The whole is more than the sum of its parts - to coin a phrase.
Moreover, the whole shapes its parts quite as much as its parts and
their relations make up and 'shape' the whole.
those who look only at the part to 'explain" 'account" for it, and even
those who compare one part with another/s, MISS the significant and often
even more important influence that the whole has on the part/s - and
therfore MISunderstand what happens even in their favorite part.
THAT is why we study world system. alas, the 'world-system' most of us
have looked at [beginning in Europe etc a la Wallerstein] was also no
more than only a small part of the whole, by which this 'w-s' [part] was
itself shaped.
-without mentioning ratiol choice
gunder frank