Global Hierarchies in Liteature & Literary Theory

Etymology of Global Hierarchies

Global hierarchies refer to the unequal distribution of power, influence, and resources among countries and regions on a global scale, where some nations exert greater authority and control over others.

These hierarchies are often rooted in historical, economic, and political factors, leading to disparities in wealth, access to opportunities, and decision-making influence. These hierarchies can be seen in international relations, trade agreements, and institutions where certain nations hold dominant positions, shaping global policies and agendas.

These structures can perpetuate social, economic, and political inequalities, and addressing them is a central challenge for international governance and diplomacy. Understanding these hierarchies is essential for analyzing and addressing issues related to global development, justice, and cooperation.

Meanings of Global Hierarchies

Aspect	Meaning
Colonial Narratives	Explore these hierarchies in literature depicting colonial powers dominating colonized regions, revealing power imbalances and exploitation in colonial systems.
Postcolonial Literature	Critically examines these hierarchies and post-colonial aftermath, highlighting struggles of formerly colonized nations to assert identities and sovereignty.
Globalization and Identity	Explores the impact of globalization on cultural identities, local voices, and tensions between homogenization and diversity within these hierarchies.
Global Power Structures	Portrays the influence of superpowers and multinational corporations in shaping global power structures, international relations, and the global economy.
Diaspora Literature	Explores experiences of displaced individuals and communities in the context of global hierarchies, addressing issues of identity, belonging, and cultural preservation amid migration.
Ecological Hierarchies	Examines how environmental exploitation by certain nations affects the global environment and regions, revealing these hierarchies within ecological imbalances.
Global Conflicts	Depicts the consequences of these hierarchies, including conflicts, wars, and social injustices, shedding light on the human impact of unequal power structures.
Resistance and Empowerment	Highlights instances of resistance and empowerment within these hierarchies, emphasizing the resilience of individuals and communities in challenging dominant forces.

Definition of Global Hierarchies as a Theoretical Term

Global hierarchies, as a theoretical term, refer to the unequal distribution of power, resources, and influence among nations and regions on a worldwide scale.

These hierarchies are characterized by the dominance of certain countries or entities over others, resulting from historical, economic, and political factors. They shape international relations, trade dynamics, and global governance, perpetuating disparities in wealth, access to opportunities, and decision-making authority among nations.

Global Hierarchies: Theorists, Works, and Arguments

Theorists	Notable Work	Arguments
Immanuel Wallerstein	World-Systems Analysis: An Introduction	Wallerstein’s world-systems theory examines these hierarchies by categorizing nations into core, periphery, and semi-periphery, highlighting how economic and political power disparities are perpetuated in the global system.
Edward Said	Orientalism	Said’s work critiques the way these hierarchies are constructed through colonial discourse, emphasizing how the East is represented as inferior to the West, perpetuating cultural hierarchies.
Frantz Fanon	The Wretched of the Earth	Fanon’s analysis of colonialism and decolonization underscores the violent imposition of global hierarchies and the psychological effects of colonization on colonized populations.
Arundhati Roy	Capitalism: A Ghost Story	Roy’s writings explore contemporary global hierarchies, with a focus on the impact of capitalism, neoliberalism, and corporate influence on socio-economic disparities and power imbalances.
Thomas Piketty	Capital in the Twenty-First Century	Piketty’s research examines global economic hierarchies, emphasizing the role of wealth concentration and inequality in shaping global economic structures and power dynamics.
Samir Amin	Unequal Development: An Essay on the Social Formations of Peripheral Capitalism	Amin’s work addresses the disparities within the global capitalist system, emphasizing how peripheral nations are integrated into a hierarchical global economy, resulting in unequal development.
Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak	Can the Subaltern Speak?	Spivak’s postcolonial critique delves into the subaltern’s voicelessness within global hierarchies. She questions how marginalized and colonized groups are represented or excluded in dominant discourses.

Global Hierarchies and Literary Theories

1. Postcolonial Theory:
   • Relevance: Postcolonial theory critically examines the power imbalances, cultural clashes, and resistance within the context of global hierarchies. It emphasizes the impact of colonialism, decolonization, and the legacy of imperialism on literature, highlighting the voices of marginalized and colonized communities.
2. World Literature:
   • Relevance: World literature theory considers the circulation and reception of literary works across borders. It explores how global hierarchies affect the selection and dissemination of texts, revealing the influence of dominant cultures on the perception and recognition of literature.
3. Globalization Theory:
   • Relevance: Globalization theory addresses the effects of global hierarchies on literature in an interconnected world. It examines how economic, political, and cultural globalization influence the themes, styles, and content of literary works, often reflecting issues of inequality and cultural homogenization.
4. Cultural Studies:
   • Relevance: Cultural studies theory explores how these hierarchies impact cultural production and representation in literature. It considers how power structures influence the depiction of diverse cultures, identities, and social dynamics in literary texts.
5. Postcolonial Feminism:
   • Relevance: Postcolonial feminism combines elements of postcolonial theory and feminism to analyze how these hierarchies intersect with gender issues in literature. It highlights the experiences of women in colonized or marginalized contexts, emphasizing their struggles and agency.
6. Marxist Literary Theory:
   • Relevance: Marxist literary theory examines economic and class-based aspects of global hierarchies in literature. It explores how economic disparities, social inequalities, and class struggles are reflected in literary works, particularly in the context of capitalism and imperialism.
7. Ecocriticism:
   • Relevance: Ecocriticism considers the ecological dimensions of global hierarchies in literature. It explores how environmental exploitation, resource extraction, and ecological imbalances are depicted in literary texts, often shedding light on the consequences of global power differentials.

Global Hierarchies in Literary Criticism

Work	Critique
The Ministry of Utmost Happiness by Arundhati Roy (India)	Arundhati Roy’s novel offers a complex exploration of global hierarchies in the context of modern India. It delves into issues of identity, social hierarchies, and the impact of global geopolitics. The story intertwines the lives of diverse characters, from Kashmir to Delhi, shedding light on the complexity of India’s socio-political landscape within the broader global context.
Exit West by Mohsin Hamid (Pakistan)	Mohsin Hamid’s novel provides a compelling perspective on global hierarchies through the lens of migration and displacement. It follows the journey of a young couple who escape their war-torn homeland through magical doors. The novel explores the global power differentials that force individuals to seek refuge and confronts the challenges and prejudices faced by migrants in an interconnected world.
The Year of the Runaways by Sunjeev Sahota (India)	Sunjeev Sahota’s novel delves into the lives of Indian immigrants in the UK. It portrays the struggles, aspirations, and hardships of individuals seeking better opportunities in a foreign land. The story highlights the disparities between the global North and South, shedding light on the experiences of those who navigate these global hierarchies.
A State of Freedom by Neel Mukherjee (India)	Neel Mukherjee’s novel explores the dynamics of class, caste, and power in contemporary India. It follows the lives of characters from different backgrounds and social hierarchies, addressing the consequences of these hierarchies within the context of a rapidly changing globalized world. These novels offer contemporary perspectives on global hierarchies, addressing issues of migration, social disparities, and the impact of global dynamics on the lives of individuals in India and Pakistan. They provide insights into the complex interactions between local and global forces, enriching the understanding of these dynamics in the modern context.

Suggested Readings

1. Amin, Samir. Unequal Development: An Essay on the Social Formations of Peripheral Capitalism. Monthly Review Press, 1976.
2. Fanon, Frantz. The Wretched of the Earth. Translated by Richard Philcox, Grove Press, 2004.
3. Piketty, Thomas. Capital in the Twenty-First Century. Translated by Arthur Goldhammer, Belknap Press, 2014.
4. Roy, Arundhati. Capitalism: A Ghost Story. Haymarket Books, 2014.
5. Said, Edward. Orientalism. Vintage Books, 1979.
6. Wallerstein, Immanuel. World-Systems Analysis: An Introduction. Duke University Press, 2004.