Unthinking Social Science

In this important work, Immanuel Wallerstein develops a highly original critique of the legacy of nineteenth century social science for social thought in the late twentieth century. He argues that the presumptions which provide the foundation of dominant research today need `unthinking' and should be radically revised or even discarded. Once considered liberating, these notions have become a barrier to clear understanding of the social world in current times. Applying these ideas to a variety of theoretical areas and historical problems, Wallerstein also offers a critical discussion of some of the key figures whose ideas have influenced the position he formulates - including Marx and Braudel. In the concluding sections of the book, Wallerstein demonstrates how these new insights lead to a revision of world-systems analysis.