l7: wallerstein’s world through industrial production of...
TRANSCRIPT
L7: Wallerstein’s World System Theory
Big Idea: In contrast to the periphery and semi-periphery, the core countries achieved dominance
through industrial production of goods.
World System Theory
● Immanuel Wallerstein (1970s)
● Describes the history of global capitalism
● World = 1 large economy divided into:○ Core○ Periphery○ Semi-Periphery○ External
Image source: Wikipedia.com
Important Terms
Capitalism: an economic and political system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the state.
Globalization: actions or processes that are world-wide in scope or effect
Three Tier StructureCORE: Processes that incorporate higher levels of education, higher salaries, and more technology.
*Generate more wealth in the world economy
PERIPHERY: Processes that incorporate lower levels of education, lower salaries, and less technology.
*Generate less wealth in the world economy
SEMI-PERIPHERY: Places where core and periphery processes are both occurring. Places that are exploited by the core but then exploit the periphery.
*Serves as a buffer between core and periphery
The history of global capitalism (and uneven global development)
according to Wallerstein.
First there were hunters and gatherers...
1
...then the 1st Agricultural Revolution led to permanent settlement...
2
...so the first cities began to develop...
3
...which meant more trade and specialization...
4
...in order to have this you need transportation
and communication...
5
...so empires, states and city states emerge...
6
...leading to conflict, conquest, and colonization...
7
...the world looked like this...
8
...industrialization happens and things really start to change...
9
...the world looked like this...
10
...now we have a new world system: globalization...
11
...and the world now looks like this.
12
In which tier does your assigned country best fit?
Example: The United States
HDI = .915
Think about access to education, technology, and economic indicators like GNI and GDP.