Social Change and Environment in New Zealand from the late 18th to the early 19th Century (PDF)

Essay aus dem Jahr 2010 im Fachbereich Soziologie - Sonstiges, Note: n.a. ("bestanden"), Massey University, New Zealand (Geography), Veranstaltung: Seminar "Social Change and Environment", Sprache: Deutsch, Abstract: For Wallerstein, the theory of the "new world system" is how to explain why some countries in this world are poor, developing countries that are depended whilst others are wealthy and have a booming economy. According to the theory, the world can be divided in three types of countries. The core or the independent countries, the semi-periphery and the periphery. While countries situated in the core are independent, powerful and control others, countries in the semi-periphery are tributary but still holding control about others. The underdog is the periphery, countries that produce raw materials which they have to sell to the semi-periphery and the periphery for a poor price. While this exploitation is going on, the core gets wealthier and the periphery depletes their resources and exploits the nature around itself. According to this theory, the wealth of several countries depends in most instances on the products they assemble. This essay will discuss if the theory is applicable for the New Zealand from the late 18th to the early 19th century. By examining the different aspects of Wallerstein's theory and comparing them to the happenings in New Zealand in the even mentioned period it will be examined, if the new world theory is applicable for this country.