Revisiting “A Structural Theory of Imperialism”

Johan Galtung’s ‘‘A Structural Theory of Imperialism’’ is among the most influential contributions to peace research and international studies. Writing in 1971, Galtung characterized the world economy as structured by imperialism, in which Periphery nations are linked to Center nations through a feudal interaction structure that benefits elites in both while reproducing disadvantage for non-elites, particularly in the Periphery. This study revisits Galtung’s original analysis using data covering the fifty years since its publication to assess whether the structural patterns he identified have persisted or changed. Drawing on methodological advances since 1971, we reformulate Galtung’s core concepts, such as disharmony of interests, vertical trade relations, and feudal interaction structures, using modern statistical and network analysis models applied to global trade, living conditions, and inequality. We find that the central claim of a persistent disharmony of interests between Center and Periphery nations remains valid for many parts of the world, even as overall global welfare has improved. At the same time, we show that the structure of global economic interaction has evolved substantially. Network analysis highlights both the reconfiguration of core trade relations and the emergence of a small number of former Periphery countries, most notably China and several East Asian economies, that have successfully altered their structural positions in ways consistent with Galtung’s own prescriptions for structural change.