Spatial aspects of Development Yr12 ‘Core and Periphery’ - Global interactions

Introduction World systems analysis is identified with Immanual Wallerstein (1974) and is a way of looking at economic, social and political development. It treats the whole world as a single unit. Any analysis of development must be seen as part of the overall capitalist approach not country by country approach. He argued that n aproach which looked at individuals was too simplistic and suffered from developmentalism. World systems analysis is identified with Immanual Wallerstein (1974) and is a way of looking at economic, social and political development. It treats the whole world as a single unit. Any analysis of development must be seen as part of the overall capitalist approach not country by country approach. He argued that n aproach which looked at individuals was too simplistic and suffered from developmentalism.

Developmentalism Each country was economically and politically free Each country was economically and politically free All countries follow the same route to devlopment All countries follow the same route to devlopment As a result they were ethnocentric believing that what happened in N.Amreica and Europe was best and would automatically follow elsewhere. As a result they were ethnocentric believing that what happened in N.Amreica and Europe was best and would automatically follow elsewhere. Question: Pair up and write your thoughts as to whether or not you agree with this approach and state why?

Capitalist world systems: According to Wallerstein have the following: -a global market -many countries, which allow political and economic competition -three tires of countries

The three tiers 1. Core, largely MEDCs 2. Periphery, LEDCS 3. Semi-periphery (where class struggles take place e.g.g Latin America in 1980’s and Eastern Europe in late 1980’s and early 1990’s

Kondratieff cycles Wallerstein argued that capitalist development led to cycles of growth and stagnation e.g. depressions at year intervals. The last two being 1920’s and 1930’s and 1980’s. Stagnation allows the semi-periphery to become involved in the development process. Capitalism according to this approach includes feudalism and socialism.

Myrdal’s ‘Core-Periphery’ model

The Core… The CORE of a region is… “…the central part of a region where most of the economic development takes place. These areas have a high concentration of population, wealth and resources. The core continues to develop by a process of CUMULATIVE CAUSATION.”

… and the Periphery The PERIPHERY of an region is… “…the sparsely populated areas which are less developed than the core. They tend to lack both wealth and resources, or their resources are ‘drained’ by the core. This is known as the BACKWASH EFFECT.”

Examples of ‘Core-Periphery’ GLOBAL scale: North-South divide GLOBAL scale: North-South divide On a world scale, MEDCs (rich North) constitute the global core, whereas the LEDCs make up the periphery

CONTINENTAL scale: Western Europe CONTINENTAL scale: Western Europe Western Europe is more attractive to industries because it’s near to a large wealthy market; has skilled labour available; has high-quality infrastructure; has R&D facilities NATIONAL scale: Brazil NATIONAL scale: Brazil The South-East region boasts the country’s ‘Golden Triangle’ of industries (economic core) and the capital city (administrative / political core)‏

Friedmann’s ‘Core-Periphery’ model Country begins with a number of relatively independent local centres, each of which serves a small region. A single strong core develops during the initial phase of industrialisation. Cumulative Causation ensures the core develops as more labour / capital migrates from the periphery. The core-periphery structure becomes transformed into a multi-nuclear structure with the national core and a number of sub-cores. A functional interdependent system of cities develops, resulting in national integration and maximum growth potential.

‘Cumulative Causation’ model

Core-periphery model Economic growth and development are never even. Economic growth and development are never even. Takes into account regional variations within countries (local or current conditions). Takes into account regional variations within countries (local or current conditions). Core – most prosperous and developed part of a country, or region. Core – most prosperous and developed part of a country, or region. Periphery – Levels of wealth, development and standards of living decrease with distance from the core. Periphery – Levels of wealth, development and standards of living decrease with distance from the core.