JOURNAL OF REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIVENESS JOURNAL OF REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIVENESS Журнал региональной и международной конкурентоспособности 2782-1927 119125 DEFINING COMPETITIVENESS DEFINING COMPETITIVENESS DEFINING COMPETITIVENESS World-systems theory as a paradigm for explanation of uneven structure of global and national economic development Мир-системная теория как парадигма объяснения неравномерной структуры глобального и национального экономического развития https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5295-2538 Диденко Дмитрий Валерьевич Didenko Dmitriy Valer'evich didenko-dv@ranepa.ru

доктор экономических наук;кандидат исторических наук;

doctor of economic sciences;candidate of historical sciences;

 Российская академия народного хозяйства и государственной службы при Президенте Российской Федерации Moscow Россия The Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration Moscow Russian Federation 30 03 2026 30 03 2026 7 1 16 25 14 01 2026 03 03 2026 https://chemintech.ru/en/nauka/article/119125/view

В этом очерке автор делает попытку актуализировать идеи различных школ мир-системной теории (МСТ), чтобы объяснить корни процессов дивергенции и конвергенции доходов на душу населения между Западом и Востоком на разных этапах и фазах капиталистического развития мировой экономики. Автор утверждает, что эта теория дает релевантные понятия и подходы для раскрытия роли империй в развитии межконтинентальной торговли, коммерциализации мировой экономики, а также факторов, лежащих в основе вековых изменений центров и гегемоний мировой экономики. Автор прослеживает интеллектуальные влияния на МСТ, интерпретируя ключевые понятия и обсуждая направления аргументации. Автор сравнивает отдельные теоретические подходы МСТ, а также связанные с ними теоретические парадигмы, с эмпирическими свидетельствами из историко-экономической литературы. Это дает полезные идеи для понимания изменений в относительных позициях России через соединение прошлого и настоящего и рассмотрения пути развития страны в контексте глобальных процессов. Так, заявляя о себе как об альтернативе глобальному капитализму в советский период, Россия оказалась полупериферией мировой капиталистической экономики. Опережающее развитие Китая и Индии в последние десятилетия обещает сдвиги в мировом экономическом ландшафте. Обзор литературы, проведенный автором, показывает, что большинство первоначальных школ МСТ анализировали факторы, лежащие в основе Великой дивергенции; однако их методология оказалась применимой и для объяснения конвергенции. Для этого они заимствовали неоклассическую концепцию человеческого капитала и обратились к дискурсу модернизации в новой версии.

In this essay the author attempts to revitalise ideas from various schools of world-systems theory (WST) to explain the roots of divergence and convergence between the West and the East in income per capita at various stages and phases of capitalist development of the world economy. The author argues that this theory provides with relevant concepts and approaches to reveal the role of empires in promoting long-distance trade, commodification of the global economy, as well as the factors behind secular change of world-economy centres and hegemonies. The author traces intellectual influences on the WST by interpreting the key concepts and discussing the lines of argument. The author compares the selected theoretical approaches by the WST, as well as by related theoretical paradigms, with empirical evidence found in economic history literature. This provides helpful insights for understanding changes in relative positions of Russia by bridging past and present and by placing the country’s path of development into the global perspective. Thus, having claimed to be an alternative to the global capitalism during the Soviet period, Russia appeared to be a semi-periphery of the world capitalist economy. Surpassing development of China and India in the last decades promises shifts in the global economic landscape. The author’s review of the literature demonstrates that most of the original schools of WST analysed factors behind the Great Divergence; yet their methodology is applicable to explain the convergence. To do so they borrowed the neoclassical concept of human capital and applied to a revised modernisation discourse.

 международная торговля; национальные государства; империи и периферия; Великая дивергенция; марксизм; теория зависимого развития; теория модернизации world trade; national states; empires and periphery; the Great Divergence; Marxism; dependency theory; modernisation theory Статья подготовлена в рамках выполнения государственного задания РАНХиГС. В статье использован авторский материал для коллективной монографии: Van Leeuwen B., Didenko D., Calabrese M., Wang M. Innovation and Economic Development in Eurasia, 500 BCE–Present: The Roots of Divergence [Инновации и экономическое развитие в Евразии, 500 г. до н.э. – настоящее время: Корни дивергенции]. Cham: Springer, 2025. Ch. 4 The Change towards Modern Growth: Proximate Causes [Переход к современному режиму роста: непосредственные причины]. Автор благодарит за оригинальные идеи и плодотворные обсуждения Б. ван Леувена, М. Калабрезе, М. Ван. Автор статьи несет полную ответственность за итоговые исследовательские решения и их возможные недостатки. The article was written on the basis of the RANEPA state assignment research programme. The author of the article borrows his material from the collective monograph: Van Leeuwen B., Didenko D., Calabrese M., Wang M. Innovation and Economic Development in Eurasia, 500 BCE–Present: The Roots of Divergence. Cham: Springer, 2025. Ch. 4 The Change towards Modern Growth: Proximate Causes. The author thanks Bas van Leeuwen, Matteo Calabrese, Meimei Wang for the original ideas and productive discussions. The author of the article bears fully responsible for the final research decisions and their possible shortcomings.

Amin, S. (1976 [1973]). Unequal Development: An Essay on the Social Formations of·Peripheral Capitalism. Hassocks (England): Harvester Press. Amin, S. (1976 [1973]). Unequal Development: An Essay on the Social Formations of·Peripheral Capitalism. Hassocks (England): Harvester Press. Amin, S. (2016). Russia and the Long Transition from Capitalism to Socialism. New York: Monthly Review Press. Amin, S. (2016). Russia and the Long Transition from Capitalism to Socialism. New York: Monthly Review Press. Arrighi, G. (2010). The Long Twentieth Century. Money, Power, and the Origins of Our Times. 2nd ed. London, New York: Verso Books. Arrighi, G. (2010). The Long Twentieth Century. Money, Power, and the Origins of Our Times. 2nd ed. London, New York: Verso Books. Black, C. (1966). The Dynamics of Modernization: A Study in Comparative History. New York: Harper and Row. Black, C. (1966). The Dynamics of Modernization: A Study in Comparative History. New York: Harper and Row. Braudel, F. (1973 [1967]). Capitalism and Material Life, 1400–1800. New York: Harpercollins Publisher. Braudel, F. (1973 [1967]). Capitalism and Material Life, 1400–1800. New York: Harpercollins Publisher. Braudel, F. (1992 [1979]). Civilization and capitalism. Vol. 3. The perspective of the world. Berkley: University of California Press. Braudel, F. (1992 [1979]). Civilization and capitalism. Vol. 3. The perspective of the world. Berkley: University of California Press. Broadberry, S., & Korchmina, E. (2022). Catching-up and falling behind: Russian economic growth, 1690s-1880s. Oxford Economic and Social History Working Papers No. 192. University of Oxford. https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:8ddb009a-30d0-4100-9bcf-895b106481a2. Broadberry, S., & Korchmina, E. (2022). Catching-up and falling behind: Russian economic growth, 1690s-1880s. Oxford Economic and Social History Working Papers No. 192. University of Oxford. https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:8ddb009a-30d0-4100-9bcf-895b106481a2. Clark G. (2015). Markets before economic growth: the grain market of medieval England. Cliometrica, 9(3), 265–287. Clark G. (2015). Markets before economic growth: the grain market of medieval England. Cliometrica, 9(3), 265–287. Derluguian, G.M. (2007). Some Ideas about Empires on Europe’s Periphery (The Worlds the Portuguese, the Russians, and the Turks Created). Social Evolution & History, 6(1), 145–154. Derluguian, G.M. (2007). Some Ideas about Empires on Europe’s Periphery (The Worlds the Portuguese, the Russians, and the Turks Created). Social Evolution & History, 6(1), 145–154. Eisenstadt, S.N. (1966). Modernization: Protest and Change. Englewood Cliffs (N.J.): Prentice Hall. Eisenstadt, S.N. (1966). Modernization: Protest and Change. Englewood Cliffs (N.J.): Prentice Hall. Galor, O. (2011). Unified Growth Theory. Princeton (N.J.): Princeton University Press. Galor, O. (2011). Unified Growth Theory. Princeton (N.J.): Princeton University Press. Grinin, L., & Korotayev, A. (2015). Great Divergence and Great Convergence: A Global Perspective. Heidelberg: Springer Cham. Grinin, L., & Korotayev, A. (2015). Great Divergence and Great Convergence: A Global Perspective. Heidelberg: Springer Cham. Kahan, A. (1985). The Plow, the Hammer and the Knout: An Economic History of Eighteenth-Century Russia. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Kahan, A. (1985). The Plow, the Hammer and the Knout: An Economic History of Eighteenth-Century Russia. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Khodarkovsky, M. (2002). Russia’s Steppe Frontier: The Making of a Colonial Empire, 1500-1800. Bloomington – Indianapolis: Indiana University Press. Khodarkovsky, M. (2002). Russia’s Steppe Frontier: The Making of a Colonial Empire, 1500-1800. Bloomington – Indianapolis: Indiana University Press. Kotilaine, J.T. (2005). Russia’s foreign trade and economic expansion in the seventeenth century: Windows on the World. Leiden – Boston: Brill. Kotilaine, J.T. (2005). Russia’s foreign trade and economic expansion in the seventeenth century: Windows on the World. Leiden – Boston: Brill. Kuznets, S. (1966). Modern Economic Growth: Rate, Structure, and Spread. New Haven; London: Yale University Press. Kuznets, S. (1966). Modern Economic Growth: Rate, Structure, and Spread. New Haven; London: Yale University Press. Lightfoot, K.G. (2003). Russian Colonization: The Implications of Mercantile Colonial Practices in the North Pacific. Historical Archaeology, 37(4), 14–28. Lightfoot, K.G. (2003). Russian Colonization: The Implications of Mercantile Colonial Practices in the North Pacific. Historical Archaeology, 37(4), 14–28. Marx K., & Engels F. (1977 [1848]). Manifesto of the Communist Party. Moscow: Progress Publishers. Marx K., & Engels F. (1977 [1848]). Manifesto of the Communist Party. Moscow: Progress Publishers. MVT (1967). Ministerstvo vneshnei torgovli SSSR [Ministry of Foreign Trade of the USSR]. Vneshniaia torgovlia SSSR: Statisticheskii sbornik [Foreign trade of the USSR: Statistical Abstract]. 1918–1966. Moscow: Mezhdunarodnye otnosheniia [International relations]. MVT (1967). Ministerstvo vneshnei torgovli SSSR [Ministry of Foreign Trade of the USSR]. Vneshniaia torgovlia SSSR: Statisticheskii sbornik [Foreign trade of the USSR: Statistical Abstract]. 1918–1966. Moscow: Mezhdunarodnye otnosheniia [International relations]. Pomeranz, K. (2000). The Great Divergence. China, Europe, and the Making of the Modern World Economy. Princeton and Oxford: Princeton University Press. Pomeranz, K. (2000). The Great Divergence. China, Europe, and the Making of the Modern World Economy. Princeton and Oxford: Princeton University Press. Prebisch, R. (1950). The Economic Development of Latin America and its Principal Problems. Lake Success, NY: United Nations Department for Economic Affair. Prebisch, R. (1950). The Economic Development of Latin America and its Principal Problems. Lake Success, NY: United Nations Department for Economic Affair. Robinson, W.I. (2011). Globalization and the sociology of Immanuel Wallerstein: A critical appraisal. International Sociology, 26(6), 723–745. Robinson, W.I. (2011). Globalization and the sociology of Immanuel Wallerstein: A critical appraisal. International Sociology, 26(6), 723–745. Sunderland, W. (2004). Taming the Wild Field: Colonization and Empire on the Russian Steppe. Ithaca; London: Cornell University Press. Sunderland, W. (2004). Taming the Wild Field: Colonization and Empire on the Russian Steppe. Ithaca; London: Cornell University Press. Tabata Sh., & Tabata T. (2019). Gross Domestic Products. In: Kuboniwa M. et al. (Eds). Russian Economic Development over Three Centuries: New Data and Inferences. Singapore: Palgrave Macmillan (pp. 251–289). Tabata Sh., & Tabata T. (2019). Gross Domestic Products. In: Kuboniwa M. et al. (Eds). Russian Economic Development over Three Centuries: New Data and Inferences. Singapore: Palgrave Macmillan (pp. 251–289). TsSU SSSR (1989). Tsentral’noe statisticheskoe upravlenie [Central Statistical Board of the USSR]. Narodnoe khoziaistvo SSSR [National Economy of the USSR]. Moscow: Finansy i Statistika. TsSU SSSR (1989). Tsentral’noe statisticheskoe upravlenie [Central Statistical Board of the USSR]. Narodnoe khoziaistvo SSSR [National Economy of the USSR]. Moscow: Finansy i Statistika. Turner, F.J. (1920). The Frontier in American History. New York: Henry Halt and Company. Turner, F.J. (1920). The Frontier in American History. New York: Henry Halt and Company. Uegaki, A. (2019). Foreign Trade. In: Kuboniwa M. et al. (Eds). Russian Economic Development over Three Centuries: New Data and Inferences. Singapore: Palgrave Macmillan (pp. 291–315). Uegaki, A. (2019). Foreign Trade. In: Kuboniwa M. et al. (Eds). Russian Economic Development over Three Centuries: New Data and Inferences. Singapore: Palgrave Macmillan (pp. 291–315). Wallerstein, I. (2004). World-Systems Analysis: An Introduction. Durham, N.C.: Duke University Press. Wallerstein, I. (2004). World-Systems Analysis: An Introduction. Durham, N.C.: Duke University Press. Wallerstein, I. (2011 [1974]). The Modern World-System. Vol. I. Capitalist Agriculture and the Origins of the European World-Economy in the Sixteenth Century. Berkeley: University of California Press. Wallerstein, I. (2011 [1974]). The Modern World-System. Vol. I. Capitalist Agriculture and the Origins of the European World-Economy in the Sixteenth Century. Berkeley: University of California Press.