Conceptual Model of the Modern World System of Societies: Macrosociological Approach
Author: Khutkyy, Dmytro , khutkyy@gmail.com
Department: Department of Sociology
University: National University of “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy”, Ukraine
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Valeriy Khmelko
Year of completion: 2011
Language of dissertation: Ukrainian
Keywords:
macrosociology
, conceptual model
, the modern world sys
, theory
Areas of Research:
Theory
, Historical and Comparative Sociology
, Local-Global Relations
Abstract
This dissertation explores the modern world system of human societies using a macrosociological approach and a systems methodology. The conceptual apparatus of systems approach is perfected. The constitution of society is analyzed consistently; its major components are better defined. The notion of world system of societies is formulated; its temporal-spatial boundaries are defined. The theoretical modeling of the modern world system of societies in regulational and functional aspects of analysis is accomplished. The integral conceptual model of the modern world system of societies is elaborated.
The author compares key modern macrosociological approaches to analysis of the modern world system of societies. Society is viewed as self-governed social system, consisting of humans, their means of living and all relations between them.
Society is analyzed in its regulational and functional aspects. Constitution of society in these aspects is revealed. The eight functional spheres of society are analyzed – these functional spheres include: human reproduction, the reproduction of means of living, the reproduction of social relations concerning reproduction of humans, the reproduction of social relations concerning reproduction of means of living, the reproduction of essential elements of biophysical environment, and the reproduction of essential relations between elements of social environment.
Different approaches to the study of world system of societies, including macrosociology and world-systems analysis are compared. The author concludes that the most adequate approach to theorizing world system of societies given its wholeness as a system and systems qualities of societies is by utilizing a macrosociological approach. The world system of societies is conceptualized as a self-regulated system of societies consisting of all societies and all relations between them.
The author argues that it is reasonable to view the world system of societies from the regulational and functional aspects of analysis. It is argued that associations of societies are subsystems and societies are elements of the world system of societies in regulational aspect of analysis. The author deconstructs the world system of societies using the functional aspect of analysis and distinguishes six functional spheres of self-reproduction of the world system of societies: reproduction of humans, reproduction of means of subsistence, reproduction of social relations concerning reproduction of humans, reproduction of social relations concerning reproduction of means of subsistence, reproduction of essential elements of biophysical environment, reproduction of essential relations between elements of social environment.
The author demonstrates that the most relevant levels of analysis of the modern world system of societies are local (subsocietal), societal, regional (supersocietal), and global. Four types of components are the most adequate for analysis of the modern world system of societies: first-level subsystems of societies, transsocietal social systems, societies, and associations of societies. As a result of comparative analysis of the two aspects of the modern world system of societies four types of relations between its components were specified: intrasocietal, transocietal, societal, and intersocietal relations.
Overall, the author elaborates a coherent conceptual model of the modern world system of societies useful for conceptual and computational modeling.
