Final answer:
The United States is considered a core nation that leverages its power to gain an advantage in global trade due to its industrialized economy, technological advancements, and control in international agreements, exemplified by NAFTA and historical economic dominance in regions like Central America.
Step-by-step explanation:
The United States. Core nations, as defined by sociologist Immanuel Wallerstein in his world-systems theory, are highly industrialized, technologically advanced, and urbanized countries that hold considerable economic and political power on a global scale. In the context of global trade, the United States stands out as a core nation that has the ability to leverage its power to gain the most advantageous positions in international agreements and influence global economic trends. This is evident in practices such as the establishment of free trade agreements like the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The historical role of the United States in foreign policies and economic interactions with countries such as Cuba, Honduras, and Mexico, underscores its status as a core nation that exercises significant control and influence over both semi-peripheral and peripheral nations.
For example, American involvement in Central American politics and economies, such as the influence of US fruit companies in the region, demonstrates how core nations can operate to sustain and enhance their economic interests. In terms of domestic structure, the core-periphery model within a nation can be observed in Mexico, where Mexico City and its surrounding regions make up the economic and political core of the country. Core nations, including the United States, not only maintain dominance in global economic affairs but also in cultural, technological, and political domains, often contributing to governance initiatives aimed at modernizing peripheral nations with considerations of potential cultural and social impacts.