The Making of a Digital World
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The Evolutionary Processes in World Politics Series
Series editor: William R. Thompson, Indiana University
The Historical Evolution of World-Systems, edited by Christopher Chase-Dunn and
E. N. Anderson (2005)
Puzzles of the Democratic Peace: Theory, Geopolitics, and the Transformation of World Politics,
by Karen Rasler and William R. Thompson (2005)
The Making of a Digital World: The Evolution of Technological Change and How It Shaped
Our World, by Joachim K. Rennstich (2008)
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The Making of a Digital World
The Evolution of Technological Change
and How It Shaped Our World
Joachim K. Rennstich
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the making of a digital world
Copyright © Joachim K. Rennstich, 2008.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any
manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief
quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
First published in 2008 by
PALGRAVE MACMILLAN™
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ISBN-13: 978–1–4039–7448–8
ISBN-10: 1–4039–7448–9
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A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
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First edition:
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Printed in the United States of America.
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To my parents
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C O N T E N T S
List of Figures ix
List of Tables xi
Acknowledgments xiii
One Thinking about Globalization—an Introduction 1
Two An Evolutionary Theory of Globalization 26
Three Drivers of Global Change—Leading Sectors of the
Informational Network Economy 71
Four Drivers of Leading Sector Change—the Role of States,
Organizations, and Individuals 135
Five Drivers of Leading Actor Change—Interstate
Rivalry at the Systemic Level 165
Six The Continuation of Change of the Global Complex
System—an Outlook on Its Future Development 198
Notes 212
References 228
Index 000
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L I S T O F F I G u R E S
2.1 Generational Leadership Long Cycle 30
2.2 Global Complex Systems—Schematic 33
2.3 Complex Global System Development Matrix 52
2.4 System Leadership Transition 58
3.1 IT-share (%) of Equipment Investment,
united States, 1960–1996 96
3.2 Semiconductor Sales ($ million), 1976–2002 97
3.3 Internet Growth, users and Share of World
Population, 1995–2002 103
3.4 Internet Host Survey Count, 1981–2002 103
3.5 Number of Base Pairs (billions) and Sequences
(millions) in GenBank Database, 1982–2001 125
4.1 B/C Matrix of Organizational Interaction Forms 147
4.2 Cellular Organizational Structures 151
5.1 Major Power Rivalries, Major Power Wars, and
Rivalry Environments, 1494–2000 173
5.2 Number of Major Power Rivalries in Maritime
Commercial Rivalry Environment, 1494–1640 188
5.3 Number of Major Power Rivalries in Transition
Phase 1 and Industrial Production Phase Rivalry
Environment, 1640–1815 189
5.4 Number of Major Power Rivalries in Industrial
Production System Rivalry Environment, 1740–1914 190
5.5 Number of Major Power Rivalries in Transition
Phase 2 and Digital Commercial System Rivalry
Environment, 1914–2000 191
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L I S T O F T A B L E S
2.1 Hypothesized Relationship between Learning
Long Cycle, K-waves, Global Lead Industries, and
Network Phases (All Years CE) 41
2.2 Phases of World System Evolution, McNeill,
Wallerstein, Buzan and Little, and Modelski 43
2.3 Extended Evolutionary World Politics Model of
Process of Globalization, 930–2080 CE 45
2.4 Evolutionary World Politics Matrix, Modern
Era, 930–2230 CE 49
3.1 ICT Equipment Investment in OECD countries,
Percentage of Nonresidential Gross Fixed Capital
Formation, Total Economy, 1980–2000 94
3.2 Contribution of IT Equipment to Growth in Capital
Equipment, united States, Percentage, 1993–1998 95
3.3 Number of Internet Hosts (gTLDs Adjusted) and
Web Sites, per 1,000 Inhabitants, July 1997–July 2001 104
3.4 Key Global Telecom Indicators for the World
Telecommunication Service Sector, 1991–2001,
uS$ billions (Adjusted for Inf lation) 107
3.5 Mobile Subscribers in OECD Countries, 1990–1999 112
3.6 Mobile Subscribers, Worldwide, 1995–2001 114
3.7 Broadband Penetration, Subscribers per 100 Inhabitants,
2002–2006 122
3.8 National Shares (in percentage) of the Total Number
of Publications in the Biotechnology and Applied
Microbiology NSIOD Journal Category, 1986–1998 130
3.9 International Strategic Biotechnology Technology
Alliances with at Least One Partner Based in the
united States, 1980–1998 132
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xii List of Tables
5.1 Major Power Rivalries 168
5.2 Major Global Wars, 1494–2000 177
5.3 Global Complex System Rivalry Environments,
1190–2000 179
5.4 Main Characteristics, Global Complex System
Rivalry Environments, 1190–2030 185
5.5 Summary of Summary Statistics for Major Power
Rivalries, Major Powers, Major Power Dyads, and Rivalry
Environments 194
5.6 Analysis of the Effect of Rivalry Environments on
Number of Rivalries per Year 195
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A C K N O W L E D G M E N T S
In the course of writing this book I have run up many debts of gratitude
and it is my great pleasure to acknowledge them here. In the first place,
my thanks are owed to William Thompson whose unrivalled intellec-
tual rigor, breadth of knowledge, and sharpness of mind has never failed
to open up new intellectual paths for me to venture on (as well as
countless holes in my argument). No other teacher has ever presented
me with such wealth—of knowledge, devotion of time, attention, and
guidance—in such an extraordinarily generous and noble fashion. It is
because of him that this work marks not an end but rather a beginning
of many new endeavors.
My deep appreciation extends to the following colleagues, Karen
Rasler, Jeff Hart, and David Audretsch. How this work could have
been completed without their generous advice and critical assistance I
know not. I am especially grateful to Sharon La Roche and Scott
Feickert who were generous in lending their assistance and encourage-
ment during my entire time at Indiana university.
The responsibility for the opinions conveyed in these pages is, of
course, mine alone. However, the ideas themselves were developed,
often challenged, and ref ined in the course of many exchanges with
fellow colleagues and friends, old and new. In particular, I would
like to mention: Giovanni Arrighi, Volker Bornschier, Chris Chase-
Dunn, Claudio Cioff i-Revilla, Michael Colaresi, Catherine Daily,
ulrich Erlhof, Clark Gibson, Nathan Griff ith, Albrecht v. Harder,
Kimberly Mealy, George Modelski, ursula Rennstich, Julian
Westerhout, and Nathan Zook. The team at Palgrave has provided
me with much appreciated guidance and assistance along the editorial
process—this book would have been lacking in substance and style
without their hard work and dedication. I also owe much gratitude to
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xiv Acknowledgments
Meghan Teich, who has constantly reaff irmed me in my endeavors.
Finally, my largest debt remains to my parents. Their unquestioning
support and more importantly, their guidance and boundless love
have never failed me. No words could ever adequately express my
gratitude.
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