Abstract
Dependency scholars emphasize the harmful effects of economic incorporation for nations residing in the periphery. Conversely, a network perspective of international relations suggests that the major problem peripheral countries face is isolation. Considered together, peripherality implies both resource and partner dependency. Applying dependency and network principles to the world economy and world polity, the author assembles a set of cross-national measures based on international trade relations and membership in international nongovernmental organizations (INGOs). Analyzing a sample of eighty-two developing countries during the 1980–2000 period, the author tests the effects of dependency and network integration on two measures of development: Economic growth and tertiary school expansion. The author finds that dependent integration in trade and INGOs produces economic underdevelopment, while network integration in trade and INGOs positively affects economic growth and educational expansion. The findings broadly confirm dependency and network perspectives, demonstrating the developmental benefits that accrue to core/central actors relative to more dependent/peripheral economies.
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