Dependency Theory and World Systems Theory help explain shifting global power dynamics. Dependency Theory views poor countries as dependent on rich countries due to trade relationships that maintain underdevelopment. World Systems Theory sees a core-semi-periphery-periphery global structure, allowing for mobility between these zones and their exploitation. Both theories shed light on how former colonial powers project influence over independent states through economic and political means, maintaining control in new forms of neo-colonialism.

1. Superpowers and
Geostrategic Theory

2. What is Geostrategic Theory
• Geostrategy is part of geopolitics, it’s a
type of foreign policy guided by an
understanding of physical geographical
factors
• As with all political theories, geostrategies
are mostly relevant to the context in which
they were devised:
– The nationality of the strategist,
– The strength of his or her country's resources,
– The scope of his or her country's goals,
– The political geography of the time period,
ALL THEORIES ARE A PRODUCT OF THEIR TIME

3. Halford Mackinder (1904)
• Believed that to exert influence it was crucial a
country controlled a strategic area of land
• He called this the heartland the centre of which
was the pivot area

5. What determined power in this
Heartland
• Whoever ruled the pivot would command
the heartland
• Whoever ruled the heartland would
command the world island (Europe, Asia,
Russia)
• Whoever controlled the world island,
would control the world

6. In theory
• The further from the heartland the less
influence
• Mackinder believed Russia should be the
major power
• However he also believed Russia was
held back because:
– Its many borders could be attacked from all
directions
– It had few all year round ports
– Had a weak Govt in early 20th century

7. Britain the Anomaly
• Britain lay outside the inner margin
however:
• Its industrial revolution brought about
economic power
• Its navel strength gave it power that
Mackinder hadn’t foreseen
• Mackinder believed these two facts meant
Britain would dominate as it would become
the new pivot.

8. Fall of Grace
• Geopolitics and the physical geography has
an association with Nazi Germany and the
term became avoided for decades
• The USA used a policy of containment to
ensure Russian communism wouldn’t spread
• In a 1990 document for the first Bush
Administration noted that “for most of the
century, the USA has deemed it a vital
interest to prevent any power or group of
powers from dominating the Eurasian
landmass.”
• They both poured money into countries on
the boundaries between East and west (e.g.
Korea, Malaysia, Vietnam)
• This became the cold war

9. Theories of Superpower
development
• Beyond Mackinder other theories exist:
– Dependency Theory
– Development Theory (Andre Frank)
– World Systems Theory (Wallerstein)
– Neo-colonialism
• All of these give us an insight into
potentially how superpowers develop over
time but it must be remembered that like
any theory: it is a product of its time.

10. Dependency Theory
• This grew from the fact that the major
cause of poverty in developing countries is
their reliance on developed countries
• Usually due to trade.
• The sale of primary products to the
developed world keeps them poor since
they are unable to add value to these
products.
• With no secondary products this leaves no
profit for investment
• Vicious cycle of development

11. Development Theory (Andre Frank 1966)
He called this ‘The Development of Underdevelopment’
• He argued that colonialism alone is
responsible for poverty
• That developed countries deliberately keep
poor countries underdeveloped through
exploitation and dependency
• It occurred historically through slavery and
colonialism, and continues today through
Western dominance of the international
trading system, the practices of TNCs and the
reliance on Western aid
• Colonists exploit their colonies and keep them
poor by preventing investment in
manufacturing
• They use tariffs to prevent cheap imports from
the colonies

12. The Cause
• TERMS OF TRADE - Developed countries keep developing
nations in a state of underdevelopment by controlling terms of
trade.
• EXPORTS - Low value primary exports move to MEDCs whilst
high value goods move to the developing world
• DEBT – Controlled by MEDCs, high-skill migration (brain drain),
Structural Adjustment Programmes (SAPs) and control of
innovation by TNCs (patent royalties) might all be used as
evidence to support this theory.

13. The History
• Frank argued that the trade in slavery
resulted in profits for both slave-traders
and plantation owners in the 18th century.
• This led to a super-accumulation wealth
which was re-invested in Britain’s industrial
revolution and consequently helped kick-
start development in the UK
• Europe was able to use its advanced
military to conquer and colonise many
parts of the under-developed world.
• They then exploited the colonies for cheap
food, raw materials and labour. For
example, land traditionally used for
growing food was turned over to the
production of cash crops for export.

14. World Systems Theory (Wallerstein 1974)
• More an analysis of geographical patterns
• Believed rather than a core and periphery there was a
semi-periphery
• It allows for the idea that countries can leave and join this
third area and even become part of the core

15. Wallerstein – WST
• In Essence:
• Related to dependency theory but is a
three way division between core, semi-
periphery an periphery
• Often seen as more realistic in a world
with the EU/USA, NICS/BRICs and
developing world
• Are links to globalisation, and semi-
periphery being exploited as a workshop
to produce cheap hi-tech goods for the
core.

16. Cycle of Poverty
1. Production
of agricultural
or primary
produce
2. Goods
exported in
raw state
3. Low value
4. Low profits
5. No
investment in
manufacturing

17. NEO – COLONIALISM (1960s)
Theories of Superpowers

18. What is meant by the terms Neo-
colonialism
• Definition –
Means ‘New’ Colonialism, where countries
remain under control from overseas – even
though they are supposedly independent
the continued control of former colonies
through ruling native elites compliant with neo-
colonial powers, so that the populations are
exploited for their labour and resources in
order to feed an insatiable appetite for finished
physical or cultural commodities made by the
metropole

19. Neo - Colonialism
• Refers to a form of indirect control over
developing countries, most of which are
former colonies
• It is most often linked to Africa and has
been the scene of much debate
• Proponents point to the share of world
trade that goes to least developed
countries
• They argue this prevents development in
these countries since they gained their
independence

20. It is argued that…
• It actively tries to control the affairs of the newly
independent state
• In most cases neo-colonialism is manifested through
economic and monetary measures; E.g. the neo-
colonial territories become the target markets for
imports from the imperial centre
• While neo-colonialism may be a form of continuing
control by a state's previous formal colonial master,
these states may also become subjected to imperial
power by others. Such as the USA or may be
international financial and monetary organisations like
the World bank

21. • Because of the nuclear parity between the
superpowers, the conflict between the two take place
in the form of "limited wars." Neo-colonial territories are
often the places where these "limited wars" are waged.
• As the ruling elites pay constant deference to the neo-
colonial masters, the needs of the population are often
ignored, leaving issues of living conditions like
education, development, and poverty unresolved.
•

22. Question?
• Do any of these truly help us to
understand the way the world is today?
• War
• Debt
• Water/ Energy Issues

23. Example Question
• Explain how theories, such as
Dependency Theory and World Systems
Theory, can contribute to an
understanding of changing patterns of
global power. (15)