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.

"There was no way for me to disagree, and I still fully agree that the world economy should be interpreted as an organic system, which produces uneven and even polarising development, since I myself also explained the gap in international development in the context of the historic development of the world economy. But there was no way for me not to criticise the absolute and exclusive interpretation of the world systems analysis of Wallerstein […] and the explanation of the emergence of the capitalist market economy by a historic accident: by a certain unlash of the creative forces of the ruling elite, […] or rooting unequal exchange in monopolisation and making it the main form of international exploitation, and the idea that running out pre-capitalist reserves will finally limit the global accumulation of capital."

In its critique, the essay points out the wrong approach of the theory by Wallerstein, illustrating it by the example of looking at the causes of falling profit rates, making the critique practical. According to the author, Wallerstein over emphasizes the role of cognitive factors by analysing world systems separately. It dissolves human history as it is and by neglecting the labour theory of value it does not provide a valid and practical solution for explaining falling profit rates.

The theory of Wallerstein, writes the author, is one of the progressive anti-capitalist/ anti-systemic theories, which analyse the hierarchical structure and antagonistic contradictions of the capitalism, interpreted as a world system, at the highest scholarly level. At the same time, the inherent contradictions of this theory cannot be hided. It missed to develop a theory of social forms, that can be found at Marx, and says little about the historic features of the soviet and state socialist development and has not really integrated them into the theory. Nevertheless, the theory of Wallerstein is open and can be developed further with a critical angle.

The art of the painter from the Netherlands, despite its anarchist and irrational features, is a true picture of the age of transition, the death agony of feudalism and the birth of capitalism. Immense changes characterised that time: the feudal order was falling apart and the bourgeoisie of the towns attacked the old order and demanded rights. His art is of a world torn by conflicting powers, from which reason was ousted, where animal spirits ruled, the world of force and terror, when reality became a nightmare. That is, a world quite similar to ours.