Transcript Walerstein’s World System Theory

Wallerstein’s World System Theory
Under development and dependency
theory continued
03b Moore
World Systems theory
• Dependency theorists e.g Frank, were criticised
by later Marxists because
• It only describes the relationship between the
core and periphery as a two tier model nor does
it explain fully.
• Wallerstein refined Frank’s dependency theory
in his World Systems Theory
Four aspects of Wallerstein’s World Systems
Theory
1. Developing countries are not exploited by
individual countries but by the whole capitalist,
profit-seeking system in a A Modern World
System. The MWS is a unified system of
capitalism
2. Three zones in the MWS
i. The core/developed nations – these control
world trade and monopolise manufactured
goods
ii. The semi-peripheral zone e.g. Brazil, South
Africa, urban areas like the core but large areas
of rural poverty like the periphery
iii. The peripheral countries e.g.. Most of
Africa – they provide primary products for both
the semi periphery and the core
3 Wallerstein’s model is dynamic (This allows
for movement and change). Frank’s two tier
model appears static and one way
Countries are ‘socially mobile’ they can move
in from the periphery into the semi periphery
(Eg Asian tigers) or out from the core to the
semi periphery (Eg Britain?)
4 While Wallerstein refines Frank’ theory there
are still similarities
•
Both show how surplus value created in the
periphery is appropriated by the semi
periphery and especially the core
•
Both see the origins of exploitation of some
countries by others to have originated in
slavery, colonialism and neo-colonialism
Modern World System of capitalism is profit
seeking
• The pursuit of profit
by capitalism results
in exploitation
between classes
• Commodification –
everything is turned
into a commodity to
be bought and sold
Modern World System of capitalism is profit
seeking
• De-skilling of labour
• Proletarianisation occurs
(E.g.The nature of call centres?)
• Marx
• Wallerstein argues that this process also
occurs between nations
Evaluation of World Systems Theory
Weaknesses
I.
Both Frank and Wallerstein are
economically deterministic
II. Wallerstein does not say how capitalism
can be overcome as Marx said it would
Evaluation of World Systems Theory
Weaknesses (continued)
III.
Wallerstein does not
look at internal
factors (E.g.
mismanagement and
corruption in the
LDC’s)
IV.
Methodology is too
vague and
unscientific, ‘core’
etc cannot be clearly
operationalised
Evaluation of World Systems Theory
Strengths
1
Wallerstein was one
of the first to
recognise
‘globalisation’ of the
world and the
international division
of labour as the
basis of global
inequality
Evaluation of World Systems Theory
Strengths
2
Globalisation theorists also
show how dependency is
not a one way process,
there is inter-dependency
between the developing
and western world.
(E.g. economic crisis
caused by debt can ripple
out and affect core nations
– unemployment and
destabilisation of western
currencies)