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World Systems Theory

Understand the World Systems Theory, examining the core, peripheral, and semi-peripheral countries, hegemony, and the potential end of capitalist growth. Explore the impacts of environmental degradation, resource depletion, and competition on the global economy.

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World Systems Theory

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  1. World Systems Theory Kimberly Martin, Ph.D. Sociology 370

  2. Capitalism • Based on industrialism and intensive agriculture • Supply and Demand depends on continuous growth of production and consumer markets • Ideology of materialism • Those who own capital can make increasingly large profits thru mechanization • These profits depend on having consumers to buy • Capitalists share profit by larger wages and middle class grows, democracy develops • Rising wages mean less profit • Capitalists seek cheaper resources and labor in other countries • Dependent countries are drained of resources • Dependent countries want a share of the standard of living, but cannot afford to get the “stuff”

  3. World Systems Theory • There is a single world economy • There are three types of countries in the WSYS: 1. Core – dominant modern industrialized capitalist countries with large multinational corporations 2. Peripheral – dependent countries that are preindustrialized and export natural resources and labor 3. Semi-peripheral – countries with an upper class that is industrialized and the remainder of the population is preindustrialized • It is extremely difficult to move up in the world system.

  4. Core Countries Imperialist in one of two ways: 1. Colonialism – control of dependent societies by force 2. Neocolonialism – control through multinational corporations and economic, economic aid and “puppet governments”

  5. Hegemony • Core countries that become the dominant force in the WSYS are called hegemons and their control is called hegemony • Three hegemons in the history of the WSYS: The Netherlands, The British and the U.S. • U.S. hegemony peaked in the 1970s and we are on the way down • It is not clear whether there will be a new hegemon, or whether power will be shared in the WSYS in the future

  6. The End of Hegemony? What happens to end the reign of a hegemon? • Environmental degradation • Expense of maintaining hegemony (wages, standard of living, military) • Competition between Core countries for hegemonic superiority • Resentment on the part of dependent (peripheral and semi-peripheral) societies at their inability to attain Core lifestyle

  7. The End of Growth • Resources are depleted • We are currently using at 125% of the earth’s ability to replenish resources. • There will be a steady decrease in jobs over time. • Steady state economy? • Green economy? • Socially responsible industry?

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