POSSIBLE EXAM QUESTIONS DVA 3706

Previous Exam Questions

May/June 2018

Discuss various ways in which land redistribution can contribute to rural

development.

ZG
Write an essay m which you discuss both the causes and effects of rural-urban
migration on rural development in Africa.

Discuss the origins of the concept "sustainable livelihoods" and explain the
significance of local knowledge and local participation in the practice of sustainable
rural livelihoods.

Explain the nature of the connection between rural and urban development. In your
answer, reflect on the possible social, economic, and environmental linkages.

May/June 2020

Critically discuss why the movement of people between the least and the most
developed areas is significant in rural development.

Explain how the notion of “expropriation of land without compensation” can affect
land redistribution in Africa.

Discuss the connections between rural and urban development.

Use the examples from the current Coronavirus / Covid-19 pandemic events to
clarify your discussion.

Compare and contrast the meanings of rural development in any two continents.
Oct/Nov 2020

Discuss the significance of rural-urban linkages in the development of rural areas.

Explain how the idea of rural development can signify different things to different
people.

ZG
Discuss the different participatory approaches used in the practice of sustainable
rural livelihoods.

Analyse the relationship between the ‘green economy, ‘sustainable development’

and ‘green grabbing’.

Sept-Dec 2021

Critically discuss the interactive nature of development between rural and urban
areas.

Focusing on the principles of local knowledge and participation, explain the

significance of Sustainable Rural Livelihoods in rural development.

Evaluate the contribution of green economy to rural development.

Discuss the causes and effects of migration on rural development.

Jan/Feb 2022

The concept of rural development means different things to different people. Discuss
this statement and add appropriate examples.

What are the key lessons that the concept of ‘land expropriation without
compensation’ presents for rural development in Southern Africa? Support your
argument with appropriate examples.
Critically discuss the contribution of green economy to rural development.

Focusing on the principles of local knowledge and participation, explain the

significance of Sustainable Rural Livelihoods in rural development.

May/June 2022
ZG
Critically discuss the concept of ‘Green Economy’ in line with ‘Sustainable
Development’ and ‘Green Grabbing’ in the context of rural development.

Explain in detail the significance of land reform in the South African rural
development context. Use practical examples in your discussion.

Evaluate the contribution of rural-urban migration to rural development.

Short Questions

Explain with examples how time, context, space and power influence the
meaning (s) of rural development.

Define modernisation and dependency theories, then explain how these

concepts relate to rural-urban interactions.

Do you think the notion of ‘land expropriation without compensation’ is a good

or bad idea for rural development? Explain with examples.

Discuss the effects of migration and urbanisation on rural development.

What is the significance of Sustainable Rural Livelihoods to rural development.

Previous Assignment Essay Questions
SU 1

Discuss how context of power, time and location influence the meaning(s) of
rural development.

ZG
Critically discuss how the meaning of rural development is conceptualised in
different contexts.

Critically discuss the complex nature of “rural development”

Why is rural development a contested phenomenon?

Discuss the origin of the concept rural development and how it is contested.

Discuss the origin of the concept “rural development” and its contested-ness.

Contributions by Chigbu (2013; 2015); Halfacree (1993); Little (1993); Plaatjie

(2020); Eloi et al, (2016)

SU2

Explain the nature of the linkages between rural-urban development.

Considering both the theoretical and practical context, critically analyse the
nature of the linkages between rural-urban development.

Discuss the link(s) between rural and urban development using modernisation
and dependency theories.

Discuss how modernisation and dependency theories explain the linkages

between rural and urban development.
Critically discuss the inter-dependence between rural and urban development.
In your answer, reflect on modernisation and dependency theories; and
explain the social, economic, and environmental linkages.

Discuss the inter-dependence between rural and urban development. In your

answer, reflect on the social, economic, and environmental linkages.

ZG
Contributions by: Taccoli (1998); Rempel and Lobdell (1978); Cruickshank (2009)

SU3

What are the contribution(s) of land reform to rural development in Southern

Africa?

Discuss the significance of land redistribution in Africa’s rural development.

Explain the relevance of land reform for rural development in Africa.

Explain how pre-occupation with the “agrarian question” affects the discourse
of radical land redistribution in South Africa.

Do you think land redistribution can contribute to rural development in the

global south? In your answer, explain how pre-occupation with the ‘agrarian
question’ affects the discourse of land redistribution in South Africa.

Do you think land redistribution can contribute to rural development in the

Global South? In your answer, explain how pre-occupation with the ‘agrarian
question’ affects the discourse of radical land redistribution in South Africa.

Contributions by Ferguson (2013); Kepe and Cousins (2002); Bruce (1989);

Ramutsindela and Mogashoa (2013)
SU4

Discuss the pros and cons of rural–urban migration in Africa.

Critically discuss the socioeconomic effects of rural-urban migration on rural

development.

ZG
Discuss the causes and effects of rural-urban migration on rural development
in Africa.

Discuss the causes and effects of rural-urban migration on rural development

in Africa. In your answer, explain how colonialism contributed to the
phenomenon of rural-urban migration in countries such as South Africa.

Discuss the causes and effects of rural-urban migration on rural development

in Africa. In your answer, explain how colonialism contributed to the
phenomenon of rural-urban migration in countries such as South Africa.

Contributions by De Brauw et al (2014); Small (2007); Lipton (1980); Potts (2013);

Khan and Moseki (2020)

SU 5

Discuss the relevance of sustainable rural livelihoods for rural development.

Evaluate the significance of sustainable rural livelihoods in rural development.

Explain the concept of sustainable rural livelihoods and the different

approaches associated with this phenomenon.

Discuss the relevance of sustainable rural livelihoods in the African context.

Discuss the origin of the idea of sustainable rural livelihoods. In your answer,
discuss the significance of local knowledge and local participation in
practicing sustainable rural livelihoods.

Discuss the significance of local knowledge and local participation in the

practice of sustainable rural livelihoods.

ZG
Contributions by Fairhead et al (2012); Scoones (2009); Leeuwis (2000); Small
(2007); Tang et. al (2013); Bogumila – Lisocka (2015)

SU 6

Evaluate the effect of green economy on sustainable rural development

Discuss the relevance of green economy on sustainable rural development.

What are the implications of green economy on rural development?

Explain the origins of the idea of green economy and discuss the extent to
which the notion of green grabbing constitutes a new form of appropriating
nature.

“The idea of green economy is one of the most trending ideas within the
discourse and practice of development.”
Write an essay in which you explain the origins of the idea of green economy;
discuss the notion of green grabbing and explain to what extent the notion of
green grabbing constitutes a new form of appropriating nature.

Contributions by Bauer et al (2012); Faccer et al (2014); Fairhead et al (2012); Death

(2014); Bina (2013); Bersaglio and Cleaver (2018)