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World Systems Theory

The document summarizes key concepts in world systems theory and the global interstate system. It describes the global political structure as consisting of core states, semi-peripheral states, and peripheral states. Core states are wealthy and powerful, industrialized nations. Peripheral states are poor, undeveloped nations that export raw materials. Semi-peripheral states are in between, working toward industrialization. World systems theory views this global division of labor as maintaining exploitation of the periphery by the core.

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lorrece Rabal
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111 views

World Systems Theory

The document summarizes key concepts in world systems theory and the global interstate system. It describes the global political structure as consisting of core states, semi-peripheral states, and peripheral states. Core states are wealthy and powerful, industrialized nations. Peripheral states are poor, undeveloped nations that export raw materials. Semi-peripheral states are in between, working toward industrialization. World systems theory views this global division of labor as maintaining exploitation of the periphery by the core.

Uploaded by

lorrece Rabal
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Global Interstate System

 The whole system of human interactions. The modern


world is structured politically as an interstate system- a
system of competing and allying states. Political scientist
commonly call this the international system and this is the
focal point of the field of international relations.
World Systems Theory

 World systems are defined by the existence of division of labor. It has


a multi-state political structure and therefore, its division of labor is
international division of labor.
 The world systems theory, as defined by Immanuel Wallerstein in
“World Systems Analysis,” is the argument that the social reality
within which we live and which determines what our options are has
not been the multiple national states of which we are citizens, but
something larger, which we call a world-system (x),” World society
models shape nation-state identities, structures, and behavior
through worldwide cultural and associated processes (Meyer, Thomas,
& Ramirez, p.84).
 Wallerstein characterizes the world system as a set of mechanisms,
which redistributes surplus value from the periphery to the core. In
his terminology,
 the core is the developed, industrialized part of the world,
 Semi-periphery
 the periphery is the "underdeveloped", typically raw materials-
exporting, poor part of the world; the market being the means by
which the core exploits the periphery.
Core States

 Are the most economically diversified, wealthy, and powerful


(economically and militarily)
 Have strong central governments, controlling extensive bureaucracies
and powerful militaries
 Have a sufficient tax base so state institutions can provide
infrastructure for a strong economy
 Highly industrialized and produce manufactured goods rather than
raw materials for export
 Increasingly tend to specialize in information, finance and service
industries
 More often in the forefront of new technologies and new industries.
Examples today include high-technology electronic and biotechnology
industries. Another example would be assembly-line auto production
in the early 20th century
 Has strong bourgeois and working classes
 Have significant means of influence over non-core states
 Relatively independent of outside control
Semi- Peripheral States

 Semi-peripheral states are those that are midway between the core
and periphery.
 They tend to apply protectionist policies most aggressively among the
three categories of states.
 They tend to be countries moving towards industrialization and more
diversified economies. These regions often have relatively developed
and diversified economies but are not dominant in international
trade.
 States like Brazil, Russia, India, Israel, China, South Korea and South
Africa (BRICS) are usually considered semi-peripheral.
Peripheral States

 Are the least economically diversified


 Have relatively weak governments
 Have relatively weak institutions, with tax bases too small to support
infrastructural development
 Tend to depend on one type of economic activity, often by extracting and
exporting raw materials to core states
 Tend to be the least industrialized
 Are often targets for investments
from multinational (or transnational) corporations from core states that
come into the country to exploit cheap unskilled labor in order to export
back to core states
 Have a small bourgeois and a large peasant classes
 Tend to have populations with high percentages of poor and
uneducated people
 Tend to have very high social inequality because of small upper
classes that own most of the land and have profitable ties to
multinational corporations
 Tend to be extensively influenced by core states and their
multinational corporations and often forced to follow economic
policies that help core states and harm the long-term economic
prospects of peripheral states.
 World-Systems Theory can be useful in understanding world history
and the core countries' motives for imperialization and other
involvements like the US aid following natural disasters in developing
Central American countries or imposing regimes on other core states.

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