Lecture 1

  • Globalization: economic process vs. experience
    • Started in the 16th century
  • World Systems Theory: the world is divided in 3
    • Core states
    • Semi-periphery state
    • Periphery states
  • World systems: a group of societies connected by the division of labour
    • Ex: trade patterns
    • There are different world systems
  • 13-14th century: China → Western Europe trade system (grain)
    • Price differentials between WE and EE
    • WE specialize in other goods
    • EE = cheaper
  • North America started as a peripheral state
    • Some parts then became semi-peripheral
  • Main argument: globalization + its patterns are not new
    • Resource from weaker states are extracted for stronger states