World Systems Theory

World Systems Theory

1. Intro

   • Modern nation states exist within economic, political and legal framework
     • Called the Modern World Systems Theory
   • Indiv. societies or states can't be understood without referring to MWS
   • Wallerstein
   • Explains develop. in terms of economic relationships between countries in MWS

2. Division

   • Divides capitalist world economy into three
     • Core Nations
       • Semi-Peripheral
         • Peripheral
   • Modern nations are all part of WS of capitalism - Wallerstein seeks to understand

3. Core Nations

   • Dominant Capitalist Countries, e.g. US & Japan
     • Exploit Semi and Perihperal countries for labour & raw materials
       • Characterised by high industrialisation & urbanisation
         • High wages and high technology patterns & low labour exploitation
           • Own most of worlds capital & control over world trade

4. Semi Peripheral

   • e.g. Taiwan, Mexico and India
     • Less developed than core, more than peripheral
       • Weaker members of "advanced" regions, leading of colonial ones
         • Exploit peripheral; just like core exploit both

5. Peripheral Nations

   • e.g. Most of Africa & South America
     • Dependent on core nations for capital & less industrialised and urbanised
       • Usually agrarian, low literacy rates & lack consistent internet
         • Generally provide labour & raw materials

6. MWS dynamic system which changes over time - dep. is static

7. WST explains global inequality - capitalists need for profit that lead to international division of labour

   • Recognised that dep. isnt a one way process - there is interdependency

8. WST doesn't explain - the three nations are vague & difficult to measure

   • It's very economic - doesn't take into account cultural or social factors