The Struggle for Development and Democracy: A General Theory

Volume 2

Series: 

In The Struggle for Development and Democracy Alessandro Olsaretti argues that we need significantly new theories of development and democracy to answer the problem posed by neoliberalism and the populist backlash, namely, uneven development and divisive politics heightened by the 9/11 attacks. This volume proposes a general theory of development and democracy, as part of a unified theory of power, emphasizing that development needs markets, civil society, and the state, and also the proper networks and interactions amongst markets, civil society, and the state. Imperialism undermines these interactions, and turns countries into providers of cheap land or labour. This book begins to sketch the mechanisms at work, and to answer one question: how did imperialist elites build their power?

All royalties from sales of this volume will go to GiveWell.org in honour of Alessandro Olsaretti's memory.
Copyright Year:
2023
E-Book (PDF)
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Published
ISBN:
978-90-04-54351-5
Publication:
13 Mar 2023
Hardback
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Published
ISBN:
978-90-04-54350-8
Publication:
16 Mar 2023
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Alessandro Olsaretti, Ph.D. (2013), McGill University, was an independent researcher with expertise in sociology and databases. He has published in Critical Sociology, Historical Materialism, and the Journal of Classical Sociology. He also published a novel titled The Caravaggio Code. He died suddenly in Montreal in November 2023.
Acknowledgments

List of Figures and Tables

Introduction
 1 The approach to theory and the goals of the book

 2 The general theory in comparison to other theories


Part 1
Summary of the Hypotheses and Theses of the Theory
 Introduction to Part 1

1 Hypotheses on Neoliberalism and Elites and Collective Action
 1 Definitions of the Main Concepts of the General Theory

 2 Gramsci’s Theory of Hegemony and Uneven Development

 3 Hypotheses on Neoliberalism and the Hegemony of Elites

 4 Refined Hypotheses on the Italian and British Case Studies


2 The Theses and Additional Hypotheses of the General Theory
 1 Theses about the Sources of Development and Democracy

 2 Theses about Imperialism and Uneven Development

 3 Additional Hypotheses on Other Countries as Case Studies

 4 Additional Hypotheses on Neoliberalism and Populism


Part 2
Key Approaches and Concepts from Sociology and Geography
 Introduction to Part 2

3 Macro Historical Sociology and Geography and World Systems Theory
 1 General Theory and Macro Historical Sociology and Foundations

 2 World Systems Theory and the Maximum Systems in the World

 3 Causal Chains and Reference Frames within the Main Arguments

 4 The Semantic Reference Frame and the Rise of the West

 5 The Geographic Reference Frame and Interstate and Social Conflict

 6 Geopolitics and the Social War of Position and of Maneuver


4 The Sociology of Development and Political and Cultural Sociology
 1 The Sociology of Development and the Role of the State

 2 Embedded Autonomy and Types of State Systems

 3 Political Sociology and Interstate Conflict in State Systems

 4 Cultural Sociology and Nation-States and Development

 5 The Interaction between External and Internal Dynamics

 6 The Social War of Maneuver and Violent Social Movements


Part 3
Development and Democracy and the Division of Labour in Society
 Introduction to Part 3

5 Theoretical Groundwork on Power and the Division of Labour in Society
 1 The Division of Labour in Society and Capabilities

 2 Capabilities within a Theory of Power and Conflict

 3 The Provision of Capital and the Importance of Regulation

 4 Regulation and System States and System Change

 5 The Balance of Power and Separation of Powers between Arenas

 6 The Argument Regarding Uneven Development within a Country


6 Theses on the Sources of Development and Democracy
 1 Theses i and ii and the Definitions of Basic Concepts

 2 Thesis iii on the Division of Labour as a Source of Development

 3 Thesis iv on Embedded Autonomy as a Source of Development

 4 Thesis v and the Full Definition of Democracy Including Institutions

 5 Thesis vi on Interactions between Development and Democracy

 6 Thesis vii and the Loss of Development and Democracy


Part 4
Development and Democracy and the Division of Labour in the World System
 Introduction to Part 4

7 Theoretical Groundwork on Power and the Division of Labour in the World System
 1 The Division of Labour in the World System and Geopolitical Areas

 2 Geopolitical Areas and the Rules of Projection of Power

 3 The Effects of the Projection of Power outside the Core

 4 The Effects of Heightened Conflict on Hegemony outside the Core

 5 Political-Military Development and State and Market Formation

 6 The Argument Regarding Uneven Development across Countries


8 Theses on the Sources of Imperialism and Uneven Development
 1 Thesis viii on Democracy and the Balance of Power

 2 Theses ix and x on Conflict and Transitions to Capitalism

 3 Theses xi and xii on Conflict Leading from Democracy to Imperialism

 4 Thesis xiii on the Effects of Imperialism Upon Uneven Development

 5 Thesis xiv on Economic Effects on the Core

 6 Thesis xv on Political-Military Effects on the Core


 Conclusions


Bibliography

Index

Specialists in theories of development and democracy, post-graduate students and educated public with an interest in questions of development and democracy such as uneven development.
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