Theories of Global Stratification: Crash Course Sociology #28

Summary

This video explores two major theories of global stratification: Modernization Theory and Dependency Theory. Modernization Theory, rooted in structural functionalism, explains global inequality through technological and cultural differences, highlighting events like the Columbian Exchange and the Industrial Revolution. In contrast, Dependency Theory, based on conflict theory, focuses on how wealthy nations historically exploited poorer ones, particularly through colonialism. The video contrasts these perspectives, discussing critiques of each, while noting the improvement in global poverty rates over time and the ongoing debate surrounding economic inequality.

Takeaways

• 🌍 For most of history, poverty was widespread across all societies, but now global inequalities exist in terms of wealth and power.
• 🔧 Modernization theory explains global stratification by emphasizing technological and cultural differences, pointing to the Columbian Exchange and the Industrial Revolution as key drivers of Western economic growth.
• 🌾 The Columbian Exchange benefited Europe with agricultural products and trade opportunities, but it devastated Native American populations through disease.
• 🏭 The Industrial Revolution increased productivity through new technologies, benefiting Western societies and improving their standards of living.
• 💼 Modernization theory attributes Europe's development to the Protestant work ethic, promoting individualism and financial success.
• 🚀 According to Walt Rostow, modernization occurs in four stages: Traditional Stage, Take-off Stage, Drive to Technological Maturity, and High Mass Consumption.
• 🌱 Critics argue that modernization theory is Eurocentric and overlooks historical exploitation, environmental damage, and labor exploitation.
• 🧭 Dependency theory focuses on the global impact of colonialism, arguing that rich nations' wealth often came at the expense of poor nations.
• 📉 Wallerstein's Capitalist World Economy model views high-income nations as the 'core' and low-income nations as the 'periphery,' dependent on the core for economic survival.
• 💸 Both modernization and dependency theories have critics, with modernization seen as overly capitalist-focused, and dependency theory criticized for its limited scope and lack of practical solutions.

Q & A

What is global stratification, and how does it relate to socioeconomic inequalities between nations?

Global stratification refers to the unequal distribution of wealth and power among different countries, similar to the way socioeconomic classes are stratified within a single society. This concept highlights disparities in economic development between nations.

What are the two historical events that modernization theory credits for Western Europe's economic development?

Modernization theory credits the Columbian Exchange and the Industrial Revolution as two pivotal historical events that helped Western Europe develop economically faster than other regions.

How did the Columbian Exchange affect Europe and the Americas differently?

The Columbian Exchange benefited Europe by introducing new agricultural staples like potatoes and tomatoes, which led to population growth and economic opportunities. In contrast, the Americas suffered from the spread of diseases like smallpox and measles, leading to the death of over 80% of the Native American population.

What is the Protestant work ethic, and how did it contribute to Europe's modernization, according to Max Weber?

The Protestant work ethic, according to Max Weber, emphasized individualism, hard work, and financial success as signs of personal virtue. This mindset primed Europe for modernization by promoting progress-oriented values that supported economic growth and technological advancement.

What are the four stages of modernization according to Walt Rostow, and how do they explain economic progress?

Rostow's four stages of modernization are: 1) Traditional Stage, 2) Take-off Stage, 3) Drive to Technological Maturity, and 4) High Mass Consumption. These stages explain how societies evolve from subsistence-based economies to advanced economies driven by technology and mass production.

What is the main critique of modernization theory from its critics?

Critics argue that modernization theory is Eurocentric, promotes capitalism as the only path to development, and overlooks historical factors such as slavery, resource depletion, and environmental damage. They also claim that the theory blames poor countries for their lack of progress, ignoring the role of external forces in hindering development.

What does dependency theory propose as the reason for global stratification?

Dependency theory, rooted in conflict theory, argues that global stratification is the result of rich nations exploiting poor nations through colonialism and neocolonialism. This unequal relationship allows wealthy countries to accumulate resources and wealth at the expense of poorer countries.

How does Immanuel Wallerstein's 'Capitalist World Economy' model describe the relationship between wealthy and poor nations?

Wallerstein's model divides the world into three categories: the core (wealthy nations), the periphery (poor nations), and the semi-periphery (middle-income nations). Core nations exploit the resources and labor of periphery nations, maintaining an unequal economic system that benefits the wealthy while keeping poorer countries dependent.

What are some criticisms of dependency theory?

Critics of dependency theory argue that it overlooks the positive impact of foreign investment, ignores non-economic factors like culture and political regimes, and offers no practical solutions to global poverty. Additionally, some countries, such as Singapore and Sri Lanka, have developed strong economies despite having been former colonies.

How has global poverty changed in recent decades, according to the script?

Global poverty has significantly decreased, with the percentage of people living on less than $1.25 per day dropping from 52% in 1981 to 22% in 2008. This suggests that economic progress and global trade have improved standards of living for many around the world.