Do investments by multinational corporations in less developed countries enhance or hinder economic development in those countries? This volume presents a re-evaulation of twenty-seven of the most important studies which were carried out to answer this question. The authors attempt to resolve the disparate findings which show that investment promotes short-run growth but in the long run retards growth. They also present a careful empirical analysis of the intervening political, social, and economic mechanisms through which the effects of investment are transmitted. The volume will clarify much speculation which has taken place about the world-systems perspective and will point the way toward more research which can resolve disputed areas of this theory.

This third volume in the World Society Studies series focuses on a central theme: how market mechanisms can correct the world welfare deficit and also resolve the environmental crisis through processes of sustainable development. The two editors trace how such objectives have been addressed since the 1960s, and describe the parameters of the debate. Conflicts "and New Departures in World Society "contains original research on confluences and fissures in emerging world society, in both international and domestic arenas.

The sixteen contributors offer an unusually wide range of perspectives. Topics include peace and war, core-periphery situations, and social and labor conflicts. Marek Thee traces the quest for a demilitarized and nuclear-free world. Johan Kauf-mann analyzes the role of the United Nations in the post-cold war era. Jill Crystal concentrates on the human rights environment in the Arab World. H.C.F. Mansilla comments on the destruction of the tropical forests in Bolivia. Other contributors include Bruce Russett, Christian Suter, John Foran, Beverly Silver, and Georg Kohler.

"Conflicts and New Departures in World Society "gives intellectual substance to the still nebulous notion of a world society. It does so not by advocacy, but by indicating parallel social, economic, and political conditions that compel new interactions between advanced and developing lands. This books will be of interest to sociologists, environmentalists, and political theorists and scientists.

An enormous acceleration of history has occurred in the current decade, thereby radically changing world society in many respects. The core countries - grouped around the triad formed by the United States, Japan, and the European Union - have experienced successive waves of change marked by phases of ascent, unfolding, and decay of societal models. What seemed stable and predictable in past decades came close to collapse or broke down entirely. As a result, we are now living through a crisis of legitimation characterized by acute contradictions. A new order, with a fresh, basic consensus around an overarching set of norms that allows problems to be solved efficiently, has not yet crystallized.Western Society in Transition examines the succession of societal models of the Western world and indications of its probable shape in the future. Bornschier characterizes the 1985-1995 period as a decade of Third World debt and depression; continued economic decline in the United States; a steady ascent of Japan; Western Europe's move toward political union, and the collapse of the Soviet Union. Against this background, he sketches various elements of a theoretical perspective he calls evolutionary conflict theory. The primary focus of interest of this theory is not on single societies, but on measures of social transformation at the core of world society. Western Society in Transition deals with fundamental questions: How does social order arise and why does it dissolve? What provides social cohesion? What makes society progress? Institutional spheres of Western society such as technology, firms, the market, state building, education, power, conflict, and social movements are analyzed in detail.Peter Lengyel, editor emeritus of the International Social Science Journal says of Western Society in Transition, "I have never seen such a succinct, clear, and persuasive treatment which adroitly draws together elements from economics, history, sociology, and technology into a strictly contemporary kind of political economy." This timely assessment of the Western world will be of interest to social scientists, historians, economists, and international relations scholars.

This critical analysis of long-term trends and recent developments in world systems examines such questions as: Will the cycles of boom and bust, peace and war of the past 500 years continue? Or have either long-term trends or recent changes so profoundly altered the structure of world systems that these cycles will end or take on a less destructive form?

The noted international contributors to this volume examine the question of future dominance of the core global systems and include comprehensive discussions of the economic, political and military role of the Pacific Rim, Japan and the former Soviet Union.

In this important book, pre-eminent economic sociologist Volker Bornschier analyzes growth and development in the Old and New Worlds - the so-called 'developed' countries. He shows how sociological and political factors have a massive impact on economic change in those countries.

The book is a significant contribution to the burgeoning literature on social capital, trust and democracy and will be of interest to those in the fields of economics, sociology, politics and development studies.

In this important book, pre-eminent economic sociologist Volker Bornschier analyzes growth and development in the Old and New Worlds - the so-called 'developed' countries. He shows how sociological and political factors have a massive impact on economic change in those countries.

The book is a significant contribution to the burgeoning literature on social capital, trust and democracy and will be of interest to those in the fields of economics, sociology, politics and development studies.

This third volume in the World Society Studies series focuses on a central theme: how market mechanisms can correct the world welfare deficit and also resolve the environmental crisis through processes of sustainable development. The two editors trace how such objectives have been addressed since the 1960s, and describe the parameters of the debate. Conflicts and New Departures in World Society contains original research on confluences and fissures in emerging world society, in both international and domestic arenas.The sixteen contributors offer an unusually wide range of perspectives. Topics include peace and war, core-periphery situations, and social and labor conflicts. Marek Thee traces the quest for a demilitarized and nuclear-free world. Johan Kauf-mann analyzes the role of the United Nations in the post-cold war era. Jill Crystal concentrates on the human rights environment in the Arab World. H.C.F. Mansilla comments on the destruction of the tropical forests in Bolivia. Other contributors include Bruce Russett, Christian Suter, John Foran, Beverly Silver, and Georg Kohler.Conflicts and New Departures in World Society gives intellectual substance to the still nebulous notion of a world society. It does so not by advocacy, but by indicating parallel social, economic, and political conditions that compel new interactions between advanced and developing lands. This books will be of interest to sociologists, environmentalists, and political theorists and scientists.

An enormous acceleration of history has occurred in the current decade, thereby radically changing world society in many respects. The core countries--grouped around the triad formed by the United States, Japan, and the European Union--have experienced successive waves of change marked by phases of ascent, unfolding, and decay of societal models. What seemed stable and predictable in past decades came close to collapse or broke down entirely. As a result, we are now living through a crisis of legitimation characterized by acute contradictions. A new order, with a fresh, basic consensus around an overarching set of norms that allows problems to be solved efficiently, has not yet crystallized.

"Western Society in Transition "examines the succession of societal models of the Western world and indications of its probable shape in the future. Bornschier characterizes the 1985-1995 period as a decade of Third World debt and depression; continued economic decline in the United States; a steady ascent of Japan; Western Europe's move toward political union, and the collapse of the Soviet Union. Against this background, he sketches various elements of a theoretical perspective he calls "evolutionary conflict theory. "The primary focus of interest of this theory is not on single societies, but on measures of social transformation at the core of world society. "Western Society in Transition "deals with fundamental questions: How does social order arise and why does it dissolve? What provides social cohesion? What makes society progress? Institutional spheres of Western society such as technology, firms, the market, state building, education, power, conflict, and social movements are analyzed in detail.

Peter Lengyel, editor emeritus of the "International Social Science Journal "says of "Western Society in Transition, "I "have never seen such a succinct, clear, and persuasive treatment which adroitly draws together elements from economics, history, sociology, and technology into a strictly contemporary kind of political economy." This timely assessment of the Western world will be of interest to social scientists, historians, economists, and international relations scholars.

The relaunch of European integration in the 1980s and 1990s will affect profoundly the continent's course in the twenty-first century. The European Commission, bureaucratic cabinets, national diplomats, transnational companies, pressure groups and representatives of the regions have set in motion a process that is changing statehood in Europe dramatically. Based on more than thirty interviews with EU commissioners, managers of European transnational companies and national diplomats, this volume is a valuable contribution to the debate on the future of Europe in the world system.

The relaunch of European integration in the 1980s and 1990s will affect profoundly the continent's course in the twenty-first century. The European Commission, bureaucratic cabinets, national diplomats, transnational companies, pressure groups and representatives of the regions have set in motion a process that is changing statehood in Europe dramatically. Based on more than thirty interviews with EU commissioners, managers of European transnational companies and national diplomats, this volume is a valuable contribution to the debate on the future of Europe in the world system.

This critical analysis of long-term trends and recent developments in world systems examines such questions as: Will the cycles of boom and bust, peace and war of the past 500 years continue? Or have either long-term trends or recent changes so profoundly altered the structure of world systems that these cycles will end or take on a less destructive form?

The noted international contributors to this volume examine the question of future dominance of the core global systems and include comprehensive discussions of the economic, political and military role of the Pacific Rim, Japan and the former Soviet Union.