Semiperipheries

In world-systems theory, the semiperiphery refers to regions or states that occupy an intermediate position between the core and the periphery. Semiperipheral economies display some level of industrialization and economic diversification, yet they do not reach the highly developed, institutionally entrenched characteristics of core nations, and they depend on both extracting surplus from the periphery and attracting investment from the core.

Common features include moderate to high urbanization, a sizable manufacturing sector, and participation in global markets. They often export manufactured goods and some raw materials, and they attract foreign capital and technology while remaining vulnerable to external shocks. Labor may be cheaper than in core regions but more expensive and regulated than in peripheral areas. States in the semiperiphery typically exhibit centralized political authority, with growing, often export-oriented economies that coordinate with multinational corporations and international financial institutions.

Role and dynamics: Semiperipheral countries can act as buffers that mediate the core and periphery, absorbing surplus labor from the periphery and supplying markets and capital to the core. They may rise toward core status through industrial upgrading, or falter and slide toward periphery. The system is dynamic, and the boundaries among core, semiperiphery, and periphery shift over time as comparative advantages change and capital flows relocate.

Examples commonly cited include Brazil, India, Mexico, South Africa, and Turkey, though classifications vary with time. The semiperipheral concept is subject to critique, reflecting a macro-level perspective that can obscure internal diversity within countries and the evolving geography of global production.