{"product_id":"9780595410798","title":"Rethinking the World","description":"The post-Marxian, new historical materialism described in this book breathes new life into our comprehension of the world. A 200-year perspective on modernity tells us that an all-embracing physical phenomenon holds humankind in its grip.\u003cp\u003eHistory has recorded two distinct global systems thus far: \"laissez faire\/metal money,\" which spanned most of the 19th century and lasted until the outbreak of World War I, and \"mixed economy\/weak multilateralism,\" which began after 1945 and exists today. The period between the two systems, 1914-1945, was a chaotic transition. This evolutionary pulsation is well known to students of thermodynamics. It corresponds to the behavior of expanding and complexifying material systems.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe exhaustion of oil and other natural resources is pushing the world toward a third global system that may be called \"two-level economy\/strong multilateralism.\" It will be impossible to get there without a new chaotic transition. No repeated warnings, academic advice, moral advocacy, inspired reforms, or political leadership can provide a shortcut around it. But if it took \"1914-1945\" to make a relatively minor adjustment in the global order, what will it take to make a major one?\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"iUniverse, Incorporated","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48466385961201,"sku":"9780595410798","price":23.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0674\/5433\/7265\/files\/9780595410798_p0.jpg?v=1785642312","url":"https:\/\/shop.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9780595410798","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble","version":"1.0","type":"link"}