Global Stratification 02-13-2013
Global Stratification
02-13-2013
In Class (56) Notes
02-13-2013
Global Stratification Global Patterns of Social Inequality Terminology Post WWII o First World: high income, industrial o Second World: socialist o Third World: non-industrialized, low income Present o High, Middle, Low Income Countries o Decide on basis of economic development o Not political systems Global Class Structure See map 9-1, p231 o Economic Development in Global Perspective o High, Middle, Low Income countries o Low income – mostly in Africa o Distribution of Income See map 9-1, p234
o Wealth and Well-Being in Global Perspective See map 9-2, p234
High Income Countries 2010: 18% world‟s people (1.2 billion) live in wealth income US #13,000-35,000 Where: North America, Europe, Australia, Western Europe, Japan (60 countries) Enjoy 60% of world‟s income – shows imbalance High-technology (industrial and information economy), urbanized, control world‟s financial markets Middle Income Countries 68% world‟s people (approx.. 4.8 billion) Annual incomes: US $2,000-18,000 Where: Latin and South America, Former Socialist Countries, China (101 countries) Some urbanization, limited industrialization Still much agrarian life
Often densely populated, but depends on
Low Income Countries 14% world‟s people – 15% of world‟s land less than $3,000/year Central and East Africa, Asia Limited industrial technology Mostly peasant farming – ½ live in cities Massive poverty, disease and hunger are common Why does global poverty exist? Technology o ¼ of people in low income countries use human or animal power to farm land
Population growth
Cultural patterns: Resist Innovations o Get rid of cultural beliefs that are holding them back from embracing new technology
Social stratification o Low income countries distribute wealth very unequally
Gender Inequality: must improve women‟s standing
Global power relationships (in historical sense – Colonialism) o Colonialism – political/economical control of other nations o Neocolonialism – new modern form of colonialism Not direct political control
Economic exploitation by multinational corporations
Theoretical Explanations for Global Class Structure Modernization Theory o Global inequalities due to technological and cultural differences o Political context is important: Emerged 1950s Structural functionalist base Develop foreign policy emphasizing capitalism and free markets
Aim: counter Soviet Union and threat of socialism spreading to other parts of the world
o Historical perspective: Until recently, entire world was poor Therefore, there is a need to explain affluence (period of affluence) Focus on period of Industrial Revolution See technology + “Spirit of Capitalism” Development = Industrial technology + Anti-traditional Culture o Tradition: greatest barrier to economic development Includes strong family ties and reverence for the past o Max
Weber: Protestant Reformation Reshaped traditional Catholic beliefs Wealth is a sign of personal virtue Individualism replacing importance of community and family Aspiring to improve yourself to gain access to wealth
o W.W. Rowtow‟s Stages of Modernization – implies that growth always takes place
Traditional Take-off Drive to technological maturity Mass consumption
o Role of high-income countries – aid in advancement Control populations – birth control, sex education Increase in food production – The Green Revolution – ways in which farming was done in industrial countries
Introduce industrial technology Provide foreign aid
o Criticisms of Modernization Theory Provides some defense of capitalism Modernization doesn‟t always take place in low-income countries Not inevitable progression of stages High-income countries often block development of low-income countries Status quo work in their favor
High income countries industrialized from a position of global strength. Can we expect low-income countries to go the same
in a position of global weakness? Impact of international relations: See figure 9.4 “Africa‟s Colonial History” page 243 Must recognize impact of colonialism Ethnocentric Should the most developed countries really be the standard? Where are the resources going to come from? Blames the victim Causes of global poverty seen emanating from within lowincome societies
Dependency Theory o Global inequality due to historical exploitation of low-income countries by those better off o Social conflict basis o Global poverty generated by high-income countries – results: Systematic impoverished of low-income countries for centuries Dependence of high-income countries o Andre Gunder Frank: You can only have development if there is underdevelopment Underdevelopment necessary No “linear path of progress: Colonial process aided development Simultaneously created underdevelopment o Domination begins with colonialism, continues with neo-colonialism o Immanuel Wallerstein: „Core‟ exploitation „periphery‟ through… Resource extraction Inhibition of development Cycle of debt Dependency involves… o Resource extraction Originally: raw materials/slaves
Now: raw materials/cheap labour Result: narrow, export-oriented economies
Prevents viable industrial base Limits production of staples for local consumption o Cycle of debt: unequal trade relations o ***Get slides***
02-13-2013
In Class (56) Notes
02-13-2013
Global Stratification Global Patterns of Social Inequality Terminology Post WWII o First World: high income, industrial o Second World: socialist o Third World: non-industrialized, low income Present o High, Middle, Low Income Countries o Decide on basis of economic development o Not political systems Global Class Structure See map 9-1, p231 o Economic Development in Global Perspective o High, Middle, Low Income countries o Low income – mostly in Africa o Distribution of Income See map 9-1, p234
o Wealth and Well-Being in Global Perspective See map 9-2, p234
High Income Countries 2010: 18% world‟s people (1.2 billion) live in wealth income US #13,000-35,000 Where: North America, Europe, Australia, Western Europe, Japan (60 countries) Enjoy 60% of world‟s income – shows imbalance High-technology (industrial and information economy), urbanized, control world‟s financial markets Middle Income Countries 68% world‟s people (approx.. 4.8 billion) Annual incomes: US $2,000-18,000 Where: Latin and South America, Former Socialist Countries, China (101 countries) Some urbanization, limited industrialization Still much agrarian life
Often densely populated, but depends on
Low Income Countries 14% world‟s people – 15% of world‟s land less than $3,000/year Central and East Africa, Asia Limited industrial technology Mostly peasant farming – ½ live in cities Massive poverty, disease and hunger are common Why does global poverty exist? Technology o ¼ of people in low income countries use human or animal power to farm land
Population growth
Cultural patterns: Resist Innovations o Get rid of cultural beliefs that are holding them back from embracing new technology
Social stratification o Low income countries distribute wealth very unequally
Gender Inequality: must improve women‟s standing
Global power relationships (in historical sense – Colonialism) o Colonialism – political/economical control of other nations o Neocolonialism – new modern form of colonialism Not direct political control
Economic exploitation by multinational corporations
Theoretical Explanations for Global Class Structure Modernization Theory o Global inequalities due to technological and cultural differences o Political context is important: Emerged 1950s Structural functionalist base Develop foreign policy emphasizing capitalism and free markets
Aim: counter Soviet Union and threat of socialism spreading to other parts of the world
o Historical perspective: Until recently, entire world was poor Therefore, there is a need to explain affluence (period of affluence) Focus on period of Industrial Revolution See technology + “Spirit of Capitalism” Development = Industrial technology + Anti-traditional Culture o Tradition: greatest barrier to economic development Includes strong family ties and reverence for the past o Max
Weber: Protestant Reformation Reshaped traditional Catholic beliefs Wealth is a sign of personal virtue Individualism replacing importance of community and family Aspiring to improve yourself to gain access to wealth
o W.W. Rowtow‟s Stages of Modernization – implies that growth always takes place
Traditional Take-off Drive to technological maturity Mass consumption
o Role of high-income countries – aid in advancement Control populations – birth control, sex education Increase in food production – The Green Revolution – ways in which farming was done in industrial countries
Introduce industrial technology Provide foreign aid
o Criticisms of Modernization Theory Provides some defense of capitalism Modernization doesn‟t always take place in low-income countries Not inevitable progression of stages High-income countries often block development of low-income countries Status quo work in their favor
High income countries industrialized from a position of global strength. Can we expect low-income countries to go the same
in a position of global weakness? Impact of international relations: See figure 9.4 “Africa‟s Colonial History” page 243 Must recognize impact of colonialism Ethnocentric Should the most developed countries really be the standard? Where are the resources going to come from? Blames the victim Causes of global poverty seen emanating from within lowincome societies
Dependency Theory o Global inequality due to historical exploitation of low-income countries by those better off o Social conflict basis o Global poverty generated by high-income countries – results: Systematic impoverished of low-income countries for centuries Dependence of high-income countries o Andre Gunder Frank: You can only have development if there is underdevelopment Underdevelopment necessary No “linear path of progress: Colonial process aided development Simultaneously created underdevelopment o Domination begins with colonialism, continues with neo-colonialism o Immanuel Wallerstein: „Core‟ exploitation „periphery‟ through… Resource extraction Inhibition of development Cycle of debt Dependency involves… o Resource extraction Originally: raw materials/slaves
Now: raw materials/cheap labour Result: narrow, export-oriented economies
Prevents viable industrial base Limits production of staples for local consumption o Cycle of debt: unequal trade relations o ***Get slides***
