Reformulating world-system theory : third world participation in the world polity as an attempt to combat global inequality

The end of bi-polarity in the world stage ushered in a period of hegemonic power decline and the sudden emergence of peripheral empowerment. This research undertaking attempts to reformulate World System theory, an antiquated theoretical perspective based on the periphery's economic dependence on core nation-states and the resultant exploitative relationship that occurs. Current events indicate that there are multiple demands of redress and restitution made by emancipated peripheral states. Such demands are increasingly addressed and heeded to in world conferences and various international organizations since 1989 and will be measured as absolute gains. A drastic change is also observed in the structure and function of both international governmental organizations (IGOs) and international-non governmental organizations (1NGOs) from being corecentric institutional bodies to supranational, authoritative entities which now have the capacity to promote rational progress through third world advocacy. Such changes are attributed both to the multi-polarity of the world stage and the cultural construction of rational progress. The new reformulation will discover that world- level socialism is not attainable. Rather, the only solution to weaken global stratification is the continued participation of peripheral states in worlBall State UniversityMuncie, IN 47306Department of Political ScienceThesis (M.A.