World in Disorder: Interdisciplinary Approach to Global Issues

Designed as both an introductory and theoretical text on contemporary global issues, this book was written to be used in conjunction with an international newspaper, especially the "Christian Science Monitor". Smith supplies theory and background to key global issues and embraces the world system theory of Immanuel Wallerstein and the new institutional economics of Douglas North. Smith demonstrates the "theory of blocked transition", by which a few wealthy societies have achieved transitions to modernisation economically, politically, demographically and ecologically, while poor societies have been blocked in attaining these same advances. The book is organised regionally, exploring global issues in Latin America, Africa, the Near East, Asia, Europe and Russia. Among the issues discussed are revolution, terrorism, the drug trade, democratisation, privatisation, deforestation, desertification and population expansion. The text is characterised by its staightforward approach.