DVA3706 ASSIGNMENT 1 SEMESTER 1 2025 Question 1 The primary cause of landlessness in Africa is attributed to … a. population migration. b. colonial land dispossession. c. industrialization of land. d. climate change. Explanation: Colonial land disposses

DVA3706 ASSIGNMENT 1 SEMESTER 1 2025 Question 1 The primary cause of landlessness in Africa is attributed to … a. population migration. b. colonial land dispossession. c. industrialization of land. d. climate change. Explanation: Colonial land dispossession, particularly during European colonial rule, led to significant land loss for indigenous populations across Africa. This historical process continues to influence patterns of land ownership and economic inequality today (Moyo, 2011). ________________________________________ Question 2 ____________ highlights the human interaction between rural and urban spaces. a. Migration b. Decentralised governance c. Physical infrastructure d. Trade of goods Explanation: Migration facilitates movement between rural and urban areas, influencing economic, social, and cultural interactions (Tacoli, 2003). ________________________________________ Question 3 Which type of land tenure involves state control of land ownership? a. accessible b. State c. Private d. Communal Explanation: Under state tenure systems, the government retains ownership of the land and may allocate it for specific uses or lease it to individuals and businesses (FAO, 2012). ________________________________________ Question 4 To pass this module, I understand that it is important to … a. only visit the module site to read the announcements. b. only submit the assessments and write the exam. c. scan through previous exam question papers and submit required assessments. d. read the module announcements and study material and attend discussion classes. Explanation: A comprehensive approach, including attending classes, reading materials, and engaging with discussions, leads to better understanding and academic success. ________________________________________ Question 5 The philosopher who is credited with dualistic thinking that influenced rural-urban development concepts was … a. René Descartes. b. Aristotle. c. Plato. d. Immanuel Kant. Explanation: René Descartes’ dualism—separating mind and body—has influenced spatial and social theories, including rural-urban dichotomies in development discourse (Harvey, 1996). ________________________________________ Question 6 What danger arises from conflating rural development with urbanisation? a. Increase in natural resources. b. Focusing on greater agricultural yields. c. Misunderstanding the needs of rural communities. d. Decreased rural migration. Explanation: Equating rural development with urbanisation may ignore the distinct economic, social, and cultural needs of rural communities (Ellis & Biggs, 2001). ________________________________________ Question 7 The term "land tenure" refers to … a. the economic value of land. b. rural housing systems. c. agricultural productivity rates. d. the rights and relationships of land use. Explanation: Land tenure systems define access, control, and rights to land, shaping economic development and social equity (FAO, 2002). ________________________________________ Question 8 Which factors increase the interdependence of rural and urban areas? a. Urban biasness and exclusivity. b. Agricultural stagnation. c. Isolated rural governance. d. Trade, technology, and migration. Explanation: Economic exchanges, technological advancements, and population movement create strong links between rural and urban areas (Tacoli, 2003). ________________________________________ Question 9 "Rural development" primarily depends on … a. pre-existing natural resources. b. static government policies. c. social construction and meaning making. d. universal global standards. Explanation: Rural development is influenced by cultural, economic, and political perceptions that shape policies and initiatives (Chambers, 1997). ________________________________________ Question 10 According to Ndlovu-Gatsheni (2013:3), the call to decolonise the concepts ‘rurality’ and ‘rural development’ is to ensure that the narrative of rural development itself must be liberated from … a. African experiences to reflect Asian cultures and traditions. b. how slavery subjected Africans to poverty and discrimination. c. Western orientations to reflect African indigeneity. d. how apartheid forced Africans to migrate to urban spaces. Explanation: Decolonisation aims to replace Eurocentric perspectives with indigenous African knowledge systems (Ndlovu-Gatsheni, 2013). ________________________________________ Question 11 The historical processes that significantly influenced the meanings of rural development are … a. industrial revolution and technology. b. modernity and colonialism. c. enlightenment and migration. d. feudalism and liberation. Explanation: Colonial legacies and modernization theories have shaped rural development strategies (Escobar, 1995). ________________________________________ Question 12 The notion of Western countries being self-appointed agents of developing the non-Western world based on their Western standards of development defines … a. Modernisation Theory. b. Dependency theory. c. Human-centred theory. d. Actor-oriented theory. Explanation: Modernisation Theory assumes that Western models of progress should be replicated in developing nations (Rostow, 1960). ________________________________________ Question 13 In their conceptualisation of the meaning-making process of the idea of rural development, Ndlovu et al. (2024) claims that it is not possible to imagine rurality without urbanity. This argument is used to explain the notion of … a. Duality. b. Modernity. c. Location. d. Space. Explanation: Rural and urban areas are interdependent, forming a dual system rather than isolated entities (Ndlovu et al., 2024). ________________________________________ Question 14 The three key principles of Sustainable Development are … a. environment, sustainability, and economy. b. green economy, green grabbing, and rurality. c. rurality, urbanity, and economy. d. social, economic, and environment. Explanation: Sustainability is based on balancing social, economic, and environmental concerns (Brundtland Report, 1987). ________________________________________ Question 15 Rural-urban migration often impacts rural communities through … a. loss of skilled labour. b. economic prosperity. c. sustainable growth. d. increased industrialization. Explanation: Migration drains rural areas of educated and skilled individuals (Todaro & Smith, 2012). ________________________________________ Question 16 Ndlovu et al. (2024) argue that “within Third World countries, skills migrate from rural to urban areas, and from smaller to larger urban centres, feeding in turn the international flows of the brain drain.” This statement specifically emphasises the concept of … a. urbanisation. b. rural-urban interactions. c. African-Western interactions. d. globalisation. Explanation: The movement of skilled individuals between regions highlights rural-urban interactions (Ndlovu et al., 2024). ________________________________________ Question 17 The best paraphrase of Mbembe’s (2002:243) argument is … a. Nations that created oppressions in African countries fail to assist this continent to achieve economic recovery. b. The African continent is responsible for its misery and sufferings. c. Challenges faced by Africa today were created by brutal systems that crippled the continent. d. Africa is not responsible for its current challenges. Explanation: Mbembe emphasizes how historical injustices have shaped Africa’s contemporary struggles (Mbembe, 2002). ________________________________________ Question 18 A key criticism of the modernisation theory of development is that it … a. focuses only on rural communities. b. avoids economic specialization. c. prioritizes Western models of development. d. eliminates environmental concerns. Explanation: Modernisation Theory assumes Western progress is universally applicable, ignoring local contexts (Frank, 1967). Question 19 In the context of land reform, the notion of reforming the legislative environment that governs access to, and ownership of land describes … Choices: a. land tenure reform. b. land redistribution reform. c. expropriative land reform. d. comprehensive land reform. Correct Answer: a. land tenure reform. Explanation: Land tenure reform refers to changes in laws, policies, and institutions that govern access to and ownership of land. It aims to secure land rights for individuals or communities, ensuring stability and legal recognition of land ownership. Unlike land redistribution, which involves the transfer of land ownership, tenure reform focuses on legal frameworks to improve security and access (Cousins, 2009). Reference: Cousins, B. (2009). Land reform in South Africa: A contextual analysis. PLAAS, University of the Western Cape. ________________________________________ Question 20 Rural development is often conceptualized within a linear development discourse as … Choices: a. a purely theoretical phenomenon. b. independent from urban development. c. a process of catching up with urban areas. d. technologically superior to urban areas. Correct Answer: c. a process of catching up with urban areas. Explanation: Traditional linear development theories, such as modernization theory, frame rural development as a process where rural areas must "catch up" to urban areas in terms of infrastructure, industrialization, and economic growth. This view often leads to policies that prioritize urban models of development over local rural needs (Todaro & Smith, 2015). Reference: Todaro, M. P., & Smith, S. C. (2015). Economic Development. Pearson Education. ________________________________________ Question 21 The call to re-evaluate the concept of migration through a decolonial lens by moving away from Eurocentric distorted, stereotypical, linear views and considering race and gender is expressed by… Choices: a. Khan and Moseki (2020). b. Gelderbloom (2006). c. Ndlovu-Gatsheni (2013). d. Mafukata and Tshikolomo (2020). Correct Answer: a. Khan and Moseki (2020). Explanation: Khan and Moseki (2020) are well known for his work on decolonial theory, particularly in African studies. He critiques Eurocentric narratives of migration and calls for an approach that takes race, gender, and colonial histories into account when analyzing migration patterns (Khan & Moseki, 2020). ________________________________________ Question 22 A primary goal of the green economy is to … Choices: a. promote urban development. b. reduce agricultural exports. c. integrate environmental sustainability with economic growth. d. support short-term rural projects. Correct Answer: c. integrate environmental sustainability with economic growth. Explanation: The green economy concept seeks to achieve sustainable economic growth while ensuring environmental protection. It emphasizes renewable energy, resource efficiency, and low-carbon development strategies to balance ecological health with economic activities (UNEP, 2011). Reference: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). (2011). Towards a Green Economy: Pathways to Sustainable Development and Poverty Eradication. ________________________________________ Question 23 The idea of Sustainable Rural Livelihoods has no singular historical origin. However, the consensus is that the origins of this concept are … Choices: a. neutral and are used to analyse powerful people and institutions in poor countries. b. from the Rhodes-Livingstone Institute in Zambia and focuses on maintaining rural systems. c. predominantly “Western”, generated by Western thinkers and organisations. d. made in 1966 in Geneva during the Brundtland Commission discussion around the Food report of 2000. Correct Answer: c. predominantly “Western,” generated by Western thinkers and organisations. Explanation: The Sustainable Rural Livelihoods (SRL) concept originated mainly from Western development agencies and academics, particularly in the UK, and has been widely promoted by institutions like the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) and the World Bank. While it has evolved, its foundational ideas reflect Western approaches to poverty alleviation (Scoones, 1998). Reference: Scoones, I. (1998). Sustainable Rural Livelihoods: A Framework for Analysis. IDS Working Paper 72. ________________________________________ Question 24 Which theory critiques the dominance of urban development over rural areas? Choices: a. Neo-liberal b. Dependency c. Modernisation d. Functionalist Correct Answer: b. Dependency. Explanation: Dependency theory argues that rural areas remain underdeveloped because they are structurally dependent on urban centers and global economic systems. It critiques how urban dominance leads to unequal development, resource extraction, and economic disparities between rural and urban regions (Frank, 1967). Reference: Frank, A. G. (1967). Capitalism and Underdevelopment in Latin America. Monthly Review Press. ________________________________________ Question 25 ____________ explains the disproportionate focus on urban areas at the expense of rural ones. Choices: a. Urbanisation b. Rural inversion c. Decentralization d. Urban bias Correct Answer: d. Urban bias. Explanation: The concept of "urban bias" was introduced by economist Michael Lipton (1977) and explains how policies, investments, and political decisions tend to favor urban areas while neglecting rural ones. This results in uneven development, where rural communities lack access to essential services and economic opportunities. Reference: Lipton, M. (1977). Why Poor People Stay Poor: Urban Bias in World Development. Harvard University Press.