Global Stratification

Hierarchy of wealth, power, and influence

among the countries of the world

Example of Bangladesh

Stratification in World
System

Inequality in life chances

differentiates nations around the
world.
Simple measures of well-being reveal
consequences of a global system of
inequality:
life expectancy
infant mortality
access to health services

Facts

Quality of Life: A Comparative

Perspective

Terminology of Stratification
A familiar model for describing global
stratification developed after world
war 2.
Rich industrial countries were
labelled as first world.
Less industrialised socialist countries
were second world.
Non-industrialised poorer countries
were Third world.

Global Differences

Cost to Produce a Dress

The Severity of Poverty

Poverty in poor countries is more severe
than it is in rich nations like the US in part
because economic productivity is lowest
in regions of the largest population growth
Global Income
High income countries earn 79%
(18% of
population)
Middle income countries earn 20% (70% of
population)
Low income countries earn 1% (12% of
population)

Relative vs Absolute
Poverty
The lack of
resources by some
people that are
taken for granted
by others
Rich societies tend
to focus on this
type of poverty

A lack of resources
that is lifethreatening
1/3 or more of people
living in low income
countries experience
absolute poverty
Median death age
can be an indicator
of absolute poverty.

Poverty and Children

Death comes earlier to children from poorer
countries.
Almost 100 million children living in poor
conditions beg, steal, sell sex and work for drugs.
Poorer children and teens are also at greater risk
for poor academic achievement, school dropout,
abuse and neglect, behavioural, physical health
problems and developmental delays.
Economists estimate that child poverty costs an
estimated $500 billion a year to the U.S.
economy; reduces productivity and economic
output by 1.3 percent of GDP; raises crime and
increases health expenditure.

Poverty and Women

Worldwide much of women work is
undervalued, underpaid or overlooked
entirely.
In conservative societies cultural norms
hamper women from schooling and
many professions.
UN estimates: Men own more than 90%
of land in poorer countries, depicts
gender disparity.
The empowerment of women is a

Slavery
Many societies ended slavery after
industrial developments. British empire
banned slavery in 1833 and USA banned in
1865.
In poor nations, 400 million, (7% of
humanity) live in poverty.
Chattel: one person owns another person.
Child slavery: poor families sell their
children.
Debt bondage: to be slave for paying debts
Servile marriage: marriage against will
Human trafficking: trading the people

God made me to be slave

Theoretical Analysis

Modernization Theory
Economic development is a process
by which traditional societies become
more complex.
To develop, countries must embrace
new technologies and market driven
values.
Poverty results from adherence to
traditional values and customs that
prevent competition in a modern
global economy.

Importance of Culture

Rostows Stages of
modernization

Role of Rich nations

Helping control population

Increasing food production
Introducing industrial technology
Providing foreign aid

Dependency Theory
Exploits the least powerful nations to
the benefit of wealthier nations.
Poverty of the low-income countries
is a direct result of their political and
economic dependence on the
wealthy countries.

Role of Colonialism

Wallersteins Capitalist World

Economy
Economic development is explained
by understanding each countrys
place and role in the world economic
system.
Poverty is the result of core nations
extracting labor and natural
resources from peripheral nations.

Who Uses the Worlds

Energy?

Situation of Pakistan

New world order

Gender Differences and

Development

Women and economic

inequality
26% of the worlds population is poor
according to the world banks
measure of world poverty.
Women perform 2/3 of all working
hours, receive 1/10 of the income,
and own less than 1% of the worlds
wealth.

No Capitalism, No Socialism

What Religion orders?

Ab Dharr al-Ghifr, Companionof Prophet

(PBUH), is credited as a principal antecedent
of Islamic socialism.He protested against the
accumulation of wealth by the ruling class
duringUthmn's caliphate.