Sociology/Rural Sociology 335

Fall 1998
 
 

Instructions: Attached you will find 7 pages with a question at the top of each page. You may choose any 5 of the 7 questions to answer. It does not matter which questions you choose because in grading the exam each of the 5 questions you answer will be worth 20 points. Write your name on the upper right hand corner of each page. Good luck with the exam and best wishes for the holidays!
 
 

1. In recent years there has been a growing interest in community and a growing emphasis on development efforts at the community level. Why, in the context of globalization, do you think community and local cultures are experiencing resurgence?
 
 

2. How would you explain why, over the past 20 years, some formerly 3d world countries have become newly industrializing countries (e.g. Indonesia, Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, etc.) with impressive rates of economic growth, while other countries (most African countries for example) have experienced little or no economic growth?
 
 

3. Provide an explanation for the growth of fundamentalism in many parts of the world in recent years such as growth of the religious right in the U.S. and Islamic fundamentalism throughout most Moslem countries? First, what is fundamentalism? Secondly, why fundamentalism attracting more supporters?
 
 

4. The social class structure in the United States (and many other countries) is undergoing transformation. How has globalization affected the class structure and distribution of income in the United States (or, if you wish, another country of your choice)? In other words, why are the rich becoming richer and the working poor becoming poorer?
 
 

5. Explain the basis for the global debt crisis that emerged from the 1970s. What caused it? In what ways did the resolution of the debt crisis further contribute to economic globalization?
 
 

6. In the context of globalization describe how the concept of development is changing. How is the definition of development changing from the way it was defined during the time of the development project? What measures are being used to determine who is developed and who isn't? What is meant by sustainable development and why has sustainability become a consideration?
 
 

7. Write an explanation for why the academic performance of students in U.S. schools is failing to improve despite much more money being spent on education. The school drop out rate remains high and test score averages are failing to improve. Why?