RECENT ASSIGNMENT

Assessment Type Essay
Purpose The purposes of this assessment are for the student to critically engage with the course material, to develop their critical understanding of development theory and realities, advance their ability to evaluate and engage analytically with theory, and ask questions about the relationship between theories and policies, ideas and actions.
Description Choose only ONE (1) of the following topics. Clearly identify the topic question you are examining. Provide examples (e.g. case study/s) and relevant data to support or refute each of these positions. In addition to the articles you have found you should also utilise the required readings included in this course. You may find theoretical insights in the readings from weeks two to seven.
Topic1 1
Identify, examine and critically evaluate a recent development project in a developing country from a modernisation, dependency, world system or post-development perspective. What are the implications of your findings? In addition to the articles you have found you should also utilise the required readings included in this course.
Topic2 2
Identify a recent industrial or agricultural environmental disaster (eg, Bhopal disaster; Exxon Valdez oil spill; Ok Tedi mining in Papua New Guinea). What links can be made between the disaster and neoliberal policies and practices promoted through world institutions (eg, World Bank; International Monetary Fund; World Trade Organisation) and by influential Western governments (eg, USA; Canada; Britain; Australia)? In addition to the articles you have found you should also utilise the required readings included in this course.
Topic3 3
Explain how the provision of Western aid potentially exposes Third World countries to First World political manipulation? Provide examples (eg, case-study/s) and relevant data to support your analysis. In addition to the articles you have found you should also utilise the required readings included in this course. You may find theoretical insights in the readings from week twelve, especially Pearce (2000).
Topic4 4
Ethnic and racial conflict has been a significant impediment to development in poor countries. Discuss this view. Provide examples (e.g. case study/s) and relevant data to support your analysis. In addition to the articles you have found you should also utilise the required readings included in this course.
Weighting 40%
Length 3000