Overview
Today's lecture covered the global interstate system, highlighting the structure of the modern world system, world-systems theory, global governance, and the distinctions between internationalism and globalization.
The Global Interstate System
- The global interstate system is the network of interactions among competing and cooperating states worldwide.
- Also called the international system, it is central to the field of international relations.
- Examples of global cooperation include institutions like the IMF and World Bank.
- Interstate means relations between states; globally, it refers to relationships among all nations.
The Modern World System & Division of Labor
- The modern world system divides labor internationally into three zones: core, semi-periphery, and periphery.
- Core countries are high-income, dominant capitalist nations that exploit peripheral countries for resources and labor.
- Semi-periphery countries, like India and Brazil, are middle-income nations with ties to both core and periphery.
- Periphery countries are low-income, less industrialized, often dependent on core countries for capital.
- Resources move from periphery to core, supporting wealthier countries.
World-Systems Theory (Immanuel Wallerstein)
- World-systems theory analyzes the world as interconnected zones rather than individual states.
- Core: highly industrialized, high wages, advanced technology, e.g., US, Japan, Germany.
- Semi-periphery: moderate development, buffer between core and periphery, e.g., South Korea, Brazil, Philippines.
- Periphery: low development, dependent on others, e.g., some African and South American countries.
- The Philippines is classified as semi-periphery.
Cyclical Rhythms, Secular Trends, and Crisis
- Cyclical rhythms are short-term economic fluctuations.
- Secular trends are long-term patterns of growth or decline.
- Contradiction means system controversies over short- vs. long-term trade-offs.
- Crisis occurs when events threaten the entire system.
Global Governance
- Global governance refers to worldwide political cooperation to address global issues.
- Its goal is to provide global public goods like security, justice, and stable markets.
- Globalization can restrain government budgets, sometimes reducing welfare spending.
Internationalism vs. Globalization
- Internationalism emphasizes relations and trade between distinct nations.
- A nation is a group sharing culture, language, history, and a government (e.g., the Philippines).
- Globalization is the economic integration of national economies into a single global market through free trade and capital flows.
- Comparative advantage is producing at lower opportunity cost; absolute advantage is producing more/better goods than others.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Interstate system — relationships among the world's nation-states.
- Core countries — wealthy, industrialized nations dominating the global economy.
- Semi-periphery countries — developing nations between core and periphery status.
- Periphery countries — less developed countries supplying resources/labor.
- World-systems theory — analysis focusing on economic and political relations between zones, not just states.
- Global governance — cooperative process for managing global issues across nations.
- Internationalism — increasing interaction and cooperation among nations while retaining national identities.
- Globalization — integration of global economies, reducing the role of national boundaries.
- Comparative advantage — ability to produce goods at lower opportunity cost.
- Absolute advantage — ability to produce more or better goods than others.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the characteristics and examples of core, semi-periphery, and periphery countries.
- Understand the definitions and differences between internationalism and globalization.
- Prepare for upcoming discussions on global governance and economic systems.