Sociology 10.3

There is, of course, some basis for this assumption

Data show that core nations tend to have lower maternal and child mortality rates, longer life spans, and less absolute poverty It is also true that in the poorest countries, millions of people die from the lack of clean drinking water and sanitation facilities, which are benefits most of us take for granted. At the same time, the issue is more complex than the numbers might suggest

What assumption does the modernization theory on global stratification make?

Development is universally desired by all nations.

What is true of the dependency theory on global stratification?

It aligns with the conflict theory perspective Core nations impede the stability of peripheral nations.

Critics point out the inherent ethnocentric bias of this theory

It supposes all countries have the same resources and are capable of following the same path it assumes that the goal of all countries is to be as "developed" as possible. There is no room within this theory for the possibility that industrialization and technology are not the best goals

Cultural equality, history, community, and local traditions are all at risk as

modernization pushes into peripheral countries. The challenge, then, is to allow the benefits of modernization while maintaining a cultural sensitivity to what already exists.

The two most widely applied perspectives are

modernization theory and dependency theory

As long as peripheral nations are dependent on core nations for economic stimulus and access to a larger piece of the global economy,

they will never achieve stable and consistent economic growth.

Dependency Theory

was created in part as a response to the Western-centric mindset of modernization theory It states that global inequality is primarily caused by core nations (or high-income nations) exploiting semi-peripheral and peripheral nations (or middle-income and low-income nations), which creates a cycle of dependence the theory states that since core nations, as well as the World Bank, choose which countries to make loans to, and for what they will loan funds, they are creating highly segmented labor markets that are built to benefit the dominant market countries. At first glance, it seems this theory ignores the formerly low-income nations that are now considered middle-income nations and are on their way to becoming high-income nations and major players in the global economy, such as China. But some dependency theorists would state that it is in the best interests of core nations to ensure the long-term usefulness of their peripheral and semi-peripheral partners. Following that theory, sociologists have found that entities are more likely to outsource a significant portion of a company's work if they are the dominant player in the equation; in other words, companies want to see their partner countries healthy enough to provide work, but not so healthy as to establish a threat

What theoretical perspective on global stratification does Leslie T. Chang employ in his book Factory Girls: From Village to City in Changing China?

Symbolic interactionism

Modernization Theory, low-income countries are affected by their lack of industrialization and can improve their global economic standing through

an adjustment of cultural values and attitudes to work industrialization and other forms of economic growth