π Topic Summary
Wallerstein's World Systems Theory explains the spatial and functional relationships between countries in the global economy. It categorizes nations into three tiers: core, periphery, and semi-periphery, based on their levels of economic development and power. Core countries dominate global trade and exploit periphery countries for raw materials and cheap labor. Semi-periphery countries have characteristics of both core and periphery and act as a buffer between them.
This theory emphasizes that the global capitalist system is not a collection of independent countries but rather an interconnected system where wealth and power are unevenly distributed.
π Part A: Vocabulary
Match the following terms with their definitions:
- Core
- Periphery
- Semi-periphery
- Commodity Chain
- Dependency Theory
Definitions:
- Countries that are less developed with little control over the world market.
- Countries that dominate global trade and exploit other countries.
- The process used by firms to gather resources, transform them into goods or commodities, and finally, distribute them to consumers.
- Countries that have characteristics of both core and periphery.
- The idea that resources flow from poor and underdeveloped states to wealthy states, enriching the latter at the expense of the former.
(Match the numbers to the letters: 1=____, 2=____, 3=____, 4=____, 5=____)
π Part B: Fill in the Blanks
Wallerstein's World Systems Theory divides countries into three categories: ________, ________, and ________. __________ countries are the most economically developed and have the most power in the global economy. __________ countries are the least developed and are often exploited for their resources. __________ countries are in between the two, and they act as a buffer between the core and the periphery.
π€ Part C: Critical Thinking
How can Wallerstein's World Systems Theory be used to explain current patterns of global migration?