The study is a critical evaluation of Wallerstein's theory on "historical capitalism": drawing general theoretical conclusions especially on changing social forms and demanding a stricter class based approach. In the countries of the former "Eastern Block", the world-systems analysis is more useful in sociology and in historical science than the trendy theoretical tools, which replace the backward looking soviet "historical materialism", like the "civilization" based approach, the "clash of civilisations" or even fully desisting theories. It is time for social scholars in East Europe to read the inspiring sources of Wallerstein, namely the works of Latin American and African authors of the dependence school.

The author looks at the world-systems analysis as a recent, up-to-date and adequate form of the Marx rooted critical social theory – contrary to Wallerstein himself, who regards his attempts as establishing a new and interdisciplinary science, although in its direct factors of emergence giving credits to elements of the Marxian tradition. The world-systems analysis, nevertheless offers a fruitful and rich insight, with several players, which can be tested against reality.

According to the widespread interpretation of our days, the huge improvement concerning health affairs over the past 100-150 years is obviously an achievement of capitalism. In fact the relationship between capitalism and health conditions is rather contradictious thus the revolution in public health and later the establishment of universal social security systems often were realized against the active resistance of capitalists. Countries less developed according to capitalist standards or even non-capitalistic ones have also been able to achieve a dramatic improvement in extending life expectancies at relatively low costs. Capitalism is unable to actually solve the stubborn inequality – one of the fundamental reasons of health problems, furthermore is unwilling to raise this question. In the past decades, private capital interest became more and more determining in the operation of the health care system – having the result of increasing inequality in the access to and level of health care services.

The edited version of the lecture given at the Eszmélet Academy of Social Critique: the heritage of Bibó as a chapter in the humanist tradition of Hungary. [Kossuth Klub, February 8, 2011.]