Contending Perspectives on the International System 119world’s powers (the United States, Japan, Germany, France, Britain, Rus sia, and China)
account for about half of the world’s total gross domestic product (GDP). The other
180 plus states share the other half. From the stratification of power and resources comes
the division between the haves, loosely characterized as the North, and the have- nots,
states largely located in the South. This distinction is vital to the discussion of inter-
national po liti cal economy found in Chapter 9.
Stratification of resources and hence influence has implications for a system’s abil-
ity to regulate itself, as well as for system stability. When the dominant powers are
challenged by those states just below them, the system may become highly unstable in
terms of access to resources. For example, Germany’s and Japan’s attempts to obtain
and reclaim resources during the 1930s led to World War II. Such a group of second- tier
powers has the potential to win a confrontation, but the real underdogs in a severely
stratified system do not (although they can cause major disruptions). The rising powers,
especially those that are acquiring resources, seek first- tier status and are willing to
fight wars to get it. If the challengers do not begin a war, the top powers may do so to
quell the threat of a power displacement.
For Marxists, as well as most other radicals, crippling stratification in the inter-
national system is caused by capitalism. Capitalism structures and then fixes theDeveloped countries
(few states, disproportionate
share of resources)
examples: United States, Japan,
GermanyEmerging economies
examples: Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, ArgentinaDeveloping countries
(many states, few resources)
examples: Senegal, Bangladesh, Haiti,
Syria, PhilippinesStratIfICatIon of the
InternatIonal SyStemfI gure 4.2
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