1

The World-Systems Perspective: OverviewOverview

World-systems was strong influenced by dependency and other neo-Marxist theories, but also represents a significant departure from its predecessors

Key PointsWorld-systems is unidisciplinaryWorld-systems is holisticWorld-systems examines long-term historical dynamics and processes of change

Politics of East AsiaTheories of Political Economy

2

The World-Systems Perspective: OverviewOverview

In addition to methodological differences, there are significant differences in the conceptual framework and research focuses between world-systems and dependency …

Key concepts

Trimodal structure: Core-Semiperiphery-PeripheryDivision within core: Hegemon vs. other core actorsSystem dynamics: incorporation, deepening, social construction, cyclical rhythms, and anti-systemic movements

Politics of East AsiaTheories of Political Economy

3

The World-Systems Perspective: Trimodal StructureTrimodal Structure

The capitalist world-system is necessarily divided into three zones. The zones are integrally connected throughglobal commodity chains and/ora relationship of asymmetricinterdependence.

The vastmajority ofthe world’spopulationlives in the periphery.

Upward/downwardmobility is possible

Politics of East AsiaTheories of Political Economy

4

The World-Systems Perspective: Division within CoreDivision within Core

In the capitalist world system, the core is divided: the most dominant member of the core is the hegemon, which occupies a “special” position in the global system. The hegemon has interests that both overlap with, but also differ from other core actors

Core states often act in concert, but they also have their own specific interests: this leads to a process of both unified action (against the other zones) and struggle among each other for dominance and power

Politics of East AsiaTheories of Political Economy

5

The World-Systems Perspective: System DynamicsSystem Dynamics

Incorporation: Refers to ______________________ of the world economy’s outer boundaries to other parts of the world

Deepening: Refers to the commodification and industrialization processes through which production in one zone of the world economy is geared into, dependent upon, and ______________________ with production in other zones of the world economy.

Social construction: Refers to collective identities (race, nation, ethnicity, gender, family, etc.) are ___________________ to serve the changing needs and dynamics of the world economy. World-systems develop geocultures.

Cyclical rhythms: Refers to constants ups and downs in the working of the world economy: these ups and downs provide different opportunities for upward (or downward) mobility.

Anti-systemic movements. Refers to various social movements against the system. Islamic fundamentalism, the “anti-globalization” movement, environmentalism, are all anti-systemic movements.

Politics of East AsiaTheories of Political Economy

expansion

integrated

constructed

6

The World-Systems Perspective: EvaluationEvaluationThe world-systems perspective has had a tremendous impact on studies of economic development; it’s holistic and dynamic framework allows us to integrate markets, states, culture, and even time into a single coherent account. Still, critics point out (for example) …

Politics of East AsiaTheories of Political Economy

WST privileges structure over agency: it is “too structural” and deterministic

• For example, concept of permanent zones is rigid: according to WST, China’s economic rise must necessarily lead to an

economic fall for other states/peoplesWST largely dismisses culture as an autonomous forceWhile ostensibly unidisciplinary, WST privileges economic processes over other social and political processesJump

Last slide of lectureLast slide of lecture

7

The World-Systems Perspective: Global Commodity ChainGlobal Commodity Chain

This is an example of a global commodity chain for coffee. Note that growers and pickers are generally in that part of the chain with the lowest “value added” activity. At the other end of the chain are retail outlets, where the value added is often highest.

Click to see value added figures for a typical cup of coffee

Click to return

Source: The Coffee Book: Anatomy of an Industry from Crop to the Last Drop

8

The World-Systems Perspective: Global Global Commodity ChainCommodity Chain

This chart shows how where a dollar is spent on a typical cup of coffee sold in an American supermarket. Not that the retail store receives, by far, the lion’s share at 67%, while the value added in the producing country is only 3%

Click to return

Source: The Coffee Book: Anatomy of an Industry from Crop to the Last Drop