Flashcards
World Systems Theory
Cards in this deck (9)
- 1IntroDeveloped from Frank - noticed a flaw in dependency theory when he recognised the need to study the entire global economy as a WORLD SYSTEM. We can't understand the fate of a single country, without understanding how it fits into the overall system. He argues that countries aren't poor because of their own specific history or internal characteristics (modernisation view) but because of their position to relative to others in the global capitalist system.
- 2WallersteinMarxist - shared this criticism of dependency theory and developed the WORLD SYSTEMS THEORY whereby the focus is not on individual countries but the economic system of capitalism. It has FOUR underlying principles.
- 31. Nation states are not an adequate unit of analysisWallerstein argues that rather than looking at individual countries, we should look at the overall social system that transcends national boundaries. This system is capitalism which is responsible for creating the world order or Modern World System MMS. The MMS forms a unified system dominated by the search by capital for profit and the market system.
- 42. MMS characterised by a division of labourThe economic division of labour involves three types of capitalist zones: the CORE, SEMI-PERIPHERY and PERIPHERY.
Core = developed countries - control world trade and monopolise production.
Semi-periphery = e.g. Brazil - have urban areas like core but have extreme rural poverty - exploited by the core but exploit the periphery.
Periphery - bottom of the hierarchy - provide raw materials and cash crops for the core and semi-periphery - 53. Mobility within the MMSWallerstein argues that countries can b upwardly or downwardly mobile in the hierarchy of the MMS. It could be argued that the Asian Tiger economies have moved up into the semi-peripheral. Some argue the UK is in danger of falling from the core to the semi-periphery.
- 64. MMS is constantly evolvingWorld systems theory is similar to Frank's dependency theory but is certainly more flexible as it allows us to look at the world system as a whole and to explain changes in fortune of individual countries. He suggests the MMS is constantly evolving through COMMODIFICATION, DE-SKILLING, PROLETARIANISATION and POLARISATION
- 7Criticism of World Systems Theory overall:Some argue it's too economic - it assumes the economy is driving all aspects of the system and therefore ignores the contribution of culture, politics, etc.
However, Marxists argue that as Marx showed, economics DOES drive all aspects of the system. Capitalism is centred on the need for capital to make profits and this underpins almost all activity. - 8Who specifically criticises World Systems Theory?Bergesen - argues it was military conquest and political manipulation of local people that made developing nations economically dependent rather than the logic of capitalism.
However, Marxists would argue something has to motivate military conquest and political manipulation in the first place. They argue this is due to the desire to benefit financially and make profits.
Wallerstein is accused of ignoring the importance of internal factors, typically traditions and cultural factors, as reasons to explain failure of LEDC's to develop. He is also accused of ignoring the corruption and Kleptocracy of local elites.
Also accused (like Frank) of not defining core, semi-p and p properly and so hard to measure and test his ideas. - 9Useful?Because he looks at development in terms of globalisation and recognises that focusing upon individual countries can lead to missing the bigger picture of capitalism and exploitative nature.
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- A-Level World Flashcards on World Systems Theory, created by Georgia Davidson on 14/06/2016.
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- Georgia Davidson
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