1. The World System & Colonialism

2. World system
People all around the world are linked together through communication and transportation technology. We call this globalization, but how new is it?

3. The “world systems theory”
Coined by sociologist Immanuel Wallerstein
“A discernable social system, based on wealth and power differentials, transcends individual countries.”
Since the 16th century, the globe has been connected in economic and political relationships defined by
Core, semi-periphery, and periphery nations

4. Core nations Examples: Unites States, Australia, Canada, France, U.K.
Core nations are characterized by:
A wealthy and diverse economy
A centralized government with a military, state institutions, and taxes.
Industrialized production of final products, production of technology.
Massive specialization
Social stratification, class systems
Independence from and control over non-core nations

5. Periphery nations Examples: Chile, Nigeria, Sudan, Thailand, Jamaica
Periphery nations are characterized by:
Minimal wealth with massive inequality and a non-diverse economy.
Weaker or missing government and military support. Militia/Guerilla
Extraction of raw materials for trade to core nations.
Labor is a raw material and easily exploited.
Populations largely illiterate, uneducated, and poor.
Minimal independence, largely exploited by core and semi-periphery nations.

6. How to move up
Semi-periphery nations like Brazil, India, and Mexico have some benefits of core nations, but still exploit the periphery nations for raw materials and labor.
Nations can fall categories or grow.
Government stabilization
Industrialization, or increase in diverse economy.
Education
Modernization theory

7. Emergence of the world system
As early as 600 BP, cultures are sailing around the world and participating in trade.
Cultures move from self-sufficiency of agriculture to dependence on trade and imported goods.
This leads to the success of capitalism, specifically through slave trade networks.

8. Colonialism begins
Colonialism is the domination of one society over another. Often justified by biological predeterminism.
Begins with the ”Age of Discovery” from the 15th-17th centuries, when Europe founded colonies throughout the New World. Ends in the 19th century.
Sugar in Haiti

9. Why was colonialism successful?
Weapons and technology.
Oceanic travel, new modes of transportation.
Disease
Smallpox and world domination. Ex. Aztecs
Disease deaths demoralize survivors
Minimal revolt, Haiti in 1804

10. Why colonialism? Trade/commerce Slavery Military innovation
New technologies
Development
The “White man’s burden” to help the poor.

11. Industrial Revolution
Industrialization grows out of the world system.
Profits from slave trade fund industrialism.
Dependence on mass production increases as populations do.
Dependence on industrialism increases as people abandon agrarian life.
Massive growth in urban areas and large cities develop
Max Weber The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism

12. Development of stratification
Industrialism’s benefits were good, until labor exploitation.
Karl Marx: Bourgeoisie vs. proletariat
Capitalism meant to protect wealthy.
Bourgeoisie begin to control everything, oppress the people.
Socialism – Redistribution of wealth that transitions capitalist societies to communist ones.
Communism – Classless, moneyless, property-less, society defined by abilities.

13. Modern stratification systems
Max Weber – Marx is too simple
Access to power, prestige, and resources.
Egalitarian
Ranked
Caste/Class systems
Middle class starts to appear in capitalist societies, but does this change inequality?

14. Global wealth inequality

15. World system today
In the 20th century, industrialization added hundreds of new industries and millions of job.
Mass production has given rise to mass consumption

17. Is this progress?
“It is widely recognized that standard of living, which is the most frequently used measure of progress, is an intrinsically ethnocentric concept that lacks universal relevance…semi- autonomous tribal cultures” (Bodley, 1998, p. 1).
“Despite the best intentions of those who have promoted change and improvement….combined with the destruction of the traditional culture” (Bodley, 1998, p. 1-2).

18. “Price of Progress” – Bodley, 1998
Disease of development
Developing populations vulnerable to “advanced” peoples’ diseases.
Development disturbs traditional environment
Development leads to crowds, and when fails, leaves poverty.
Hazards of dietary changes
Canned tuna, canned milk
Teeth and progress
Malnutrition
Ecocide
Deprivation and discrimination