World System Theory

Question 1

What is the World System Theory?

Answer 1

• A theory that combines sociological and economic history and focuses on development and unequal opportunities in countries.
• States that the current world system is a power hierarchy between core and periphery, in which powerful and wealthy core societies dominate and exploit the weak and peripheral societies.

Question 2

What is the history of the World System Theory?

Answer 2

• Developed by Imanuel Wallerstein, it is an adaptation of the adaptation theory partially developed by Brazilian sociologist Fernando Cardoso.
• Modern WST originated around 1500

Question 3

Define hegemony. What do hegemonic powers do?

Answer 3

• Hegemony is the predominance of one country upon others politically, economically, or culturally.
• Hegemonic powers maintain a stable balance of power and enforce free trade to their advantage.

Question 4

Why is hegemony temporary?

Answer 4

Hegemony is temporary due to diffusion of technological advantages, so there is no permanent single center because the world economy is integrated through the market rather than politics.

Question 5

What is the relationship between core and periphery countries to semi-peripheral regions?

Answer 5

Core and periphery countries are interdependent regions with semi-peripheral regions acting as a buffering zone.

Question 6

What do core countries focus on? Semi peripheral? Peripheral?

Answer 6

• Core countries focus on higher-skilled, capital-intensive production; they are militarily strong, and appropriate much of the surplus of the whole world economy. (ex. USA, elite European countries)
• Semi peripheral states are less dependent on core countries than peripheral ones. They have more diversified economies and stronger states (ex. Brazil, India, China)
• Peripheral countries focus on lower-skilled, labor-intensive production and extraction of raw materials (ex. weak states in Africa or Latin America)

Question 7

What is a central factor in the positioning of a region in core or periphery?

Answer 7

Technology

Question 8

Which nations are the new frontier for multinational communication corporations?

Answer 8

Semi peripheral. Core countries; multinational corporations build multiplex movie theaters, sell media products, etc. UNESCO and private companies offer seminars and workshops on Western values and practices dealing with press freedom and other topics.

Question 9

List a few examples of core, semi peripheral, and peripheral nations.

Answer 9

• Core: United States, European Union (West), Canada, Japan, Norway, South Africa
• Semi: BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa), Chile, Mexico, Pakistan, Turkey
  Peripheral: Most of Africa, Latin America

Question 10

Many global communication stakeholders are what? How does the global economy expand?

Answer 10

• non-U.S. owned and controlled

- It expands through a series of mergers and acquisitions in the communications business.

Question 11

What is Neoliberalism?

Answer 11

• Theoretical assumption that free functioning of market forces leads to a better utilization of resources, guarantees consumption and bigger balance of foreign trade, and produces higher economic growth and, therefore, development.
• Minimal role of state, active planning/intervention condemned
• Non-private and nonprofit-oriented institutions regarded as less efficient in every case
• Linked to idea of global market for all kinds of products, including information and entertainment business

Question 12

What is neostructuralism?

Answer 12

• claims that neoliberalism does not solve problems of development and social justice.
• Defines development as an integral process by taking into account not only macro-and micro-economic elements, but also social and political structures as well as institutionalized, cultural and psychological factors.
• Concerned with better equity and less poverty
• Defends stronger role of the state regulating the market
  Considered human face of neoliberalism

Question 13

Global communication is not a monolithic empire, but instead..

Answer 13

…a phenomenon that is widely dispersed among core nations, with a few semi peripheral nations trying to obtain core-like status through their own expansion via mergers and acquisitions. It is all about profit.

Question 14

What region of industries dominates the flow of information and entertainment worldwide? Which value of this region has successful nations embraced?

Answer 14

• western media industries – neoliberal media globalization.
• Brazil, Mexico and India have all embraced neoliberalism.

Question 15

Which countries have the power to define rules, timing, and content of transaction with semi peripheral and peripheral nations?

Answer 15

United States, European Union and Japan

Question 16

Other countries (which ones) are afraid they may slip into the semi peripheral zone if…

Answer 16

• they are unable to attract, finance, and keep information industries, entrepreneurs and educated workers.
• countries include Australia, Norway, Canada, and New Zealand

Question 17

Which zones are considered prime markets for core-based multimedia corporations?

Answer 17

Peripheral and semi-peripheral

Question 18

How does core-zone business use marketing strategies, advertising, and research to its advantage?

Answer 18

To influence the attitudes and consumer behaviors by creating local mindsets toward their cultural products and services.

Question 19

Selling foreign syndicated shows such as Big Brother and Baywatch to different countries has done what?

Answer 19

Helped Western hardware/software and free market policies to Americanize domestic cultural industries in developing nations.

Question 20

What have become the model and new benchmark for global communication stakeholders?

Answer 20

Multinational conglomerates

Question 21

What is globalization?

Answer 21

• the process by which the capitalist world-system spreads across the globe
• not homogenization nor convergence
• Asymetrical, conflicting and an excluding phenomenon.

Question 22

Why is the current economy globalized?

Answer 22

The core activities of production, consumption and circulation, as well as their components (capital, labor, raw materials, management, information, technology and markets) are organized in a global scale.

Question 23

What are the BRICS? What are predictions of them?

Answer 23

• Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa. They account for 40 percent of the world population, 25 percent of the world’s land coverage and about 45 percent of current economic growth.
• China and India may become dominant suppliers of manufactured goods and services, while Brazil and Russia may become similarly dominant as suppliers of raw materials.

Question 24

How has American hegemony changed?

Answer 24

• U.S. monopoly on nuclear weapons was broken first by the Soviet Union, followed by France and China. India, Pakistan and Israel also develpoed nuclear weapons, but proliferation is now “under control.”
• Has decreased over the years due to other countries embracing neoliberalism and climbing in hegemonic power.