SOCIOL 2 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: World-Systems Theory, Core International, International Inequality
Document Summary
Also discussed in chirico reading for today. World is also understood in terms of a global economy. But, special emphasis on the role of transnational capitalist class in shaping global processes. Global corporate leaders, politicians, media moguls, rich consumers. Theory tends to view all manifestations of globalization as driven by economic processes. Cultural and political globalization is ultimately driven by economic globalization. Tends to have a critical perspective on globalization: Given unequal global division of labor, trade benefits the rich countries, but not the poor countries. Multinational corporations investing in poor countries just exploit their resources profits are made by the core. International organizations are controlled by capitalism/the core and thus perpetuate global inequality. Global division of labor and negative prognosis for peripheries posited by theory seems too deterministic. Doesn"t match many empirical patterns many former peripheries (e. g. in. Asia) were able to escape from peripheral trap by trading, integrating in global economy.
