Chapter 12 The World System, Colonialism, and Inequality

According to Wallerstein, what are the 3 different positions of economic and political power that countries within the world system occupy?

1) Core 2) Semiperiphery 3) Periphery

The French used what 2 forms of colonial rule?

1) Indirect rule - governing through native leaders and established political structures 2) Direct rule - French officials in many areas of Africa, where French imposed new government structures to control diverse societies

Define intervention philosophy. Give examples

An ideological justification for outsiders to guide native populations in specific directions. Ex: "White man's burden" for Britain and mission civilisatrice (civilizing mission) by France, and neoliberalism

Describe the prosperity that resulted from industrialization

At first, factory workers got higher wages than those available in the domestic system. Later, owners started recruiting labor in places where living standards were low and labor was cheap.

Describe the 2 phases of British colonialism and how they looked like at their peak.

At its peak, they covered 1/5 of the world's land and ruled a fourth of the population. First phase: Concentrated in New World, West Africa, India, and ended with American Revolutionary in 1783. Second phase: Started in 1788, gained control over most of India, Australia, and New Zealand

What were some of the causes of the Industrial Revolution?

Began with cotton products, iron, and pottery. As factories produced cheap staple goods, IR led to increased production and overall fueled urban growth. European industrialization developed from domestic system of manufacture. As population and consumption increased, it spurred further innovation and technological change.

Socioeconomic stratification saw a sharp division between which 2 opposed classes?

Bourgeoisie: owned the factories, mines, estates, and other means of production Proletariat: members of the working class who had to sell their labor to survive

What are some of the features of a communist system?

Communist party monopolized power in every Communist state, relations with the party were highly centralized and strictly disciplined, state had ownership over means of production, and aimed to spread communism to other nations

Define core, semiperiphery, and periphery

Core nations is where complexity of economic activities and level of capital accumulation is the greatest Semiperiphery are industrialized nations that export both industrial goods and commodities, but lack the power and economic dominance of core nations Periphery are world's least privileged and powerful countries. Economic activities are less mechanized

How did the world system emerge in the 15th century? What did this lead to? What was one of the earliest English imports and what did this lead to?

European exploration in the 15th century permanently linked the Old World to Asia, Africa, and the New World. It paved the way for major exchanges of people, resources, ideas, and diseases. One of the earliest imports was sugar and it led colonial plantation economies which fueled the transatlantic slave trade. Led to mono-crop production.

What were the 2 phases of French colonialism? What were their motivations? Define Mission Civilisatrice.

First phase: Canada, Louisiana purchase, Caribbean, and part of America; Early 1600s Second phase: Most of north and west Africa, and Indochina. Motivated more by the state, church, and armed forces than by pure business interests Mission civilisatrice is equivalent to British "white man's burden" and goal was to implant French culture and language throughout the colonies.

Define the world system theory

Identifiable social system, based on wealth and power differentials, extend beyond individual countries.

Describe the labor in the world system

Immigrants from noncore countries provide cheap labor for agriculture, production, and paid domestic labor in core countries (Ex: Mexicans provide farm labor in U.S.). More countries in core nations are "outsourcing jobs" to take advantage of cheap labor in noncore countries

Describe the spread of industrialization today.

In 21st century, young people are abandoning traditional pursuits and seeking cash. Mass production gave rise to a culture of consumption. Work is scarce in the industrial world as machines and information technology continue to replace people. Companies claim that labor unions limit their flexibility, adaptability, and profitability. Union membership has been its lowest in 70 years

What is the Capitalist World Economy and what led to it? Define capital

Increase in international trade led to capitalist world economy which is a single world system committed to production for sale or exchange, with the object of maximizing profits rather than supplying domestic needs. Capital refers to wealth or resources invested in business, with the intent of generating further wealth

What is the industrial revolution and what did it lead to?

It is the historical transformation of "traditional" into "modern" societies through industrialization. It increased production in both farming and manufacturing. European industrialization replaced the domestic system of manufacture which was the home-handicraft system.

What is Colonialism and what are the phases?

It is the political, social, economic, and cultural domination of a territory and its people by a foreign power for an extended time First Phase: Began with European Age of Discovery and of a sea route to the far East. Ended by rebellions and wars that were aimed at independence. Many colonies of Portugal and Spain became independent. Second phase: Dominated by British and French

Describe the Neoliberal and NAFTA's economic refugees

Lopez states that NAFTA and international forces destroyed the traditional Mexican farming systems, degraded agricultural lands, and displaced Mexican farmers and small-business people. This fueled the migration of millions of undocumented Mexicans to the U.S. Prior to NAFTA, Mexico supported farmers through price supports (buying portion of their harvest at elevated costs). In 1940s, Green Revolution technologies introduced seeds that required chemical inputs and this degraded farm lands.

Describe colonialism and geopolitical labels in Africa?

Many geopolitical labels in Africa today had no equivalent meaning before colonialism. Whole countries, along with social groups in them, were separated by linguistic, political, and economic contrasts. Hundreds of ethnic groups and tribes are colonial construction.

What is Neoliberalism? What does Adam Smith say about this?

Modern day intervention philosophy. The government shouldn't regulate private enterprises. Adam Smith says tariff - barrier free trade and investment, maximization of profits through cost reduction, tendency to impose strict measures that cut government expenses such as public spending on education and more. In exchange for loans, postsocialist and developing nations accept neoliberal policies

What were some of the factors that favored English Industrialization?

Natural resources, Britain is located at the crossroads of international trade, colonies bought large quantities of English staples, and the beliefs and values of Protestants encouraged industry, inventiveness, new knowledge, and more

What is the White Man's Burden? When did British empire begin to break apart?

Paternalistic and racist doctrine asserting that native people in the empire were incapable of governing themselves, and British guidance was needed to civilize and Christianize them. British empire disintegrated after WW2 as a result of national independence.

What is post-colonialism and what can it be described as?

Post-colonialism refers to the study of the interactions between European nations and the societies they colonized. Former colonies can be divided into settler, nonsettler, and mixed.

Define class consciousness. How did Karl Marx view classes as?

Recognition of collective interests and personal identification with one's economic group. Ex: Bourgeoisie and proletariat have radically opposed interests Marx viewed classes as powerful collective forces that could mobilize human energies to influence the course of history

Define Imperialism. When did it start?

Refers to a policy of extending the rule of a country or an empire over foreign nations and of taking and holding foreign colonies. Imperialism goes back to early states, including Egypt in the Old World and Incas in the new.

What are settler, nonsettler, and mixed countries (post-colonialism)

Settler countries have large numbers of European colonists and sparser native populations. Nonsettler countries include large native populations and very few European people. Mixed countries include sizable native and europeans (Ex: Zimbabwe, Kenya, Algeria).

What is communism, with small c and big C?

Small c communism is social system in which property is owned by the community and people work for common good. Large C communism is political movement and doctrine seeking to overthrow capitalism and establish a form of communism. All communist systems are authoritarian and many were totalitarian (banning rival parties and demanding submission to the individual of the state)

What does Gerhard Lenski claim about modern stratification systems that are not simple?

Social equality tends to increase in advanced industrial societies. Shift of political power to masses reflects growth of the middle class which reduces the polarization between owning and working class. More middle class opportunities leads to social mobility and more complex stratification system.

What are post-socialist transitions? What were some problems seen in Russia?

States that once had planned economies that privatized resources and are now undergoing democratization. Russia's GDP fell by half, increase in poverty, and declining life expectancy and lower birthrate.

What does the current world stratification system display?

Substantial contrast between both capitalists and workers in the core nations and workers on the periphery

Describe another assault on Mexican farming when NAFTA came into effect in 1994.

The World Bank granted Mexico a loan, but required Mexico to end corn price supports for small-scale corn farmers. Small-scale Mexican farmers suffered. Once Mexican border tariffs on corn disappeared, corn from the U.S. flooded Mexican markets

Define first world, second world, and third world countries.

They represent common, but ethnocentric categorization of nations. First World: "Democratic west;" Second World: Former soviet union and socialist and once-socialist countries. Went through shock therapy which were decrease in subsidies to industries and farms, increase in privatization and decrease in planned economy. Third world are developing nations.

What are the three dimensions of social stratification? What are social identities based on?

Wealth, power, and prestige tend to be correlated. Social identities based on ethnicity, religion, race, nationality, and other attributes could take priority over class.