Andre Gunder Frank
Encyclopedia
Andre Gunder Frank was a German-American economic historian and sociologist who promoted "dependency theory
" after 1970 and "World Systems Theory
" after 1984. He employed some marxian concepts on political economy
, but rejected Marx
's stages of history, and economic history
generally.
, but his family fled the country when Adolf Hitler
was elected Chancellor. Frank received schooling in several places in Switzerland
, where his family settled, until they emigrated to the United States
in 1941. Frank's undergraduate studies were at Swarthmore College
. He earned his Ph.D.
in economics
in 1957 at the University of Chicago
. His doctorate was a study of Soviet agriculture entitled Growth and Productivity in Ukrainian Agriculture from 1928 to 1955. Ironically, his dissertation supervisor was Milton Friedman
, a man whose laissez faire approach to economics Frank would later criticize.
Throughout the 1950s and early 1960s Frank taught at American universities. In 1962 he moved to Latin America
, inaugurating a remarkable period of travel that confirmed his peripatetic tendencies. His most notable work during this time was his stint as Professor of Sociology and Economics at the University of Chile, where he was involved in reforms under the government of Salvador Allende
. After Allende's government was toppled by a coup d'état in 1973, Frank fled to Europe, where he occupied a series of university positions. In 1994 he retired as emeritus professor at the University of Amsterdam
.
He was married to Marta Fuentes, with whom he wrote several studies about social movements, and they gave birth to two sons. Marta died in Amsterdam in June 1993. His second wife was sociologist Nancy Howell, a friend for forty years: while married to her, they lived in Toronto
. Frank died in 2005 of complications related to his cancer while under the care of his third wife, Alison Candela.
and Latin America. He produced over 1,000 publications in 30 languages. His last major article, "East and West ", appeared in the volume: "Dar al Islam. The Mediterranean, the World System and the Wider Europe: The "Cultural Enlargement" of the EU and Europe's Identity" edited by Peter Herrmann (Cork University College) and Arno Tausch (Innsbruck University), published by Nova Science Publishers, New York.
His work in the 1990s focused on world history. He returned to his analysis of global political economy in the new millennium inspired by a lecture he gave at the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga (SSE Riga). In 2006 SSE Riga received Andre Gunder Frank's personal library collection and set-up the Andre Gunder Frank Memorial Library in his honor, with the support of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation
.
Frank was a prolific author, including 40 books. He published widely on political economy, economic history, international relations, historical sociology, and world history. Perhaps his most notable work is Capitalism and Underdevelopment in Latin America. Published in 1967, it was one of the formative texts in dependency theory. In his later career he produced works such as ReOrient: Global Economy in the Asian Age and, with Barry Gills, The World System: Five Hundred Years or Five Thousand. Frank's theories center on the idea that a nation's economic strength, largely determined by historical circumstances—especially geography—dictates its global power. He is also well known for suggesting that purely export oriented solutions to development create imbalances detrimental to poor countries. Frank has made significant contributions to the World Systems Theory
(which, according to him, should be rather called the World System one). He has argued that a World System was formed no later than in the 4th millennium BC
--his argument contrasts sharply with the scholarly majority who posit beginnings in the "long 16th century" (a position held, for example, by Immanuel Wallerstein
). Frank also insisted that the idea of numerous "world-systems" did not make much sense (indeed, if there are many "world-systems" in the world, then they simply do not deserve to be called "world-systems"), and we should rather speak about one single World System.
Dependency theory
Dependency theory or dependencia theory is a body of social science theories predicated on the notion that resources flow from a "periphery" of poor and underdeveloped states to a "core" of wealthy states, enriching the latter at the expense of the former...
" after 1970 and "World Systems Theory
World Systems Theory
The world-systems theory is a multidisciplinary, macro-scale approach to world history and social change....
" after 1984. He employed some marxian concepts on political economy
Political economy
Political economy originally was the term for studying production, buying, and selling, and their relations with law, custom, and government, as well as with the distribution of national income and wealth, including through the budget process. Political economy originated in moral philosophy...
, but rejected Marx
Karl Marx
Karl Heinrich Marx was a German philosopher, economist, sociologist, historian, journalist, and revolutionary socialist. His ideas played a significant role in the development of social science and the socialist political movement...
's stages of history, and economic history
Economic history
Economic history is the study of economies or economic phenomena in the past. Analysis in economic history is undertaken using a combination of historical methods, statistical methods and by applying economic theory to historical situations and institutions...
generally.
Biography
Frank was born in GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, but his family fled the country when Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
was elected Chancellor. Frank received schooling in several places in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, where his family settled, until they emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1941. Frank's undergraduate studies were at Swarthmore College
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore College is a private, independent, liberal arts college in the United States with an enrollment of about 1,500 students. The college is located in the borough of Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, 11 miles southwest of Philadelphia....
. He earned his Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
in 1957 at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
. His doctorate was a study of Soviet agriculture entitled Growth and Productivity in Ukrainian Agriculture from 1928 to 1955. Ironically, his dissertation supervisor was Milton Friedman
Milton Friedman
Milton Friedman was an American economist, statistician, academic, and author who taught at the University of Chicago for more than three decades...
, a man whose laissez faire approach to economics Frank would later criticize.
Throughout the 1950s and early 1960s Frank taught at American universities. In 1962 he moved to Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
, inaugurating a remarkable period of travel that confirmed his peripatetic tendencies. His most notable work during this time was his stint as Professor of Sociology and Economics at the University of Chile, where he was involved in reforms under the government of Salvador Allende
Salvador Allende
Salvador Allende Gossens was a Chilean physician and politician who is generally considered the first democratically elected Marxist to become president of a country in Latin America....
. After Allende's government was toppled by a coup d'état in 1973, Frank fled to Europe, where he occupied a series of university positions. In 1994 he retired as emeritus professor at the University of Amsterdam
Universiteit van Amsterdam
The University of Amsterdam or the UvA is a public research university located in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Founded in 1632 as the Athenaeum Illustre by the scholars Gerardus Vossius and Caspar Barlaeus, it is the third-oldest university in the Netherlands...
.
He was married to Marta Fuentes, with whom he wrote several studies about social movements, and they gave birth to two sons. Marta died in Amsterdam in June 1993. His second wife was sociologist Nancy Howell, a friend for forty years: while married to her, they lived in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. Frank died in 2005 of complications related to his cancer while under the care of his third wife, Alison Candela.
Works and ideas
During his career, Frank taught and did research in departments of anthropology, economics, geography, history, international relations, political science, and sociology. He worked at nine universities in North America, three in Latin America, and five in Europe. He gave countless lectures and seminars at dozens of universities and other institutions all around the world in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, German and Dutch. Frank wrote widely on the economic, social and political history and contemporary development of the world system, the industrially developed countries, and especially of the Third WorldThird World
The term Third World arose during the Cold War to define countries that remained non-aligned with either capitalism and NATO , or communism and the Soviet Union...
and Latin America. He produced over 1,000 publications in 30 languages. His last major article, "East and West ", appeared in the volume: "Dar al Islam. The Mediterranean, the World System and the Wider Europe: The "Cultural Enlargement" of the EU and Europe's Identity" edited by Peter Herrmann (Cork University College) and Arno Tausch (Innsbruck University), published by Nova Science Publishers, New York.
His work in the 1990s focused on world history. He returned to his analysis of global political economy in the new millennium inspired by a lecture he gave at the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga (SSE Riga). In 2006 SSE Riga received Andre Gunder Frank's personal library collection and set-up the Andre Gunder Frank Memorial Library in his honor, with the support of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation
Friedrich Ebert Foundation
The Friedrich Ebert Foundation is a German political foundation associated with the Social Democratic Party of Germany , yet independent of it...
.
Frank was a prolific author, including 40 books. He published widely on political economy, economic history, international relations, historical sociology, and world history. Perhaps his most notable work is Capitalism and Underdevelopment in Latin America. Published in 1967, it was one of the formative texts in dependency theory. In his later career he produced works such as ReOrient: Global Economy in the Asian Age and, with Barry Gills, The World System: Five Hundred Years or Five Thousand. Frank's theories center on the idea that a nation's economic strength, largely determined by historical circumstances—especially geography—dictates its global power. He is also well known for suggesting that purely export oriented solutions to development create imbalances detrimental to poor countries. Frank has made significant contributions to the World Systems Theory
World Systems Theory
The world-systems theory is a multidisciplinary, macro-scale approach to world history and social change....
(which, according to him, should be rather called the World System one). He has argued that a World System was formed no later than in the 4th millennium BC
4th millennium BC
The 4th millennium BC saw major changes in human culture. It marked the beginning of the Bronze Age and of writing.The city states of Sumer and the kingdom of Egypt were established and grew to prominence. Agriculture spread widely across Eurasia...
--his argument contrasts sharply with the scholarly majority who posit beginnings in the "long 16th century" (a position held, for example, by Immanuel Wallerstein
Immanuel Wallerstein
Immanuel Maurice Wallerstein is a US sociologist, historical social scientist, and world-systems analyst...
). Frank also insisted that the idea of numerous "world-systems" did not make much sense (indeed, if there are many "world-systems" in the world, then they simply do not deserve to be called "world-systems"), and we should rather speak about one single World System.
Prediction
In one of his last essays, Frank argued prophetically about the looming global economic crisis of 2008.Selected publications
- General Productivity in Soviet Agriculture and Industry, 1958, JPE
- Goal Ambiguity and Conflicting Standards: An approach to the study of organization, 1958, Human Organization
- The Development of Underdevelopment, 1966, MRP
- Capitalism and Underdevelopment in Latin America, 1967
- Latin America: Underdevelopment or revolution, 1969
- Lumpenbourgeoisie, Lumpendevelopment, 1972
- On Capitalist Underdevelopment, 1975
- Economic Genocide in Chile: Equilibrium on the point of a bayonet, 1976
- Long Live Transideological Enterprise: the socialist economies in the capitalist international division of labor, 1977, Review
- World Accumulation, 1492–1789, 1978
- Dependent Accumulation and Underdevelopment, 1978
- Mexican Agriculture 1521-1630: Transformation and the mode of production, 1979
- Crisis in the World Economy, 1980
- Crisis in the Third World, 1981
- Reflections on the World Economic Crisis, 1981
- Dynamics of Global Crisis, with S. Amin, G. Arrighi and I. Wallerstein, 1982
- The European Challenge, 1983
- Critique and Anti-Critique, 1984
- Ten Theses on Social Movements, with M. Fuentes, 1989, World Development
- Theoretical Introduction to Five Thousand Years of World System History, 1990, Review
- Civil Democracy, Social Movements in World History, with M. Fuentes, 1990, in Amin et al., Transforming the Revolution
- Revolution in Eastern Europe: Lessons for democratic socialist movements (and socialists), 1990, in Tabb, editor, Future of Socialism
- The Underdevelopment of Development, with M.F. Frank, in Savoie, editor, Equity and Efficiency in Economic Development.
- Globalization, 1400-1800 - excerpts
- Third World War - excerpts
- Reorient: Global economy in the Asian age, 1998 - Preface, Excerpts
Further reading
- Chew, Sing C. & Robert Denemark, eds.1996. The Underdevelopment of Development: Essays in Honor of Andre Gunder Frank. A Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
- Duchesne, Ricardo: "Between Sinocentrism and Eurocentrism: Debating A.G. Frank's Re-Orient", Science & SocietyScience & SocietyScience & Society is the oldest continuously-published journal of Marxist scholarship still extant.It publishes peer-reviewed essays in economics, philosophy of science, historiography, women's studies, literature, the arts, and other social science disciplines...
, Vol. 65, No. 4, 2001/2002, pp. 428–463 - Wallerstein, Immanuel, Remembering Andre Gunder Frank, History Workshop Journal, Volume 61, Number 1, 2006, pp. 305–306(2), Oxford University Press
- Gills, Barry, In Memoriam: Andre Gunder Frank (24 February 1929 to 23 April 2005), Globalizations, Volume 2, Number 1, May 2005, pp. 1–4(4), Routledge
- Alberto Castrillón M, In memoriam. André Gunder Frank (1929-2005), Revista de Economía Institucional 7 (2005) 273-278
- Gregory Shank, In Memoriam: Remembering Andre Gunder Frank (February 24, 1929, to April 23, 2005), Social Justice Vol. 32, No. 2 (2005), http://www.socialjusticejournal.org/SJEdits/100Edit_AGF.html
External links
- Andre Gunder Frank's website
- Samir Amin, A Note on the Death of André Gunder Frank (1929-2005), Monthly ReviewMonthly ReviewMonthly Review is an independent Marxist journal published 11 times per year in New York City.-History:The publication was founded by Harvard University economics instructor Paul Sweezy, who became the first editor...
, April 2005. - Theotonio dos Santos, André Gunder Frank (1929-2005), Monthly ReviewMonthly ReviewMonthly Review is an independent Marxist journal published 11 times per year in New York City.-History:The publication was founded by Harvard University economics instructor Paul Sweezy, who became the first editor...
, May 2005. - Barry K Gills, Obituary: Andre Gunder Frank, The GuardianThe GuardianThe Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, May 4, 2005 - Andre Gunder Frank, The TimesThe TimesThe Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
, May 25, 2005 - Andre Gunder Frank (1929-2005)
- Andre Gunder Frank : 'Prophet in the Wilderness' (1929 -2005)
- Jeff Sommers, The Contradictions of a Contrarian: Andre Gunder Frank