Politics of East Asia Theories of Political Economy

1. Politics of East AsiaTheories of Political Economy The World-Systems Perspective: Overview World-systems was strong influenced by dependency and other neo-Marxist theories, but also represents a significant departure from its predecessors Key Points World-systems is unidisciplinary World-systems is holistic World-systems examines long-term historical dynamics and processes of change

2. Politics of East AsiaTheories of Political Economy The World-Systems Perspective: Overview In addition to methodological differences, there are significant differences in the conceptual framework and research focuses between world-systems and dependency … Key concepts Trimodal structure: Core-Semiperiphery-Periphery Division within core: Hegemon vs. other core actors System dynamics: incorporation, deepening, social construction, cyclical rhythms, and anti-systemic movements

3. Politics of East AsiaTheories of Political Economy The World-Systems Perspective: Trimodal Structure The capitalist world-system is necessarily divided into three zones. The zones are integrally connected throughglobal commodity chainsand/ora relationship of asymmetricinterdependence. The vastmajority ofthe world’spopulationlives in the periphery. Upward/downwardmobility is possible

4. Politics of East AsiaTheories of Political Economy The World-Systems Perspective: Division within Core In the capitalist world system, the core is divided: the most dominant member of the core is the hegemon, which occupies a “special” position in the global system. The hegemon has interests that both overlap with, but also differ from other core actors Core states often act in concert, but they also have their own specific interests: this leads to a process of both unified action (against the other zones) and struggle among each other for dominance and power

5. Politics of East AsiaTheories of Political Economy The World-Systems Perspective: System Dynamics Incorporation: Refers to ______________________ of the world economy’s outer boundaries to other parts of the world Deepening: Refers to the commodification and industrialization processes through which production in one zone of the world economy is geared into, dependent upon, and ______________________ with production in other zones of the world economy. Social construction: Refers to collective identities (race, nation, ethnicity, gender, family, etc.) are ___________________ to serve the changing needs and dynamics of the world economy. World-systems develop geocultures. Cyclical rhythms: Refers to constants ups and downs in the working of the world economy: these ups and downs provide different opportunities for upward (or downward) mobility. Anti-systemic movements. Refers to various social movements against the system. Islamic fundamentalism, the “anti-globalization” movement, environmentalism, are all anti-systemic movements. expansion integrated constructed

6. Politics of East AsiaTheories of Political Economy The World-Systems Perspective: Evaluation The world-systems perspective has had a tremendous impact on studies of economic development; it’s holistic and dynamic framework allows us to integrate markets, states, culture, and even time into a single coherent account. Still, critics point out (for example) … WST privileges structure over agency: it is “too structural” and deterministic • For example, concept of permanent zones is rigid: according to WST, China’s economic rise must necessarily lead to an economic fall for other states/peoples WST largely dismisses culture as an autonomous force While ostensibly unidisciplinary, WST privileges economic processes over other social and political processes Last slide of lecture Jump

7. The World-Systems Perspective: Global Commodity Chain This is an example of a global commodity chain for coffee. Note that growers and pickers are generally in that part of the chain with the lowest “value added” activity. At the other end of the chain are retail outlets, where the value added is often highest. Click to see value added figures for a typical cup of coffee Click to return Source:The Coffee Book: Anatomy of an Industry from Crop to the Last Drop

8. The World-Systems Perspective: Global Commodity Chain This chart shows how where a dollar is spent on a typical cup of coffee sold in an American supermarket. Not that the retail store receives, by far, the lion’s share at 67%, while the value added in the producing country is only 3% Click to return Source:The Coffee Book: Anatomy of an Industry from Crop to the Last Drop