Christopher Chase-Dunn
Encyclopedia
Christopher Chase-Dunn is an American sociologist best known for his contributions to world-systems theory.
(studying under John W. Meyer
) and has taught at The Johns Hopkins University
(1975–2000) and at the University of California at Riverside (2000-today). He is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and has served as President (2002–2006) of Research Committee 02 (Economy and Society) of the International Sociological Association, Chair (1984–1986) of the Section on International Political Economy of the International Studies Association, and Chair (1982) of the Section on the Political Economy of the World-System of the American Sociological Association. He is the founder of the Institute for Research on World-Systems at the University of California at Riverside. Chase-Dunn is also the founding editor of the Journal of World-Systems Research, which is the official journal of the Political Economy of the World-System section of the American Sociological Association.
, the pre-Columbian California
coast, post-colonial states, emerging global governance institutions). In a similar vein, he has collaborated widely, co-authoring or co-editing books in cooperation with Salvatore Babones, Volker Bornschier, Terry Boswell, Jonathan Friedman
, Thomas Hall, and others. He has been especially prolific in publishing papers with student co-authors. Many of his former students are now active scholars working in the world-systems tradition, including Salvatore Babones, Jeffrey Kentor, and Andrew Jorgenson.
Chase-Dunn has been married twice and has three daughters: Cori, Mae and Frances.
Education and career
Chase-Dunn earned his Ph.D. in 1975 at Stanford UniversityStanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
(studying under John W. Meyer
John W. Meyer
John W. Meyer is a sociologist and professor at Stanford University, located in Palo Alto, California, noted for his contributions to the study of organizations, diffusion, and modern mass education...
) and has taught at The Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
(1975–2000) and at the University of California at Riverside (2000-today). He is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and has served as President (2002–2006) of Research Committee 02 (Economy and Society) of the International Sociological Association, Chair (1984–1986) of the Section on International Political Economy of the International Studies Association, and Chair (1982) of the Section on the Political Economy of the World-System of the American Sociological Association. He is the founder of the Institute for Research on World-Systems at the University of California at Riverside. Chase-Dunn is also the founding editor of the Journal of World-Systems Research, which is the official journal of the Political Economy of the World-System section of the American Sociological Association.
Publications
Chase-Dunn is the author, co-author, editor, or co-editor of over a dozen books, including most notably Global Formation: Structures of The World-Economy, a major theoretical synthesis and restatement of the world-systems approach to the study of social change. Breaking free from what is often seen as the dogmatism of scholars working in the world-systems tradition, Chase-Dunn takes a pragmatic approach to understanding the structure of the modern world-economy and its evolution over time. This means that he incorporates data and appropriates theoretical models from a variety of sources, including from the work of scholars not associated with the world-systems tradition. As a result, Global Formation has become a standard reference work for world-systems scholars, even though they may not always agree with Chase-Dunn's approaches to the problems they study.Contributions
This ecumenical approach characterizes his work as a whole. Chase-Dunn is not known for any one theory or "big idea," but instead is known for applying a wide range of theories and theoretical approaches (hegemonic decline theory, population ecology, cyclical theory, historical materialism) to a wide range of historical situations (the ancient Near EastNear East
The Near East is a geographical term that covers different countries for geographers, archeologists, and historians, on the one hand, and for political scientists, economists, and journalists, on the other...
, the pre-Columbian California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
coast, post-colonial states, emerging global governance institutions). In a similar vein, he has collaborated widely, co-authoring or co-editing books in cooperation with Salvatore Babones, Volker Bornschier, Terry Boswell, Jonathan Friedman
Jonathan Friedman
Jonathan Friedman is a prominent American anthropologist. He earned his Ph.D. at Columbia University in 1972...
, Thomas Hall, and others. He has been especially prolific in publishing papers with student co-authors. Many of his former students are now active scholars working in the world-systems tradition, including Salvatore Babones, Jeffrey Kentor, and Andrew Jorgenson.
Chase-Dunn has been married twice and has three daughters: Cori, Mae and Frances.
External links
- Ch. Chase-Dunn is a member of Social Evolution & HistorySocial Evolution & HistorySocial Evolution & History is a peer-reviewed academic journal focused on the development of human societies in the past, present and future. In addition to original research articles, Social Evolution & History includes critical notes and a book review section. It is published in English twice a...
journal