WALLERSTEIN'S WORLD SYSTEMS THEORY 1970s

WALLERSTEIN'S WORLD SYSTEMS THEORY 1970s

1. Three-tiered world

   • CORE
     • USA, Western Europe, Japan, Australia, New Zealand
   • SEMI PERIPHERY
     • Russia, India, China (NICs)
   • PERIPHERY
     • Africa, Eastern Europe, FSU

2. Countries can move backwards and forwards over time

   • Some countries entering semi-periphery and even emerging to be part of core
     • More dynamic model than Frank's Dependency Theory which is based on Marxist ideas of rich vs poor

3. Rise of China and India

   • Wallerstein's view is that industrial capitalism was born in Europe and rise of China and India represent another stage in growth of economy
   • Frank's contrasting view is that the current situation is simply a shift back to a much older world order when India and China were powerful economies