Structural Analysis of Transaction Systems

Abstract

This paper compares Galtung's theory of imperialism with the more complex global network views of Dominguez. Galtung's theory states that economic, political, military, and cultural transactions are vertically fused into a “feudal structure” such that the center nations dominate all facets of transactions. Moreover, since vertical fusions on one dimension spill over and structure other dimensions, high degrees of system isomorphisms should be observed. Dominguez, on the other hand, suggests that actors will be found in different networks on different dimensions of interaction. Data on trade and diplomatic visits are analyzed. The findings tend to support Dominguez's views of network structure and challenge the imperialism theory of Galtung. Although the networks are similar, they are not highly isomorphic, and transactions occurred where Galtung's theory predicted they would not.