In world systems theory, the periphery countries (sometimes referred to as just the periphery) are those that are less developed than the semi-periphery and core countries. These countries usually receive a disproportionately small share of global wealth. They have weak state institutions and are dependent on – according to some, exploited by – more developed countries. These countries are usually behind because of obstacles such as lack of technology, unstable government, and poor education and health systems. In some instances, the exploitation of periphery countries' agriculture, cheap labor, and natural resources aid core countries in remaining dominant. This is best described by dependency theory, which is one theory on how globalization can affect the world and the countries in it. It is, however, possible for periphery countries to rise out of their status and move into semi-periphery or core status. This can be done by doing things such as industrializing, stabilizing the government and political climate, etc. Periphery countries are those that exist on the outer edges of global trade. There could be many reasons for a country to be considered peripheral, such as a dysfunctional or inefficient government. For example, some nations' customs and ports are so inefficient that even though they are geographically closer it is cheaper to ship goods from longer distances. Other reasons such as wars, non-central location, insufficient infrastructure (rail lines, roads and communications) will keep a country in the periphery of global trade. Generally the populations tend to be poor and destitute so the core countries will exploit them for cheap labor and will even purposely interfere with their politics to keep things this way. Usually a peripheral country will specialize in one particular industry, leaving it vulnerable to economic instability and limiting international investment. Sometimes countries decide to isolate themselves, such as 14th century China. There are a variety of reasons that periphery countries remain the way they are.

About this result
This page is automatically generated and may contain information that is not correct, complete, up-to-date, or relevant to your search query. The same applies to every other page on this website. Please make sure to verify the information with EPFL's official sources.
Ontological neighbourhood
Related courses (10)
HUM-471: Economic growth and sustainability I
This course examines growth from various angles: economic growth, growth in the use of resources, need for growth, limits to growth, sustainable growth, and, if time permits, population growth and gro
HUM-261: Contemporary Africa
Ce cours devra permettre aux étudiants de développer une réflexion critique autour des grandes questions qui animent l'Afrique d'aujourd'hui.
HUM-359: Environmental ethics
L'objectif général de ce cours est de permettre aux étudiant-e-s: de saisir les questions environnementales en tant que questions éthiques; de clarifier le point de vue à partir duquel apparaît leur
Show more
Related lectures (36)
Elasticity in Mechanics: Rods, Buckling, and Heat Transfer
Covers continuum bars, elasticity, rods, heat transfer, and structural analysis.
Inequality: GDP per Capita Disparities Analysis
Explores GDP per capita disparities, growth rates, convergence trends, and challenges faced by least-developed countries.
GDP Per Capita Inequality: Countries
Explores GDP per capita inequality, economic growth trends, poverty traps, and the importance of openness in trade and development.
Show more
Related publications (56)

Swiss Coloniality – Unearthing its (in)visibilities: Tracing a fragmented visual and material history of Swiss coloniality between Switzerland and Brazil

Denise Bertschi

Artists, urbanists, anthropologists, architects and other specialists from Russia, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Kyrgyzstan and other countries are the participants of the “Colonial Endurance Across Eastern Geographies” laboratory. Together they are to exp ...
2023

Steel Pipes and Global Networks: The Influence of Dalmine S.p.A in Shaping Resource Extraction Infrastructures

Anna Karla De Almeida Santos

Pipelines for extracting oil, gas, water, and supporting energy systems are part of the infrastructure of extractive sites, especially marked in countries with less urbanized areas. Throughout the twentieth century, such regions were influenced by economic ...
2023

Living Periphery

Sophie Lufkin, Sergi Aguacil Moreno, Martine Laprise, Judith Elisa Drouilles, Frédéric Frank, Sara Sonia Formery Regazzoni

Entre ville et campagne, les périphéries urbaines constituent un défi particulier dans le contexte de la transition. Éloignées de la dynamique de densification en cours dans les espaces centraux, elles représentent néanmoins une part non négligeable de l’e ...
Presses polytechniques et universitaires romandes2022
Show more
Related concepts (10)
Semi-periphery countries
In world-systems theory, the semi-periphery countries (sometimes referred to as just the semi-periphery) are the industrializing, mostly capitalist countries which are positioned between the periphery and core countries. Semi-periphery countries have organizational characteristics of both core countries and periphery countries and are often geographically located between core and peripheral regions as well as between two or more competing core regions.
Core countries
In world systems theory, the core countries are the industrialized capitalist or imperialist countries, which depend on appropriation from peripheral countries and semi-peripheral countries. Core countries control and benefit from the global market. They are usually recognized as wealthy states with a wide variety of resources and are in a favorable location compared to other states. They have strong state institutions, a powerful military and powerful global political alliances. Core countries do not always stay core permanently.
World-systems theory
World-systems theory (also known as world-systems analysis or the world-systems perspective) is a multidisciplinary approach to world history and social change which emphasizes the world-system (and not nation states) as the primary (but not exclusive) unit of social analysis. "World-system" refers to the inter-regional and transnational division of labor, which divides the world into core countries, semi-periphery countries, and the periphery countries.
Show more

Graph Chatbot

Chat with Graph Search

Ask any question about EPFL courses, lectures, exercises, research, news, etc. or try the example questions below.

DISCLAIMER: The Graph Chatbot is not programmed to provide explicit or categorical answers to your questions. Rather, it transforms your questions into API requests that are distributed across the various IT services officially administered by EPFL. Its purpose is solely to collect and recommend relevant references to content that you can explore to help you answer your questions.