The world-systems theory is a sociological approach to the world economy and social change. It suggests that the world economic system is made in such a way that some countries benefit while others get exploited. Based on the global stratification model, the world, like any other society, is made up of different social classes ( YouTube, 2020 ). The world system is established in a three-level hierarchy of the core, periphery, and semi-periphery areas ( YouTube, 2020 ). The core nations are the global powers and exploit the periphery countries. The peripherical nations depend on the core nations and are exploited through cheap labor and low prices of raw materials.
Cobalt mining in Congo uses child labor and exploitation. Between 8-11 years, young children are used to providing labor in the cobalt mining sites ( YouTube, 2020 ). The working conditions are worse; children wor without protective equipment and forced to carry heavy loads. The working hours are long, and the pay is very minimal. The children working in these sites are unable to go to school, and due to the exploitation, they are subjected to high risks of health problems. Yet, the cobalt minerals are used by multinational corporations located in the United States and China ( YouTube, 2020 ). This represents a world system theory of societal stratification. The children are exploited by working for long hours and under the worst working conditions in the mines. Yet, the minerals are used to benefit multinationals corporations based in the United States and China. In this case, Congo is the peripheral nation, which depends on the core countries for capital. The core nations are the United States and China, which is the destination for the cobalt mineral. Despite benefiting from the mineral, child labor is used, and paid low wages. Also, the raw materials are bought at a low price. Due to their strong economic power, the core countries exploit the periphery country through cheap child labor and low price for the raw materials. As a result, the periphery country remains underdeveloped, while the core countries continue to develop.
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Question 2
Media has been at the central point in informing the public of social injustices within the community. As a source of information, the media has undoubtedly earned a core place in the heart of many Americans for its role in sharing information on matters affecting society. From corruption to poor leadership, the media covers all aspects of society. However, American media has been very reluctant in the coverage of global inequality. The American representation of the world's problems is usually drawn from a narrow pool of perspectives. The system majorly showcases certain voices while marginalizing others. America has some of the multinational corporations that benefit from the world's economic inequality. Some of these large and powerful organizations have direct control of the media, and would not cover the same inequality from which they benefit. Some of the media are even owned and operated by these multinational corporations and private entities. Because these firms benefit from global inequality, the media they own are less likely to cover such disparities.
In other perspectives, America is a core nation in the world system theory. It is a beneficiary and not a victim of global inequality. The American media have been at the forefront in covering the issues affecting the American community, yet giving blackout to specific issues that do not affect America. Because global inequality is not a problem yo Americans, the media has been less involved in its coverage. American media has been at the forefront in reporting the coronavirus's adverse effects in countries with high rates of income equality. In many low-income countries, the existence of inequality has seen people living under extreme poverty and suffering from the lockdown measures to combat coronavirus ( www.democracynow , 2020 ). Such discovery shows the existence of global inequality and exploitation within the global economic chain.
References
YouTube. (2020). Retrieved 23 May 2020, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcJ8me22NVs .
Youtube. (2020). Retrieved 23 May 2020, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b350ljkYWrU .
YouTube.(2020). Retrieved 26 May 2020, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=16&=&v=6rts_PWIVTU&=&feature=emb_logo .
YouTube. (2020). Retrieved 26 May 2020, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T___azqvPKI .
www.democracynow . (2020). “ Social Distancing Is a Privilege": Pandemic Highlights India's Class Divide as 1.3 Billion LockDown . Democracy Now. Retrieved 26 May 2020, from https://www.democracynow.org/2020/4/2/rana_ayyub_india_coronavirus.
