Development Studies Midterm Review

A collection of flashcards for understanding key concepts, definitions, and theories related to development studies for the midterm exam.

What is development?

A term used to describe people, places, and processes reflecting poverty, wealth, and relationships.

Multi-dimensional process

Focus on sustainable development involving socio-economic, cultural, and political aspects.

Post-World War II origins

Harry Truman's 1949 address highlighting the need for intervention in underdeveloped areas.

Comparison of nations' progress

Evaluating success in development based on metrics relative to each other.

Condition vs. Process

Condition refers to labels based on comparisons, while process indicates qualitative improvements.

Newly Industrialized Countries (NIC)

Countries like Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan recognized for rapid economic growth.

Least Developed Countries (LDC)

Countries with very low incomes requiring special support from the UN for growth.

Low Income Country (LIC)

Countries classified based on low per capita income.

Middle Income Country (MIC)

Countries with intermediate economic status between low and high income.

Third World

Term for countries outside the major power blocs during the Cold War.

Sustainable Development

Development that meets present needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet their own.

Brundtland Commission (1987)

Introduced the concept of sustainable development in its report.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

A measure of a country's economic performance based on the production of goods and services.

Limitations of GDP

Does not convey the extent of poverty or represent income distribution accurately.

GDP per Capita

An average income measure representing economic productivity of individuals in a country.

Purchasing Power Parity (PPP)

A metric that compares the relative value of currencies and cost of living.

Human Development Index (HDI)

Composite index measuring life expectancy, education, and income.

Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI)

Assesses factors of deprivation affecting quality of life.

Gender Inequality Index (GII)

Measures discrimination faced by women and girls in various domains.

Gender Development Index (GDI)

Compares HDI outcomes of men and women.

Millennium Development Goals (MDG)

Goals established to address global development challenges.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)

A framework focused on international collaboration towards development objectives.

Gini coefficient

A measure of income inequality within a nation, ranging from 0 (equality) to 1 (inequality).

Quintiles

Divisions of the population used to compare income data.

Gross National Happiness (GNH)

Measures the holistic well-being of a population beyond economic indicators.

Classical Political Economy

Economic theory focusing on free markets and production efficiency by Adam Smith and others.

Nationalist Economics

Economic theory advocating for protectionism and state-led industrialization.

Keynesianism

Economic approach emphasizing government intervention to manage economic cycles.

Development Economics

Field focused on the transformation of economies, particularly in developing nations.

Modernization Theory

Perspectives on development as a linear process of transformation towards industrialization.

Rostow's Stages of Economic Growth

Framework outlining the progression from traditional societies to high mass consumption.

Import Substitution Industrialization

Economic strategy to reduce foreign dependency through domestic production.

Dependency Theory

Concept viewing economic development through the lens of exploitative global relationships.

Core-Periphery Model

Framework distinguishing between developed and developing regions in a global context.

World Systems Theory

Immanuel Wallerstein's concept categorizing nations as core, semi-periphery, and periphery.

Neo-Modernization Theory

Theory proposing that foreign aid and investment are essential for poverty alleviation.

Cultural genocide

Actions aimed at eroding the cultural integrity of distinct peoples.

Decolonization

Process where colonized countries gain independence from colonial powers.

Assimilation policies

Government measures to integrate Indigenous populations into Euro-Canadian society.

Truth and Reconciliation Commission

A Canadian commission investigating human rights violations against Indigenous peoples.

Colonization of Canada

The expansion of European influence over Indigenous lands and populations.

Indian Act, 1876

Canadian law aimed at regulating the lives of First Nations peoples.

Residential schools

Government-sponsored institutions aimed at assimilating Indigenous children.

Sixties Scoop

Large-scale adoption policy that removed Indigenous children from their families.

Dish with One Spoon Covenant

An agreement among Indigenous nations to share land and resources peacefully.

Berlin Conference

A meeting to regulate European colonization and trade in Africa.

Scramble for Africa

Rapid invasion, occupation, and annexation of African territory by European powers.

Marx's relations of production

Describes the economic arrangements governing the production of goods in a society.

Colonization vs. Imperialism

Colonization involves settling land; imperialism is ruling from a central power.

Atlantic Trade Triangle

Trade system connecting Europe, Africa, and the Americas during colonialism.

Mercantilism

Economic theory that emphasizes maximizing exports and minimizing imports.

Great Powers' competition

Conflict among European nations for dominance in overseas territories.

Neo-colonialism

Control exerted over former colonies despite political independence.