Wallersteins

Wallersteins refers to people who bear the surname Wallerstein. The name is of German origin, typically formed with a toponymic or occupational component and the common suffix -stein. It is found among both Jewish and non-Jewish families in German-speaking regions and in diaspora communities.

The most widely recognized figure associated with the name is Immanuel Wallerstein (1930–2019), an American sociologist who developed world-systems theory. This framework analyzes the capitalist world economy as a historical system shaped by uneven core–periphery relations and long-term processes. Wallerstein’s work, including The Modern World-System (1974) and later World-Systems Analysis, emphasizes how economic and political power circulates across regions and over centuries. He was a prominent public intellectual who also helped lead the Fernand Braudel Center for the Study of Economies, Historical Systems, and Civilizations at Binghamton University.

In addition to Immanuel Wallerstein, other individuals with the surname have pursued diverse careers, including academia, business, and the arts. However, none has achieved the same level of international recognition in the broad social sciences as Wallerstein.

The term Wallersteins may be used in reference to multiple people sharing this surname. It is distinct from Wallerstein, the singular surname, and may appear in discussions of family histories, biographical references, or scholarly contributions where more than one Wallerstein is involved.