Traditional society - characterised by subsistence farming or hunter-gathering

Preconditions for take-off - manufacturing industry begins to develop, and a country develops an international outlook

Take off - short period of intense activity where urbanisation increases and industrialisation proceeds with technological breakthroughs

Drive to maturity - where industry diversifies and investment is made in infrastructure and improving quality of life over an extended period of time

Age of high mass consumption - where mass production feeds consumer demands

The world systems theory is established on a three-level hierarchy consisting of core, periphery, and semi-periphery areas.

The core countries dominate and exploit the peripheral countries for labor and raw materials.

The peripheral countries are dependent on core countries for capital.

The semi-peripheral countries share characteristics of both core and peripheral countries.

This theory emphasizes the social structure of global inequality

The dependence theory emerged in the late 1950s and is based on the concept that developed affluent nations (core) limit the degree of development of poorer countries (periphery) through controlling the global economy. Through the use of their economic and political influence, the most developed countries are able to exploit less developed ones. It was a method of explaining economic underdevelopment that focuses on the ostensible restrictions imposed by the global political and economic system.

Uni-polar: one globally dominant superpower, or hyperpower

• A uni-polar world should be very stable

• There is only one top dog, but the costs of hegemony are severe and difficult to sustain

• The USA has been called 'the world's policeman', meaning it is involved in numerous trouble spots all at the same time

Bipolarity is a world order system in which the bulk of global economic, military, and cultural dominance is held by two governments

Bi-polar: two opposing superpowers, with different ideologies, but broadly equal in status

The Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union, which dominated the second half of the twentieth century, is a classic example of a bipolar world.

Multipolar is a number of basically equal powers with regional impact but less global influence

A multipolar world involves three or more superpowers; a phenomenon that has been evolving since 2010 with the rise of the EU, China and USA

• Tensions may arise as a result of rivalry over physical resources such as Arctic oil and gas. Russia, for example, has territorial claims to about half of the Arctic Circle, which is likely to cause conflict among other states interested in Arctic resources

• Tensions can also form from the disagreement overexploitation and expense

• Counterfeiting, which includes making items that closely resemble the copyrighted product, has the potential to undermine the worldwide system of intellectual property rights. This strains trade relations and TNC investment, but it may open up economic possibilities for impoverished countries that cannot purchase protected items

• When numerous interests intersect, political spheres of influence might be disputed. This leads to conflict for territorial and physical resources. Tensions can sometimes rise to open confrontation, which has consequences for individuals and the physical environment

• For example, the South China Sea is a source of contention between China and other neighbouring countries such as Vietnam, Taiwan, and Japan. China has seized islands in the South China Sea in order to establish military training grounds, posing a direct danger to other countries