Power

Introduction to Global Change and Inequality

• Course: Sociology 002G at University of California, Riverside

The Imbalance of Power

• Concept: Inequality between countries is rooted in disparities of power.

• Key Points:

  • Historical forms of domination:

    • Political Control: Seen during European colonialism, notably British hegemony.

    • Economic Dependency: Characterized post-colonial period, particularly under American hegemony.

The Hegemonic Sequence

• Phases of Hegemony:

  • 1st Phase (mid-1400s to mid-1600s):

    • Dominated by Italian city-states.

    • Significant event: Thirty Years’ War (1616 – 1648).

  • 2nd Phase (mid-1600s to late-1700s):

    • United Dutch Provinces took prominence.

    • Key conflict: Napoleonic Wars (1792 – 1815).

  • 3rd Phase (late-1700s to early-1900s):

    • Dominance of the United Kingdom.

    • Both World Wars (1914 – 1945) marked this era.

  • 4th Phase (early-1900s to present):

    • United States emerges as a dominant power;

    • Speculation about a potential World War III.

European Colonialism

• Definition: Political control over foreign territories.

• Types of Colonialism:

  • Settler Colonialism: Involves population settlement in foreseen territories.

  • Exploitation Colonialism: Focused on resource extraction.

• Historical Context:

  • Flourished in America during 1500s-1700s before spreading to Africa and Asia in 1800s-1900s.

  • Primary colonizers:

    • United Kingdom: Africa, Asia

    • France: Africa, Asia

    • Spain: America

    • Other European States: Africa.

Independence Movements in Former Colonies

• Notable Dates:

  • Morocco: 1956

  • Algeria: 1962

  • Turkey: 1923

  • Tunisia: 1956

  • Cyprus: 1960

  • Syria: 1946

  • Lebanon: 1946

  • Iran: 1979 (end of Pahlavi dynasty)

  • Libya: 1951

  • Egypt: 1922

• European-Controlled Territories in the Middle East:

  • Include various instances of control and independence.

Ethnic Diversity and Fragmentation

• In America: Settler colonialism led to ethnic fragmentation through new populations.

• In Africa: Exploitation colonialism resulted in ethnic fragmentation due to artificial divides.

Ethnic Diversity in Europe

• Languages:

  • Europe is characterized by a rich tapestry of languages including: Icelandic, Sami, Norwegian, Swedish, Irish, French, Turkish, Greek, among others.

Ethnic Diversity in Africa

• Regions:

  • Diverse ethnic groups and languages across the continent, evidenced by historical colonial impacts.

The Legacy of Colonialism

• Key Issues:

  • Emergence of subnational identities.

  • Creation of stratified societies.

  • Formation of illegitimate states.

  • Instances of repression, genocide, and rebellion.

Post-Colonial Period Challenges

• Role of Countries: Countries operate in different roles rather than stages.

• Economic Structures:

  • Unequal exchange between countries perpetuates disparities.

  • The core/periphery hierarchy defines interactions.

Core/Periphery Hierarchy

• Core Nations:

  • Wealthy, healthy, democratic, and industrial.

  • Have diverse economies and enjoy stability.

• Peripheral Nations:

  • Characterized as poor, unhealthy, and agriculturally driven.

  • Often hierarchical and authoritarian.

Economic Dependency**

• Core states leverage technology and product reliance to maintain their advantages.

• Peripheral states experience dependency through limited trade and production capacity.

Terms of Trade**

• Definition: The relationship between a country's export and import prices affecting their economic stability.

• Core nations generally benefit from superior trade terms.

Foreign Investment and Economic Structures

• Issue: Poor labor and environmental standards in peripheral countries.

• Distorted Development: Peripheral economies develop under the constraints of serving core economic needs.

International Organizations Impact**

• Roles of the United Nations, IMF, and World Bank highlight issues of debt and socioeconomic disparity in global relations.