COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION IN DEVELOPMENT
April 2006.
Four Hours
PAPER I (GENERAL: DEVELOPMENT, POVERTY AND URBANIZATION)
ANSWER THREE QUESTIONS ONLY
1a) EITHER: Marxist approaches to the study of development seem less popular today than they
were in the past. Yet there are significant debates for which Marxist theories are still vital.
Describe the most important contributions that Marxism has made to our knowledge of
development in the past, and identify the most important areas in which Marxist theories
are alive today.
1b) OR: “With the significant exception of the idea of space-time “compression” (a la David
Harvey), there is little that is substantively different in terms of process or impact between
contemporary globalization theory and erstwhile dependency theory.” With reference to
the relations between developed and less developed countries during the last forty years
of the 20th century, evaluate the veracity of this remark.
2a) EITHER: How far does the emerging urban ecology of large cities in the less developed
world resemble that of the developed world, and what factors help to explain the
similarities and differences that you observe?
2b) OR: Geography has made important contributions to sociological debates regarding
development and globalization. Describe the most important ways that theories of
geography and geographical methods have informed sociological debates, and, with
reference to specific examples, identify the questions where a geographical perspective
holds the most promise in the coming years.
3) “Informality and poverty are inextricably linked: getting rid of the former is a prerequisite for
overcoming both poverty and inequality.” With reference to either labor markets or
housing, discuss the veracity and applicability of this assertion to contemporary cities in
the developed and less developed world.
4) “Over the past twenty years policy makers have moved from being Gender ‘Blind’ to Gender
Aware.” With reference to ONE sectoral area of development theory and policy making,
(e.g. health, education, etc.), explore how far the shift from WID (Women in
Development) to GAD (Gender and Development) to GAG (Gender and Globalization)
confirms or denies the accuracy of this assertion.
5) What does “good governance in the tropics” entail at the state and local levels; and how far
and in what ways is governance likely to be helped or hindered by decentralization?
6) What are the main differences between the migration processes that shape urbanization
today and those of thirty years ago. Illustrate your answer using examples from countries
in Latin America compared to those of Africa or Asia, and account for some of the
principal differences that you observe.
COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION IN DEVELOPMENT
April 2006.
PAPER II. (SPECIALIZED COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION: NGOS,
URBANIZATION)
Four Hours
ANSWER THREE QUESTIONS ONLY (AT LEAST ONE FROM GROUP 1 AND ONE
FROM GROUP 2).
IDENTIFY THE NUMBER OF THE QUESTION IN THE FIRST LINE OF YOUR ANSWER.
Group One
1. What is an NGO? Linking with the literature, access the key features of the “ideal type” NGO.
Using empirical examples compare and contrast how well NGOs in developed countries and
NGOs in developing countries, compare to this “ideal type”.
2. Briefly describe and discuss the main issues in the literature referring to the relationship
between NGOs and States in terms of independence, accountability, and the development of
“rights”. When possible please incorporate specific examples.
3. Many scholars cite the grassroots nature of NGOs as a substantial organizational strength,
while more recent work highlights the role of internationalization within the NGO sector and
the increasing use of NGOs are conduits for foreign aid in the developing world. Discuss the
main issues you find important.
Group Two
4.
Increases in international migration and the rise of transnationalism challenges perceptions
of local, national and international. How are the major approaches to conceptualizing
citizenship challenged or reaffirmed by international labor mobility? Briefly, summarize the
approaches to citizenship you feel are most central, and critically assess their applicability
and limitation in light of international labor migration.
5.
There is considerable confusion and conflicting evidence about trends in urban spatial
segregation in Latin America and other developing regions. Outline what you see as the
major trends of the last twenty years in the large cities of a developing region, paying
attention to the scale of segregation and the degree of isolation of low-income groups.
Discuss the extent to which these trends can be explained by economic globalization or
factors specific to the ecology and institutions of particular cities and countries. Base your
argument on a comparison of two or more major cities in Latin America or elsewhere.
6.
“Modern Urbanization begins with the Industrial Revolution.” Explain this statement and
analyze the relationship between Industrialization and Urbanization. Contrast the resulting
patterns of Urbanization in the developed world and in Developing Countries, paying
attention to migration patterns and the nature of urban infrastructure, including housing and
housing tenure.