TY - JOUR AU - Hall, Thomas D. PY - 2009/02/26 Y2 - 2024/03/28 TI - Puzzles in the Comparative Study of Frontiers: Problems, Some Solutions, and Methodological Implications JF - Journal of World-Systems Research JA - JWSR VL - 15 IS - 1 SE - Methodological Issues in Macro Comparative Research DO - 10.5195/jwsr.2009.332 UR - https://jwsr.pitt.edu/ojs/jwsr/article/view/332 SP - 25-47 AB - This paper examines ways in which world-system analysis can be employed fruitfully to explore frontier social processes. Conversely, it also examines how frontier social processes and events can be very valuable explorations of highly localized processes ? geographically and temporally ? of world-systems. The study of frontier regions can help to uncover the ways in which many world-systemic contexts shape local human agency. Conversely, the study of these highly localized human practices offers ways to gain insights to how individual actions constantly reconstruct world-systems. Finally, many of the lessons learned here with respect to frontiers, especially in regard to ethnic and national identity formation and transformation can be extended to other social concerns. ER -