Verdenssystemsteorien

Verdenssystemsteorien, also known as world-systems theory, is a macro-sociological perspective that examines the world economy as a single, interconnected system. The theory was most famously developed by Immanuel Wallerstein in the 1970s, who argued that capitalism has created a global structural hierarchy that persists over centuries. It seeks to explain large-scale social and economic power disparities through the analysis of the entire world rather than isolated nation-states.

At its core, the theory distinguishes three classes of regions: core, semi‑periphery, and periphery. Core countries dominate international trade, possess advanced industrial economies, and wield political influence through multinational corporations and sophisticated financial markets. Periphery nations are relatively less developed, supply raw materials and labor, and often experience lower living standards. Semi‑periphery regions occupy an intermediate status, often oscillating between core and periphery roles, and serve as a buffer that enhances global stability.

Wallerstein proposed several phases in the evolution of the world-system, including a pre‑capitalist phase, the consolidation of a single, dominant capitalist state, the expansion of global trade networks, and the entrenchment of a core‑periphery hierarchy. These phases are interpreted through a longwave cycle of economic growth and crisis, suggesting the system’s dynamic nature.

The theory has influenced fields such as sociology, history, and development studies by foregrounding historical processes of integration and exclusion. Critics challenge its deterministic structure, argue that it underestimates regional developments, and point out its limited explanatory power for non‑capitalist or post‑colonial contexts. Nonetheless, verdenssystemsteorien remains a pivotal analytical tool for understanding the complex interdependencies that shape contemporary global society.