NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TRANSPORT

DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

Programmes: HDAME
Module Code: AMU 07215
Module Name: Development Studies
GROUP WORK

Unit 1: Theories and Aspects of development:

Recently most of the African countries have been experiencing military
revolutions which have lead to overthrowing the incumbent government and long term leaders
who have been in regime for a long time and decade after decade. As an intellectual discuss the
major causes of those revolutions.
1. What is Development Studies? With examples from Tanzania, discuss why it is
important for university/ higher learning students to be taught development
studies?
2. Marxist and Neo- Marxist theories of social development advocate radical
structural changes for any society to achieve development? How relevant are
the views in the twenty first century Africa?
3. What development lessons can be drawn from the ideas of the first generation of
African nationalist leaders to address the challenges of contemporary Africa?
4. What is development? Using any theory of social development, explain how
development challenges can be addressed in any country of your choice.
5. Discuss the relevance of the three major theories of social development in
addressing the problem of underdevelopment in developing countries like
Tanzania
6. Major draw backs to the development of private sector in Tanzania is inadequate
entrepreneurship?. Suggest the measures which can be undertaken to promote
entrepreneurship in Tanzania.
7. The term development is a many sided concept that can neither be articulated well
from one side neglecting the other. Discuss
8. Explain the contribution of medias in enhancing democracy in Africa and Tanzania
in particular.
.
9. Marxist theories had a major impacts on pushing African countries toward
liberation from capitalist. Discuss
10. Discuss the contention that Dependency theorists provide a more adequate
explanation of underdevelopment in the third world.
11. Marxist theory had a great contribution on destructing the capitalist imperialist
structure. Explain
12. Social Development is development of the people, for the people and by the
people .Discuss
13. It is over 40 years since most of African countries attained their political
independence .Despite the independence initiated by the efforts made by
African political leaders and their people to overcome development problems
the situation has not improved much. With vivid examples discuss those
problems still facing African continent and Tanzania in particular.
 14. Is dependency theory of social and economic development relevant in addressing
the problem of underdevelopment in developing countries like Tanzania? Discuss.
15. What should be done by periphery countries to move ahead without dependency of
core countries?
16. Briefly explain five measures on how Africans can solve the problem of
underdevelopment.
17. Frantz Fanon is among the dependency theorists coined a statement periphery
countries are also termed as “wretched of the earth” how does his contention
hold water in relation to causes of underdevelopment?
18. Neo-liberal theory advocates for the state as a central planner for development .Do
you agree /disagree with the statement.
19. Explain the applicability of Rostow’s linear model of economic growth
20. Many countries have more than 50 years of independence, yet many of them
remain underdeveloped. Using the insights from any theory of development
discuss what prevent African countries from developing.
21. With examples discuss the causes of terrorism among African countries
22. Differentiate the following terms
(A)Economic growth vs economic development
Economic Growth
Is the capacity of a national economy to generate and sustain an annual increase in
its growth national product?
Economic Development
Refers to long-term changes in systems of production and distribution of goods
and services affecting human welfare

14. Write short notes on the following terms as applied in development studies
a) Nationalism, patriotism and citizenship
b) Growth national product vs growth domestic product
15 .Explain how neo colonialism affect African states
16. “The term development involves not only economic growth but also human
development”. Explain this statement in detail.
17. Economic growth is the key indicator of economic development. Discuss
18. Explain the measures which should be undertaken by African states in order to get
sustainable development.
19. With the aid of examples, explain the internal factors for underdevelopment.

Unit 2: Government, Governance, Democracy and Development

 1. Drawing examples from any developing country, critically discuss why
democratic governance is considered to be essential in achieving the post- 2015
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
2. According to freedom house (2018) ‘‘the principles of democratic governance are
eroding, and so does human development’’. Discuss
3. Assess the roles of civil society organization and community based organization in
the development of the society.
4. Account for the characteristics of bad governance in Africa.
5. Discuss factors you think attribute to the relative weak enforcement of human
rights in Africa.
6. By using tangible examples examine the relationship between the governance and
socio-economic development.
7. Discuss the challenges facing the practice of good governance in Tanzania.
With examples discuss the control measures of corruption among the African
countries “Corruption is the major cause of underdevelopment among African
countries and Tanzania in particular” Discuss the causes of corruption and its effects
in Tanzania.

8. With vivid examples, explain the causes of political instability among African
states
9. Discuss the relationship between freedom of press and democracy
10. What do you understand by the term Universal Declaration of Human Rights?

Unit 3: Globalization and Development

1. How can we make globalization work for the developing countries?
2. “In a contemporary world of advanced science and technology, the developing
Countries need globalization than ever before’’. On your own view discuss this
Statement.
3. Developing countries are facing serious threats posed by Globalization. With
examples highlight those threats and propose practical policy solutions that can help
these countries survive this era of globalization.

Unit 5: Science, Technology and Development

1. Due to uneven global distributionof technology the transfer of technology is unavoidable

phenomena for the developing countries like Tanzania. Explain how technology is transferred?
.
2. Explain the importance of technology transfer for fostering sustainable development in a
Country like Tanzania under conditions of globalization.

3. “Low level of science and technology in African countries is a result of lack of good
 Science and technology policy”. Discuss this statement using examples from African

Countries of your choice.

3. A society without science and technology capability cannot, but continue to remain
underdeveloped. Examine how science and technology can be used to Transform
Tanzania.
4. Technology is development and development is technology. Discuss

Unit 6: Industrial Development in Tanzania

1. Critically assess the current situation of industrial sector in Tanzania and provide
concrete suggestions to improve the sector

2. Tanzania’s current industrialization drive needs to be informed by failures of past

policies and lesson of success in other countries; East and Southeast Asian countries.
With examples discuss the validity of this statement.
3. Despite the effort made the industrialization process in the third world countries have
been very slow. Discuss

4. Critically assess the current industrial sector in Tanzania and provide concrete
suggestions to improve the sector.

Unit 7: Gender and Development

1. Discuss the rationale behind the paradigm shift from women in Development (WID)
to Gender and development.
2. A number of feminist perspectives have been advanced to explain men’s enduring
dominance over women in many sectors. With example identify two feminists theories
of your choice and discuss how they have assisted in addressing the male- dominance
3. The contribution of women movements could be complimented by the male’s
movements. Assess the gains made by women and potential that males’ movements
can make.
4. By considering Tanzania and Africa societies in general do you think gender
equalities is existing? If yes or no give reasons supported by vivid examples.
5. Differentiate Gender equity vs gender equality , gender balance vs gender bias,
gender gap vs gender oppression
6. Using any country of your choice, discuss the initiatives in place to address barriers to
women participation in economic, social and political life.
7. Mention and explain all human rights explained in Universal Declaration of Human
Rights
9. HIV/AIDS have adversely affected Development in most of countries especially in
Africa .Discuss the effects and suggest solutions for the challenge.
10 With vivid examples, explain the causes of political instability among African
states.

11. With examples discuss the causes of corruption among the African countries

12. With examples explain the types of corruption in detail

Unit 8 :Environmental issues

1. “Agricultural activities are the major cause of environmental degradation”.

Discuss with examples.
2. Environmental degradation is more often a man-made hazard .Discuss.

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