World-systems theory, associated with Immanuel Wallerstein, argues that countries are connected through a single capitalist world economy rather than developing separately. Core countries tend to control finance, advanced technology, high-value production and powerful TNCs. Peripheral countries are more likely to provide raw materials, cheap labour and low-value production, meaning they can be exploited through unequal trade and profit extraction. Semi-peripheral countries sit between the two: they may have growing industries, regional power and some advanced sectors, but they can still be dependent on core countries while also exploiting poorer peripheral countries. Wallerstein described semi-peripheral states as having a mixture of “core-like” and “periphery-like” production processes. The World Bank’s income classifications are not the same as world-systems categories, but they can help students think about global inequalities in wealth and economic power.
This activity helps you apply Wallerstein’s world-systems theory to real countries and their roles in the global economy. You will classify countries as core, semi-periphery or periphery, then use the feedback to explain how global inequality works through trade, labour, technology, finance, raw materials and transnational corporations. The categories are simplified for classroom use: countries can change position over time, and some countries contain both “core-like” and “periphery-like” regions or industries. This makes the activity useful for AO2 application and AO3 judgement, because you need to decide which role fits best and explain why. World-systems theory is part of the AQA Global Development focus on theories of development, underdevelopment and global inequality.
World Systems Map Challenge
Classify each real country as mainly core, semi-periphery or periphery in world-systems theory. The aim is not to label countries permanently, but to apply Wallerstein’s ideas about global power, trade, production and exploitation.
Core
High-income, powerful states that tend to control finance, advanced technology, TNCs, high-value production and global decision-making.
Semi-periphery
Countries with mixed roles: industrialising, regionally powerful, sometimes exploited by the core but sometimes exploiting the periphery.
Periphery
Countries more likely to provide raw materials, cheap labour or low-value production, with less control over trade and profits.
Revision summary: world-systems theory
- Core countries tend to control high-value production, finance, technology and TNC ownership.
- Semi-peripheral countries have mixed roles: they may manufacture, export, industrialise and act as regional powers, while still facing dependency on the core.
- Peripheral countries are more likely to be locked into raw material exports, low-wage labour or low-value production.
- Exploitation works when value flows from low-paid labour and raw materials in the periphery towards profits, brands, finance and technology controlled in the core.
- AO3 judgement: real countries do not always fit neatly into one box; some have core-like cities or industries alongside peripheral regions or workers.
Build an explanation
Try this sentence structure after checking your answers: “In world-systems theory, [country] can be seen as [core / semi-periphery / periphery] because…” Then add: “This shows exploitation because…”
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