Wallerstein

1
Wallersteins World System Theory

• Under development and dependency theory
  continued
• 03b Moore

2
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 Franks dependency theory in
  his World Systems Theory

3
Four aspects of Wallersteins 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

4

• 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

5

• Wallersteins model is dynamic (This allows for
  movement and change). Franks 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?)

6

• 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

7
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

8
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

9
Evaluation of World Systems Theory Weaknesses

1. Both Frank and Wallerstein are economically
   deterministic
2. Wallerstein does not say how capitalism can be
   overcome as Marx said it would

10
Evaluation of World Systems Theory Weaknesses
(continued)

1. Wallerstein does not look at internal factors
   (E.g. mismanagement and corruption in the LDCs)
2. Methodology is too vague and unscientific, core
   etc cannot be clearly operationalised

11
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

12
Evaluation of World Systems Theory Strengths

• 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)