Spatial aspects of Spatial aspects of DevelopmentDevelopmentYr12 ‘Core and Periphery’ Yr12 ‘Core and Periphery’ - Global interactions- Global interactions

IntroductionIntroduction

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

DevelopmentalismDevelopmentalism Each country was economically and Each country was economically and politically freepolitically free

All countries follow the same route to All countries follow the same route to devlopmentdevlopment

As a result they were ethnocentric As a result they were ethnocentric believing that what happened in believing that what happened in N.Amreica and Europe was best and N.Amreica and Europe was best and would automatically follow elsewhere.would automatically follow elsewhere.

Question: Pair up and write your Question: Pair up and write your thoughts as to whether or not you thoughts as to whether or not you agree with this approach and state agree with this approach and state why?why?

Capitalist world Capitalist world systems:systems:

According to Wallerstein have According to Wallerstein have the following:the following:

-a global market-a global market

-many countries, which allow -many countries, which allow political and economic political and economic competitioncompetition

-three tires of countries-three tires of countries

The three tiersThe three tiers

1.1. Core, largely MEDCsCore, largely MEDCs

2.2. Periphery, LEDCS Periphery, LEDCS

3.3. Semi-periphery (where class Semi-periphery (where class struggles take place e.g.g struggles take place e.g.g Latin America in 1980’s and Latin America in 1980’s and Eastern Europe in late 1980’s Eastern Europe in late 1980’s and early 1990’sand early 1990’s

Kondratieff cyclesKondratieff cycles

Wallerstein argued that capitalist Wallerstein argued that capitalist development led to cycles of growth development led to cycles of growth and stagnation e.g. depressions at 50-and stagnation e.g. depressions at 50-60 year intervals. The last two being 60 year intervals. The last two being 1920’s and 1930’s and 1980’s. 1920’s and 1930’s and 1980’s. Stagnation allows the semi-periphery Stagnation allows the semi-periphery to become involved in the development to become involved in the development process.process.

Capitalism according to this approach Capitalism according to this approach includes feudalism and socialism.includes feudalism and socialism.

Myrdal’s ‘Core-Periphery’ Myrdal’s ‘Core-Periphery’ modelmodel

The Core…The Core…

The The CORECORE of a region is… of a region is…

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

… … and the Peripheryand the Periphery

The The PERIPHERYPERIPHERY of an region is… of an region is…

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

Examples of ‘Core-Examples of ‘Core-Periphery’Periphery’

GLOBALGLOBAL scale: North-South scale: North-South dividedivide

On a world scale, MEDCs (rich North) constitute the global core, whereas the LEDCs make up the periphery

CONTINENTALCONTINENTAL scale: Western scale: Western EuropeEurope

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

NATIONALNATIONAL scale: Brazil 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-Friedmann’s ‘Core-Periphery’ modelPeriphery’ 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’ Cumulative Causation’ modelmodel

Core-periphery modelCore-periphery model Economic growth and development are Economic growth and development are never even.never even.

Takes into account regional Takes into account regional variations within countries (local variations within countries (local or current conditions).or current conditions).

Core – most prosperous and developed Core – most prosperous and developed part of a country, or region.part of a country, or region.

Periphery – Levels of wealth, Periphery – Levels of wealth, development and standards of living development and standards of living decrease with distance from the decrease with distance from the core.core.