:00
SESSION 9 3:00-5:00
Chair: George Modelski
General Discussion
DINNER
* * * * *
LIST OF PARTICIPANTS
Andrew Bosworth
2535 Los Altos N. #432
Tucson AZ 85705
Christopher K. Chase-Dunn
Department of Sociology
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore MD 2l2l8-2685 USA
e-mail chriscd@jhuvm.hcf.jhu.edu
Sing Chew
Department of Sociology
California State University - Humboldt
Arcata CA 9552l USA
e-mail chews@axe.humboldt.edu
Claudio Cioffi-Revilla
Long Range Analysis of War Project
Department of Political Science, Campus Box 333
University of Colarado - Boulder
Boulder CO 80309 USA
e-mail cioffi_c@cubldr.colorado.edu
Robert A. Denemark
Department of Political Science
University of Delaware
Newark DE l97l6 USA
e-mail denemark@strauss.udel.edu
Kajsa Ekholm
Department of Social Anthropology
University of Lund
S22l 00 Lund
Sweden
Jonathan Friedman
Department of Social Anthropology
University of Lund
S22l 00 Lund
Sweden
e-mail jonathan.friedman@soc.lu.se
Barry K. Gills
Department of Politics
University of Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne NEl 7RU
United Kingdom
e-mail b.k.gills@newcastle.ac.uk
Andre Gunder Frank
H. Bosmansstraat 57
l077 XG Amsterdam, Holland
e-mail gunderfrank@alf.let.uva.nl
Thomas Hall
Department of Sociology and Anthropology
DePauw University
Greencastle IN 46l35-0037 USA
e-mail THALL@Depauw.edu
Alf Hornborg
Department of Human Ecology
University of Lund
Lund Sweden
Kristian Kristiansen
Department of Archaeology
Gothenburg University
William H. McNeill
P.O. Box 45
Colebrook CT 0602l USA
George Modelski
Department of Political Science
University of Washington
Seattle WA 98l95 USA
e-mail modelski@u.washington.edu
Shereen Ratnagar
Centre for Historical Studies
J. Nehru University
New Delhi ll0067
India
Stephen Sanderson
Department of Sociology and Anthropology
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Indiana PA l5705-l087 USA
e-mail sksander@grove.iup.edu
Andrew Sherratt
Ashmolean Museum
University of Oxford
Oxford OXl 2PH
United Kingdom
William R. Thompson
Department of Political Science
Indiana University
Bloomington IN 47405 USA
e-mail wthompso@u.indiana.edu
David Wilkinson
Department of Political Science
University of California - Los Angeles
Los Angeles CA 90024 USA
e-mail wilkinso@polisci.sscnet.ucla.edu
--------end-------
Prof. Chris Chase-Dunn
Department of Sociology
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD. 21218 USA
tel 410 516 7633 fax 410 516 7590 email chriscd@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu