Core and Periphery: Territorial Dimensions in Politics

The essay reviews developments of the Core-Periphery paradigm. Two variants of the paradigm are isolated. Both variants define core-periphery relations by three features: characteristics distinguishing core from periphery, the goods exchanged, and the nature of the exchange and the pattern of core-periphery relations. These features form the explanatory variables in the examination of three central problems in social science: the rise of the state, the development of imperialism and colonialism and regional social movements. However, the distinguishing feature of core-periphery analysis is the spatial representation of these dynamics. Yet spatial representations in core-periphery paradigms are latent and poorly developed. Several alternative spatial representations are more effective in displaying core-periphery dynamics, permitting simpler assumptions, introducing temporal dynamics and multi-linear models.