Re: Re: global class analysis/unequal exchange

Interesting reply.  My one major objection is to the idea
that Asia or Latin American states, outside of Japan, will
catch up to the core in terms of technology.  I think this is
far fetched. 
But I don't quite follow the rest of the message.  If you are
saying that LA and Asian are industrializing rapidly and this
will engender a number of class conflicts (which are gendered 
and of definite ethnic-national nature), and that these are
anti-systemic movements with promise for real change, I
probably would agree.  
Unequal exchange (and I absent mindedly left out the political 
dimension of class struggle that also drives up wages) is 
a means of explaining the core-periphery gap.  I 
was pointing out what I think is the neglected market mechanism of
unequal exchange, among other mechanisms.  The market of 
our world economy (given its state structures) is a creator of 
inequality and should be attacked, in my view.  
The gap enters into the misery of the periphery and into the l
local struggles against the ruling elites.  I agree, it only partially 
explains the conditions behind the rise of anti-systemic movements.
elson

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Ahmet Cakmak <muhtarcakmak@superonline.com>
To: WORLD SYSTEMS NETWORK <wsn@csf.colorado.edu>
Sent: Saturday, May 22, 1999 5:01 AM
Subject: global class analysis/unequal exchange


> I couldn't reply Kohler's last question on world technological
> rent,becouse I still working on this concept. But I want to say
> something on last notes of kohler and elson.
> We have two ways in front of us to walk: one is begin with unequal
> exchange. With this first step the road goes (strongly tend) to concepts
> of traditional economics and/or political economy's such as rates of
> wages and profits,prices and productivity. These are useful and real
> concepts when they used in their own areas. But, I think we generally
> use them without care,that is in levels which they are irrelevant or
> misguided. But if we begin with world technological rent we can see real
> problem-solving areas, correct research programs in front of us : The
> military and political superiority comes from economic superiority and
> the source of this monopoly or oligopoly power of core countries. And
> technological superiority lies behind this. Under today's conditions
> most of the latin american and asian countries has the chance of
> catching up the core countries in technology within ,lets say 20
> years.and if this is achieved the base of unequal exchange will be
> eroded substantially. History has taken this possibility to its agenda.
> it waits for the political owners,and this must be left -wing movements.
> This is the realistic strategy to become a real anti-systemic
> movement,this is the way to make something real for the living peoples.
> But,when we armed with the concept of unequal exchange we begin to walk
> around the conceptual labirenths of traditional approaches. No way out
> in this level. I think most persuaded evidence of this the time passed
> from the publishing of Emmanuel's work up to know: approximately 30
> years. Either we are stupid or the concept itself is not productive,it
> overshadowed real problems.
> 
>