World System Theory

World-System Theory, developed by sociologist Immanuel Wallerstein, analyzes global economic and social systems. It posits that the world is divided into core, semi-peripheral, and peripheral nations. Core countries are economically dominant, often exploiting resources and labor from peripheral nations, which are less developed. Semi-peripheral countries fall in between, having characteristics of both. This theory explains how wealth and power are distributed globally, highlighting the interconnectedness of nations and the impact of historical and economic forces on development and inequality. It emphasizes that global interactions shape local realities in significant ways.