The Modern World-System Theory

1. Give examples of countries (at least 2) that identify its hierarchy. Explain and
discuss why.

Core Countries:

 France
- One of the most powerful country. This capitalist country is characterized
by a high level of industrialization and urbanization. It is a wealthy nation
with a variety of resources available and they are in a favourable location
compared to other states. They have strong state machinery and
developed national culture. France does have lots of cultural centers which
attract artists and intellectuals.
 Germany
- The center of the Core group of countries in the Eurozone. One of the
wealthy nations with a wide variety of resources. Over the last 10 years, this
country developed a neo-mercantilist policy. It has increased its exports
particularly within the EU and the Eurozone by reducing workers’ wages. So
its competitiveness has clearly increased compared the other countries.
Germany possess an independent, stable government and has a potential
growth in the global market and possesses technological advances.

Semi-peripheral Countries:

 China
- A large country with a vast population. It provides labor and materials to
core countries. China manufactures and exports a vast variety of goods.
Because of its large country land mass, there is large market size and share.
China is a less developed economy and are not dominant in the
international trade. China doesn't reach the status of a core country due
to its lack of economic dominance and its prevalent un-managed poverty
even though it is a large country.
 South Korea
- Is in between of Core and Peripheral category. This country allows the
possibility of innovative technology, reforms in social and organizational
structure, and dominance over peripheral nations. As well as it contributes
to the manufacturing and exportation of a variety of goods. South Korea is
both dominant and dominated within economic, political and social
realms. But as we can see South Korea is near to become a Core country.
Peripheral Countries

 Philippines
- Our country is considered a newly industrialized country. It is considered as
the 5th largest economy of the region. Agriculture and industry, electronics
and automobile parts, textiles and garments are the main sectors. Exports
of minerals also contribute to the economy. But as we can see our country
is having a hard time as our economy going down. Additional is the lack of
consistent Internet access, unstable government, and poor education and
health systems in our country. As well as Population growth is very alarming
in these countries.

 Thailand
- It is considered as newly industrialized countries as well as the Philippines
and Malaysia. Thailand is the second largest economy in the Southeast
Asian region after Indonesia. It depends heavily on exports. Tourism has
made the economy of Thailand to take high progress. Thailand keep
producing cheap goods, mostly agricultural, unable to make any gains,
therefore, it is impossible for them to ever industrialize. This nation sells their
goods at a low price than what they pay to import outside their region and
this results in them lacking enough cash to invest in technologies.

2. Watch the movie Apocalypto. Discuss the geographical expansion why it

became the start of American civilization or whatever civilization according to
the movie.

Mesoamerican Civilization is defined by mosaic cultural traits exhibited and

shared by its indigenous cultures. The movie Apocalypto represents the early
Mesoamerican people or tribe who are captured by invading forces after the
destruction of their village and brought on a perilous journey to a Mayan city
for human sacrifice at a time when the Maya civilization (in Central America)
is in decline.

We saw that the early Mesoamericans are hunter-gatherers and stay at a

specific forest to hunt for their tribe. They share the foods that they hunt and
provides feasts and rituals. We can see that there are a nice tribe and evil
ones. The nice ones let the foreign tribe cross the forest because of Mayas who
invade their tribe. The Mayas are considered to be one of the first
Mesoamericans. That tribe is sophisticated with archeology, engineering,
power, and etc. but we should consider that they are blood-thirsty. Capturing
other tribes for wealth, power and new land. They always seek new places to
capture innocent tribes in order to sell them and become their slaves. The
brutal ritual savagery in the steep pyramid temples because they almost have
a daily offering of human sacrifice to appease the angry gods. And when they
saw an eclipse they thought it is a good sign from gods.

The movie depicted how a son of chieftain fought for his life and his family
too. Fast forward, when Jaguar paw and the 2 enemies –the Mayas- saw the
boats full of foreign people which are the Spaniards in the seashore, Jaguar
Paw run towards his family and leave the place to start a new life.

The end of the film depicted the first contact between the Spaniards and
Mayas. The Spaniards are said to be Christian missionaries. I can say that the
Mayas needed saving because they were 'rotten at the core' which the
Spaniards wish to because of the cruelty of Mayas, as well as the geographical
expansion.