World Systems Theory - Notes

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Intro

Modern nation states exist within economic, political and legal framework

Indiv. societies or states can't be understood without referring to MWS

Wallerstein

Explains develop. in terms of economic relationships between countries in MWS

Called the Modern World Systems Theory

Division

Divides capitalist world economy into three

Modern nations are all part of WS of capitalism - Wallerstein seeks to understand

Core Nations

Semi-Peripheral

Peripheral

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

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

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

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

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

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

World Systems Theory