Societal Development in Semi-peripheral Countries: the Social Differences in NIEs

Abstract

In the contemporary sociology, Newly Industrializing Economies (NIEs) are one of the most relevant research subjects. This paper attempts to analyze the social basis in the formation of NIEs. First of all, both endogenous factors, which are class relations, state intervention and ideology, and exogenous factors, which are determined by the world-system, are specified by focusing on the formation process of indigenous capitals in NIEs and how NIEs have been able to develop in the world-system is explained. Secondly, the differences between east Asian and Latin American NIEs are clarified and to what extent NIEs are likely to be a model of other developing countries is discussed.