Economic Cycles, Crises, and the Global Periphery

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This thought-provoking monograph analyzes global cycles of prosperity, recession, and depression, aligning them with significant historical events. It integrates major research on economic and political cycles to clarify the evolving relationships between the global center and its periphery, addressing current economic upheavals and potential future developments. Central to the discussion are the successive waves of industrial, technological, and cybernetic progress that have shaped the current era of globalization, impacting the roles of Western powers and former minor players, ultimately leading to a world order without a hegemon. The authors forecast the Great Convergence, which entails a reduction in inequities between the global core and the rest of the world, particularly the wealth gap between First and Third World nations. Key topics include the omission of politics from economic analysis, the importance of economic cycles in understanding the geopolitical landscape, the implications of an aging developed world on future technological and economic trends, and the anticipated position of the U.S. on the global stage. This volume will stimulate discussion among sociologists, global economists, demographers, historians, and futurologists, providing essential insights for research and preparation for a new era of sociopolitical change.