Question 1

Discuss various definitions of the term "culture."

Accepted Answer

Prominent ways of understanding culture include the following: a progressive process of human development, movement toward order away from barbarism; an anthropological view that sees culture as a specific way of life, expressing meanings and values in art, education, institutions, and daily life; and a view of culture as symbolic, that is, embodying the various constructed and subjective meanings in the world.

Question 2

Which of the following is true, according to Edward Said's Orientalism?

Accepted Answer

A)  It reinforced common assumptions about the Orient 
B)  It deconstructed common assumptions about the Orient 
C)  It is critical of Asian cultures 
D)  It championed Asian economic policy 
E)  It is inherently racist 
A)  It reinforced common assumptions about the Orient 
B)  It deconstructed common assumptions about the Orient 
C)  It is critical of Asian cultures 
D)  It championed Asian economic policy 
E)  It is inherently racist B

Question 3

Discuss the "Asian values" thesis.

Accepted Answer

This notion is put forward as an attempt to legitimize elite rule by reference to the supposedly special characteristics of Asian culture. Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's first prime minister, argued that Asian culture is more conducive to order and discipline than to freedom and liberty (which are Western cultural traits). This thesis has often been used to explain the economic success of Japan, China, South Korea, etc. However, this effort is problematic for a number of reasons. Namely, the idea homogenizes a very large and diverse area. If culture is the explanatory factor (and usually religious values are mentioned), how do we explain the success of both Islamic Indonesia and Shinto Japan? Clearly, culture is not the only factor, if indeed it plays a role at all.

Question 4

Culture came to mean a progressive process of human development towards refinement based on rural and primitive principles.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

What has been the importance of the development of anthropology in the understanding of the concept of culture?

Accepted Answer

This notion of the inferiority of non-Eu

Question 6

Discuss the debate between materialist and idealist positions on culture.

Accepted Answer

The materialist position on culture cont

Question 7

Nationalism is often used as a symbolic tool by powerful members of society.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Which of the following is a distinctive feature of human beings?

Accepted Answer

A)  An innate sense of spatial differentiation 
B)  The urge to live in groups larger than the family unit 
C)  An appreciation for artistic works 
D)  The ability to us tools to make work easier 
E)  The possession of fully developed language skills 
A)  An innate sense of spatial differentiation 
B)  The urge to live in groups larger than the family unit 
C)  An appreciation for artistic works 
D)  The ability to us tools to make work easier 
E)  The possession of fully developed language skills

Question 9

How can culture be used as a means of domination?

Accepted Answer

An answer should address the idea that c

Question 10

Charles Taylor suggests a means to avoid cultural relativism is to appeal to shared human constants.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

What do modernization theorists typically blame for slowness of economic growth?

Accepted Answer

A)  Inequality 
B)  Insufficient scientific and technological resources 
C)  "Backward" mentalities of "traditional" societies 
D)  Capitalist exploitation 
E)  Poverty 
A)  Inequality 
B)  Insufficient scientific and technological resources 
C)  "Backward" mentalities of "traditional" societies 
D)  Capitalist exploitation 
E)  Poverty

Question 12

What is claimed to be a cultural impediment to economic growth in transitional and developing countries?

Accepted Answer

A)  Lack of modernization 
B)  Overemphasis on group values 
C)  Traditional values 
D)  Corruption 
E)  Democracy 
A)  Lack of modernization 
B)  Overemphasis on group values 
C)  Traditional values 
D)  Corruption 
E)  Democracy

Question 13

What did the Latin word cultura refer to?

Accepted Answer

A)  The cultivation or the nurturing of animals or crops 
B)  The cultivation or the nurturing of animals, crops, or human begins 
C)  The nurturing of human beings 
D)  The cultivation of crops 
E)  The nurturing of animals 
A)  The cultivation or the nurturing of animals or crops 
B)  The cultivation or the nurturing of animals, crops, or human begins 
C)  The nurturing of human beings 
D)  The cultivation of crops 
E)  The nurturing of animals

Question 14

What is demonstrated by the shaping of culture through modern means of communication and commodification?

Accepted Answer

A)  The insubstantial role of ideas in shaping culture 
B)  The mixed motivations of human behaviour 
C)  The influence of material forces 
D)  The problem of determining causal relationships 
E)  The dominant role of economics in culture studies 
A)  The insubstantial role of ideas in shaping culture 
B)  The mixed motivations of human behaviour 
C)  The influence of material forces 
D)  The problem of determining causal relationships 
E)  The dominant role of economics in culture studies

Question 15

The propagation of "Asian values" is an attempt to legitimate elite rule in Singapore.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Why is the symbolic a good start to the study of culture?

Accepted Answer

It has been argued that the distinctive

Question 17

Criticism of oppression and the struggle for equality are not only European or modern values.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

Which of the following is NOT a weakness of postmodern theories on culture and development?

Accepted Answer

A)  They are counter-productive for the marginalized and oppressed for whom they claim to speak 
B)  They view culture as a homogeneous and essentialist whole 
C)  They adopt an uncritical attitude toward tradition 
D)  They are culturally relativistic 
E)  They are overly economistic and fail to consider non-material aspects of culture 
A)  They are counter-productive for the marginalized and oppressed for whom they claim to speak 
B)  They view culture as a homogeneous and essentialist whole 
C)  They adopt an uncritical attitude toward tradition 
D)  They are culturally relativistic 
E)  They are overly economistic and fail to consider non-material aspects of culture

Question 19

How can culture be seen as a double movement? What is the implication of this for development?

Accepted Answer

There is a double movement in the domain

Question 20

The distribution of cattle in western India in 2006 is a successful application of modernization theory.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 25: Culture and Development

Discuss various definitions of the term "culture."

Which of the following is true, according to Edward Said's Orientalism?

Discuss the "Asian values" thesis.

Culture came to mean a progressive process of human development towards refinement based on rural and primitive principles.

What has been the importance of the development of anthropology in the understanding of the concept of culture?

Discuss the debate between materialist and idealist positions on culture.

Nationalism is often used as a symbolic tool by powerful members of society.

Which of the following is a distinctive feature of human beings?

How can culture be used as a means of domination?

Charles Taylor suggests a means to avoid cultural relativism is to appeal to shared human constants.

What do modernization theorists typically blame for slowness of economic growth?

What is claimed to be a cultural impediment to economic growth in transitional and developing countries?

What did the Latin word cultura refer to?

What is demonstrated by the shaping of culture through modern means of communication and commodification?

The propagation of "Asian values" is an attempt to legitimate elite rule in Singapore.

Why is the symbolic a good start to the study of culture?

Criticism of oppression and the struggle for equality are not only European or modern values.

Which of the following is NOT a weakness of postmodern theories on culture and development?

How can culture be seen as a double movement? What is the implication of this for development?

The distribution of cattle in western India in 2006 is a successful application of modernization theory.

What Is Development? From Economic Growth to the Sustainable Development Goals

Imperialism and the Colonial Experience

Theories of Development Economics

The Critical Political Economy of Development

Post-development and Alternatives to Development

Gender and Development: Theoretical Insights and International Commitments

Globalization and Development

State of the State: Does the State Have a Role in Development?

National Development Agencies and Bilateral Aid

The International Financial Institutions

The United Nations and Multilateral Actors in Development

Private Enterprise and Development

Civil Society and Development

China and the Emerging Economies

Debt and Development

Free Trade, Fair Trade, and South-South Trade

Democracy

Climate Change, Environment, and Development

Rural Development

Urban Development: Cities in the Global South

Development and Health

Conflict and Development

Refugees and International Development Policy and Practice

Indigenous Community Economic Resilience

Measuring and Evaluating Poverty

Inequality and Social Policy

Planning and Appraising Development Projects

Humanitarian Assistance and Intervention

Ethics of Development, by Des Gasper

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