Core-periphery
Encyclopedia
Core-periphery theory is based on the notion that as one region or state expands in economic prosperity, it must engulf regions nearby to ensure ongoing economic and political success. The area of high growth or former high growth becomes known as the core, and the neighboring area is the periphery. Cores and peripheries can be towns, cities
, states, or nations.
to continue to supply the population with the standard of living they are used to (eg variety of products, standard of living, etc). Traditionally, the inner city
core will first expand to areas of geographic similarity; for instance, a neighboring town may find itself becoming a suburb
of the city.
When geographic peripheries become exhausted (either because resources have dried up or the economies of scale
have balanced out), the core then seeks out peripheries that are culturally similar and share the same language as the core. Only when the core has exhausted all advantageous options of geographic and cultural similarity will it seek to expand to a periphery that is truly foreign. This is because a foreign periphery carries a high risk of not complying with requests from the core.
An example of traditional core-periphery theory exhausting regional options and adopting an international scale can be found in the European colonization of Africa. Core nations, such as England, Germany and France, sought to extract resources in the face of cultural disparity. Because these cultural differences were perceived as vast, military presence was necessary to ensure the expansion of these cores into Africa.
Whereas peripheries bearing geographic or cultural similarity to the core can often benefit in the long run, through what is known as trickle-down economics
, peripheries that have vast cultural differences often lack negotiation rights in their colonisation. When this happens, trickle-up economics
apply, and peripheries watch as their resources drain away towards the core. The more a periphery becomes colonised, the less it is able to resist the core. The probability of civil or transnational war then starts to slowly approach 1 (certainty).
argues that the semi-periphery is important because it bridges the gap between the rich core countries and the poor periphery countries. It provides balance and order keeping the world from political and economic crisis in same way that the middle class does on the national level in stable core countries.
is the answer because it could allow for periphery countries to concentrate on producing goods for which they have an aptitude. Nonetheless, critics of this claim still maintain that it would make little difference because the established core countries would still dominate.
On the urban level, responding to the inequality between core areas
and periphery areas is also difficult, but not impossible. The key is to bring back to life the vitality of struggling neighborhoods and reestablish them as complements to the city. It takes knowledgeable foresight by city officials as well as action through the entire community to accomplish this. Each situation may require a different course of action whether it is a radical change or only a slight nudge in the right direction.
Since areas overlap or include each other and all have a middle and an edge, cores and peripheries are everywhere and on every level. Galaxies have a galactic core; vertebrates have a peripheral nervous system
; communication systems have a core network
; oceans have a shoreline and so forth. Growth and development in one area is going to have a counter affect in an adjacent area to some degree. This backlash effect causes an inequality between different areas and amongst the people who live in each area.
Inner city
The inner city is the central area of a major city or metropolis. In the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Ireland, the term is often applied to the lower-income residential districts in the city centre and nearby areas...
, states, or nations.
Core expansion trends and methods
On a simplified scale, when a city grows in popularity, it must expand its bordersCity limits
The terms city limits and city boundary refer to the defined boundary or border of a city. The area within the city limits is sometimes called the city proper. The terms town limits/boundary and village limits/boundary mean the same as city limits/boundary, but apply to towns and villages...
to continue to supply the population with the standard of living they are used to (eg variety of products, standard of living, etc). Traditionally, the inner city
Inner city
The inner city is the central area of a major city or metropolis. In the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Ireland, the term is often applied to the lower-income residential districts in the city centre and nearby areas...
core will first expand to areas of geographic similarity; for instance, a neighboring town may find itself becoming a suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
of the city.
When geographic peripheries become exhausted (either because resources have dried up or the economies of scale
Economies of scale
Economies of scale, in microeconomics, refers to the cost advantages that an enterprise obtains due to expansion. There are factors that cause a producer’s average cost per unit to fall as the scale of output is increased. "Economies of scale" is a long run concept and refers to reductions in unit...
have balanced out), the core then seeks out peripheries that are culturally similar and share the same language as the core. Only when the core has exhausted all advantageous options of geographic and cultural similarity will it seek to expand to a periphery that is truly foreign. This is because a foreign periphery carries a high risk of not complying with requests from the core.
An example of traditional core-periphery theory exhausting regional options and adopting an international scale can be found in the European colonization of Africa. Core nations, such as England, Germany and France, sought to extract resources in the face of cultural disparity. Because these cultural differences were perceived as vast, military presence was necessary to ensure the expansion of these cores into Africa.
Whereas peripheries bearing geographic or cultural similarity to the core can often benefit in the long run, through what is known as trickle-down economics
Trickle-down economics
"Trickle-down economics" and "the trickle-down theory" are terms used in United States politics to refer to the idea that tax breaks or other economic benefits provided by government to businesses and the wealthy will benefit poorer members of society by improving the economy as a whole...
, peripheries that have vast cultural differences often lack negotiation rights in their colonisation. When this happens, trickle-up economics
Trickle up effect
The trickle up effect is an economic theory used to describe the flow of wealth from the poor to the affluent; it is opposite to the trickle down effect.-Relationship to the trickle down effect:...
apply, and peripheries watch as their resources drain away towards the core. The more a periphery becomes colonised, the less it is able to resist the core. The probability of civil or transnational war then starts to slowly approach 1 (certainty).
Semi-periphery
Many experts contest that the core-periphery system is far too simple and hold that there is an additional aspect to society that has been markedly left out. They maintain that the semi-periphery is also an important middle ground between the core and the periphery. This is an area that is more self sufficient and developed than the periphery, but not to the extent of the core. Immanuel WallersteinImmanuel Wallerstein
Immanuel Maurice Wallerstein is a US sociologist, historical social scientist, and world-systems analyst...
argues that the semi-periphery is important because it bridges the gap between the rich core countries and the poor periphery countries. It provides balance and order keeping the world from political and economic crisis in same way that the middle class does on the national level in stable core countries.
Dealing with inequality
Answers to the disparity between cores and peripheries are most complex on the international level. Some speculation holds that free tradeFree trade
Under a free trade policy, prices emerge from supply and demand, and are the sole determinant of resource allocation. 'Free' trade differs from other forms of trade policy where the allocation of goods and services among trading countries are determined by price strategies that may differ from...
is the answer because it could allow for periphery countries to concentrate on producing goods for which they have an aptitude. Nonetheless, critics of this claim still maintain that it would make little difference because the established core countries would still dominate.
On the urban level, responding to the inequality between core areas
Inner city
The inner city is the central area of a major city or metropolis. In the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Ireland, the term is often applied to the lower-income residential districts in the city centre and nearby areas...
and periphery areas is also difficult, but not impossible. The key is to bring back to life the vitality of struggling neighborhoods and reestablish them as complements to the city. It takes knowledgeable foresight by city officials as well as action through the entire community to accomplish this. Each situation may require a different course of action whether it is a radical change or only a slight nudge in the right direction.
Since areas overlap or include each other and all have a middle and an edge, cores and peripheries are everywhere and on every level. Galaxies have a galactic core; vertebrates have a peripheral nervous system
Peripheral nervous system
The peripheral nervous system consists of the nerves and ganglia outside of the brain and spinal cord. The main function of the PNS is to connect the central nervous system to the limbs and organs. Unlike the CNS, the PNS is not protected by the bone of spine and skull, or by the blood–brain...
; communication systems have a core network
Core network
A core network, or network core, is the central part of a telecommunication network that provides various services to customers who are connected by the access network. One of the main functions is to route telephone calls across the PSTN....
; oceans have a shoreline and so forth. Growth and development in one area is going to have a counter affect in an adjacent area to some degree. This backlash effect causes an inequality between different areas and amongst the people who live in each area.
See also
- Staples thesisStaples thesisThe staples thesis is a theory of Canadian economic development. The theory “has its origins in research into Canadian social, political, and economic history carried out in Canadian universities…by members of what were then known as departments of political economy.” From these groups of...
- Dependency theoryDependency theoryDependency theory or dependencia theory is a body of social science theories predicated on the notion that resources flow from a "periphery" of poor and underdeveloped states to a "core" of wealthy states, enriching the latter at the expense of the former...
- Core countriesCore countriesIn World Systems Theory, the core countries are the industrialized capitalist countries on which periphery countries and semi-periphery countries depend. Core countries control and benefit from the global market. They are usually recognized as wealthy nations with a wide variety of resources and...
- March (territory)
- Semi-periphery countriesSemi-periphery countriesIn world-systems theory, the semi-periphery countries are the industrializing, mostly capitalist countries which are positioned between the periphery and core countries...
- Periphery countriesPeriphery countriesIn World Systems Theory, the periphery countries 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...
- Immanuel WallersteinImmanuel WallersteinImmanuel Maurice Wallerstein is a US sociologist, historical social scientist, and world-systems analyst...
- World Systems TheoryWorld Systems TheoryThe world-systems theory is a multidisciplinary, macro-scale approach to world history and social change....