Question

What is the notion that the core wealthy nations rely on a peripheral group of poorer countries in order to remain wealthy, but that some states fall into both core and peripheral categories?

Answer 1

Dependency theory explains that global inequality stems from exploitation by wealthy core nations of less-developed peripheral and semi-peripheral countries, creating a cycle of economic dependence.

Step-by-step explanation:

The concept described in the question is known as dependency theory, a part of the core-periphery model. In this model, core nations like the United States and the United Kingdom are developed countries with stable institutions and high-order economic systems. They depend on a range of peripheral nations, which are less-developed and rich in resources, to maintain their wealth and status. Within this international stratification, there are also semi-peripheral nations, which sit between core and peripheral nations, exhibiting traits of both. Issues such as global health disparities give insight into how politics and wealth influence access to healthcare across these different tiers of nations.

According to dependency theory, core nations exploit semi-peripheral and peripheral nations through economic and political means. This exploitative relationship contributes to global inequality, trapping poorer nations in a cycle of dependence which hinders their economic growth. The model also recognizes that countries like China are evolving from low-income to middle- and high-income statuses, yet core nations still engage in practices that ensure continuing dependency to some extent.