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West Africa & The Rise Of Asante: Rivers Of (Black) Gold And The Proto-Globalization Of Labor, Jon D. Carlson

Jon D. Carlson

This paper examines the concept of the “external arena” and the role of the “information network” in the expansion of the world-system and absorption of new regions. 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. Alteration occurs well-prior to the point at which most world-systems literature considers a region incorporated. I develop the concept of “protoglobalization” to characterize this early, overlooked social, economic, and political change. West Africa offers a rare case of external state creation and resistance to European systemic expansion. …