1. What is the World System?
How the world is structured by interconnection among different nations/ Societies
Societies belong to global web of cores and peripheries
There is stratification among nations due to European Expansion since 15th century

2. Core, Semi/periphery Characteristics of core:
Countries of the core occupy the dominant position in world system
Strongest and most powerful nations, complex technology etc
churns out products that flow to the periphery

3. Semi-periphery
Nations that are intermediate between the core and peripheral nations eg. Mexico, Brazil, India
They export industrial goods and commodities but lack the power of the core

4. Periphery Nations
Major producers of raw material, cotton, sugar, rubber
lack technological advancement and suffered European rule or colonialism
Still under Neo-colonialism

5. The World-System
Wallerstein,
Immanuel
core
periphery
Semi-periphery

6. Expansion of Europe
Industrial Revolution transformed Europe by 1750 and after
Industrialization needed capital for investment in foreign lands
The search for commodities, minerals, Sugar, Cotton & Slaves led to colonialism

7. Implications of Colonialism
Violence/ disease and depopulations
Loss of control over land and other natural resources
Labor exploitation and taxation
Impose cultural changes

8. What is modernity? A self-conscious break with tradition
Reflection of human progress and perfectibility
Time and markers of grand narratives