Tom, Thanks for the reply. Tom, Thanks for the reply. Sorry to hear about
your condition. No, better not go over it all again. You are right about
dice, I see in most reviews that modern economics is well past this
notion, you aren't into economics nowadays unless you are using
non-linear stocastic process theory.
I'm glad you did reply because I was getting non-delivery messages, which
I fail to understand. Comes through MAILER-DAEMON which is either a low
level intelligent silicon life form which has evolved or it is run by the
anti-Christ.
However, let me run this past you before you go away. I'd like to know if
I have got the main idea right about World Systems, first, from the point
of the subject which I take to be historical social science and the way
it has evolved.
First generation history is that which is beyond question, is absolute
and tends to be centred about belief. This history is 'fact', or at least
this is what everyone has to accept. The second generation is about
personal interpretation. Third generation is the World System, where the
central aspect of the history is the hypothesis or 'organising myth'. In
the first history no criticism is allowed, in the second the author is
criticised, in the third it is the hypothesis. Is this right?
The primary concern of World Systems is the hypothesis that is consistent
with history yet has some answers in the event of the collapse of the
capitalist system, its many crises, or if the system stalls.
I was interested in the example you gave concerning Flint, this has been
covered in at least two documentaries on UK television, and there is a
parallel with the past, the closure of the one big industry in Jarrow
during the recession of the 30's. This prompted the 'Jarrow march', which
in turn demanded answers from the government. The spokesman was Lord
Runcimon, I think he was President of the Board of Trade, and his answer
was something along these lines - 'There is nothing we can do. You will
have to sort it out for yourselves'.
I'd say this option will come up again in the future, but it is going to
be on a much bigger scale. Too good to miss, but will the World Systems
have the answers?
W. K.