Final Exam Study Guide

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Assignment #5, International Development

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Due November 23

For this exercise, you will be gathering information on the country you've been assigned for your research paper. The data can be located in your textbook, atlas, and online. It will be a good idea to also familiarize yourself with the average global levels of these economic and demographic indicators.

Country Name:
GDP ($US)
Per capita GDP
Per capita GNI
Urban population
PPP
RNI
Infant Mortality
Fertility Rate
Life expectancy (female)
Life expectancy (male)


1) Compare your country's stats with those of other countries in the same region. Does it follow similar patterns? If not, then why?

2) What are the main economic activities of the country? Are they centered on the primary, secondary or tertiary sectors?

3) Based on the figures you've found, would you consider the country developed or not? Why?

Assignment #4 - Urban Growth

For this assignment, read Mike Davis' "Planet of Slums" and answer the following questions.

1) Summarize his main points. What trends does he identify, and what are their causes?
2) What do you think was the central argument?
3) What solutions exists to the problems that Davis mentions? Do you agree with his outlook?

Assignment #3 - Nations Without States

Nations Without States
Geo 103, Cultural Geography
Due November 2
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The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO, www.unpu.org) provides a forum for groups who are not represented in traditional supranational bureaucratic institutions such as the United Nations (UN). For those nations without a state, the UNPO offers assistance and guidance for self-help programs and adheres to philosophy of progress through non-violent measures. Please read the brief “About UNPO” section on their website.

Several nations are frequently in the news due to their inability to gain political independence, most prominently the Palestinians and the Kurds in the Middle East. Other stateless nations - Quebecois, the Basque Country, Wales - have managed to gain a degree of autonomy in Canada, Spain and the UK, respectively.

1)Do all nations have the right to become states? Why or why not?

2)Consider sub-nations within democratic countries. If they are represented in government, why do you think they still desire increased autonomy and/or independence?

3)Do governments have any special responsibility to national groups within their borders? Should they be treated differently than other citizens?

4)Why do governments frequently discriminate against and persecute nations under their charge? Does this repressive treatment relate to the attempt to establish a nation-state identity?

Assignment #2 - Culture

Exercise #2, Cultural Identity

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Due October 5

Cultures can be many things, but they are certainly not static. Cultures can be changed through innovations and inventions, diffusion, acculturation, and revitalization. With the twentieth century advancement in communications, transportation, and trade, cultures in many parts of the world have become increasingly dynamic. Some nations fear an eventual loss of cultural identity with ever-increasing global interconnections. Cultural imperialism has been defined as the emerging global culture dominated by the world's superpower, the United States. Some argue that U.S. cultural influence is at least as strong as its military influence. Industrialized nations have responded in various ways to America's cultural dominance. France has become particularly wary of U.S. influence (e.g., la loi Toubon of 1994, a law which forbids French public entities and corporations engaged in public activities from using English expressions where there is a French equivalent). Canada has "allowed" considerable American cultural influence (e.g., most of the current National Hockey League franchises are now located in the U.S.). Since World War II, Japan has incorporated whole segments of American culture (e.g., baseball & fast food), yet has remained distinctively Japanese. The less industrialized nations have also had a different response to American cultural dominance. Many of the Islamic-dominated nations of the Middle East have little tolerance for American cultural influences and use censorship and other tactics to keep this influence to a minimum. Some additional cultural conflicts between less developed nations and the U.S. grew out of the Cold War which often pitted "godless communists" versus "corrupt capitalists."

Please answer the following questions and try to come up with real world examples to support your position.

1. Does U.S. cultural imperialism exist, and, if yes, in what ways?

2. If no, are we simply witnessing the development of a "global" culture that currently happens to be largely influenced by the United States?

3. Or, will increased nationalism maintain separate and distinct cultures, with no one culture being dominant?

Assignment #1 - Immigration

In this exercise, we will be examining some of the key current debates on international migration that concern politics, economics, and culture. You will be reading two short articles online and providing some analysis of the views presented in each piece.

“The case for globalized labor” by Stephan Faris, appearing in Salon.com

http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2006/05/01/global_labor/index.html

“Germany has misread Islam” by Christopher Caldwell, appearing in the Financial Times

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/4fa8a4c4-627f-11de-b1c9-00144feabdc0,Authorised=false.html?_i_location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ft.com%2Fcms%2Fs%2F0%2F4fa8a4c4-627f-11de-b1c9-00144feabdc0.html&_i_referer=

1. What are the main arguments of each author? Summarize their points of agreement and disagreement.

2. Stephan Faris writes, “If we're going to ask countries to let in our goods, we should be willing to let in their workers.” Do you agree? What might be the effects of relaxing immigration restrictions?

3. Christopher Caldwell makes a point about the integration of immigrant communities. Should ideas about diversity and integration be considered in immigration policy? Should countries take into account the origins of migrant communities?

4. Both authors talk about the ethics of immigration, though one from a cultural angle and the other from an economic angle. If you were designing an immigration policy, would you rely more on cultural or economic arguments?