Entire Volume 17 issue 1 - Journal of World-Systems Research ...

EXTERNALITY AND INCORPORATION IN THE WORLD-SYSTEM:
ABYSSINIA – ANOMALY OR PALIMPSEST?
Jon D. Carlson
School of Social Sciences, Humanities & Arts
University of California
Jcarlson3@ucmerced.edu
ABSTRACT
This article examines the concept of the ‘external arena’ and the role of the ‘information
network’ in the expansion of the world-system and incorporation of new regions. To address
systemic incorporation, I reference research on nested networks of interaction, and echo
criticisms that the impact of myth and misinformation has been underappreciated as an element
of incorporation. Significant alteration occurs well-prior to the point at which most worldsystems
literature considers a region incorporated. I offer the concept of “protoglobalization”
as a means of conceptualizing this early, overlooked social, economic, and political change.
Abyssinia is of interest because it offers a rare case of cross-systemic incorporation. The region
was historically part of the Red Sea trade complex, had linkages throughout the interior of
Africa, and existed on the periphery of the Indian Ocean world-system. So while initially outside
the realm of European contact, this case offers an example of successful resistance to
incorporation and how that process can be understood. Additionally, it offers a case study of
cross-systemic incorporation, which has been lacking in the literature. As such, it also
contributes to the concept of a ‘contested periphery’. The case reaffirms the significant impact
external regions can have on the functioning of “internal” system actors; the mere myth of
Prester John spurred significant effort by European powers to locate his legendary Christian
Kingdom. Finally, the article uses the methodological innovation of historical maps to trace the
border of the ‘information network’, which allows for a refinement of our understanding of the
complex process of incorporation and an improved model of the relationship between networks of
interaction, frontiers, contestation, and incorporation.
INTRODUCTION
To expand upon existing research on ‘incorporation’ into the world-system, I undertake a specific
case study of a region external to the expanding European world-system. Accordingly, this is
meant to flesh-out the middle ground between Wallerstein’s (1974, 1980, 1989) analysis of
incorporation (European-focused, state-centric, ‘inside-out’) and Hall’s (1986, 1987, 1989)
research on frontiers and incorporation (external, indigenous-oriented, ‘outside-in’). This case
also supports the ‘pulsation’ thesis of world-systems (Hall 1987, 1989, 2005; Chase-Dunn and
Hall 1997; Beaujard and Fee 2005), offering insight for future cross-systemic study: are zones
along system borders repeatedly incorporated as they fall in and out of neighboring systems, or
are they mere geographic socio-cultural bridges between systems? Accordingly, the case of
Copyright ©2011, American Sociological Association, Volume XVII, Number 1, Pages 165-198
ISSN 1076-156X