DVA1501 EXAM PACK
2023
QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
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,referring to dependency theory and decolonial theory.
(50 marks)
Readings: Study guide, learning units 1 and 3
HOW TO APPROACH THE QUESTION:
Begin your assignment by providing a brief outline of the history of colonialism in Africa, with a
specific focus on the negative impacts. For instance, you can start by saying that Africa has had
a long history of imperialism and then colonialism that served the interests of the colonists and
not Africans. At the Berlin conference in 1884, the borders of Africa were drawn according to
European spheres of influence. No Africans had any say in the proceedings. Section 1.3
mentions many negative impacts of colonialism on Africa. You must mention them all.
After and during the process in which the previously colonised countries became independent,
many ambitious plans were implemented to ‘modernise’ these countries so that they could
resemble developed countries. Nevertheless, it was almost impossible for these countries to go
through the requisite ‘stages of growth’ that were required according to the modernisation
theorists. One of the main reasons was that the infrastructure and investments that European
countries made during colonisation was for one reason only – to benefit the colonial mother
country. The colonialists main focus was to use Africa for its resources and cheap labour. The
infrastructure and investment that was made, focused on this goal. Primary resources were
extracted such as minerals and cash crops. When previously colonised countries became
independent, they were left with this pattern, and had to maximise on the existing order by
continuing to provide European countries with minerals and cash crops. Unfortunately, these
primary products do not fetch much on international markets and the prices are subject to
market fluctuations. At the same time, the industrialised European countries have the capacity
to add value to these products which makes them expensive. These products are then sold
back to the newly independent countries at a high price. This means that there is an imbalance
of trade where the European rich countries get richer and the developing countries struggle with
their balance of payments. You must explain Andre Gunder Frank’s analysis of how entrenched
core-periphery relationships established during colonialism, were still impacting on developing
countries negatively after their independence.
The decolonial theorists also have the same concerns as the dependency scholars but they are
also concerned with not only the unequal power relationships between the previous colonising
countries and their ex-colonies, but also the negative impact that Western knowledge systems,
institutions, and culture have on developing countries because of colonialism. They argue that
these systems are still operating even after official colonialism had been dismantled. They are
also concerned about entrenched racism that still prevails after colonialism. You must discuss
the concerns of decolonial theorists in detail.
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,your own point of view. Furthermore, the assignment should reflect appropriate use of all the
prescribed material and citation/referencing.
60% - 74%: In addition to the above, you must demonstrate the ability to provide a logical
argument by using examples and your own points of view. It should be evident that literature
was incorporated into your discussion, which was referenced.
75% and above: You should do all the above and present a logical and coherent discussion
that demonstrates extensive knowledge, facilitated by additional reading on the subject. You
should be able to reflect critically on all the issues raised in the essay. All sources used were
acknowledged through the appropriate use of referencing.
ASSESSMENT 03
Discuss the classification of countries by explaining the concepts ‘North’ and ‘South’, ‘First’,
‘Second’ and ‘Third World’, ‘developed’, ‘developing’, ‘least developed’, and ‘emerging.
(50 marks)
Reading: Study guide, learning unit 1
HOW TO APPROACH THE QUESTION:
The concepts of ‘North’ and ‘South’
The rich, industrialised countries are often referred to as the ‘North’ and the poorer developing
countries as the ‘South’. Why is this so? If you look at a map of the world, you will see that most
of the countries north of the equator or the ‘Brandt line’ are industrialised, developed countries
while most of the countries below the equator are those that were previously colonised and are
not industrialised, but are still developing. You must elaborate upon this discussion and can
explain that this distinction is not precise and is an example of stereotyping.
The concepts ‘First’, ‘Second’, and ‘Third World’
These concepts have a historical background that stems from the ‘cold war’ between Western
countries and the old Soviet Union and their allies. This cold war started after the Second
world war and continued until 1989. The Western countries and their allies were called the
‘First World’, and the Soviet Union and its allies were called the ‘Second World’. When the
previously colonised countries became independent, they did not want to join either the ‘First
World’ or the ‘Second World’. They shared characteristics which made them unique and they
took up a ‘third stance’ in the world. The demographer Alfred Sauvy called them the ‘Third
World’, which became a popular term to refer to these countries. You must explain in detail
why these countries accepted this term, and why it is still valid even though the ‘Second
World’ disappeared with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
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, ‘developed’ and ‘developing’ when they refer to rich and poor countries. You must explain
exactly what the different categories of these organisations are when referring to poor and rich
countries as such. Also, you must explain which organisation/s referred to certain countries as
‘least developed’ and ‘emerging’, and why.
Indicators for marks allocated:
50% - 59%: A mark in this category shows that you have a fair understanding of the question;
however, you have provided a mere summation of the reading material that does not include
your own point of view. Furthermore, the assignment should reflect appropriate use of all the
prescribed material and citation/referencing.
60% - 74%: In addition to the above, you must demonstrate the ability to provide a logical
argument by using examples and your own points of view. It should be evident that literature
was incorporated into your discussion, which was referenced.
75% and above: You should do all the above and present a logical and coherent discussion
that demonstrates extensive knowledge, facilitated by additional reading on the subject. You
should be able to reflect critically on all the issues raised in the essay. All sources used were
acknowledged through the appropriate use of referencing.
ASSESSMENT 04
Discuss any three issues that affect sustainable development.
(50 marks)
Reading: Study guide, learning unit 4
HOW TO APPROACH THE QUESTION:
Start by readingthe prescribed study material attentively. Note key concepts pertaining
to
sustainable development and environmentalism.
The concept of sustainable development and its three dimensions
The study guide supplies various definitions of the term sustainable development that you can
draw from. For example, Mensah and Castro (2004) refer to sustainability as “the process
suggested to improve the quality of human life within the limitation of the global environment.”
Perhaps the most popular definition of sustainable development is the one provided by the
United Nation’s (UNs) World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) in 1987.
This definition holds that development is sustainable only if it “meets the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
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