ABSTRACT
This chapter explains the world-system perspective and provides theories on global development and structural crisis. This refers to structural crisis in the world-system, and in the periphery. The chapter also discusses the state in terms of failure, transformation, capitalism and the state, and the transnational capitalist state. It includes problems of state power versus market and the state’s role in global development. Another section explores the promotion of polyarchy, the imperial executive, ambiguities of media hegemony and the state as a war-machine. The final section looks at structural cycles in the world-system, American and British hegemony, Empire and hegemonic transition, and attempting to theorise the system’s future.
