Written Assignment: Comparing Factors that Lead to Underdevelopment
Due Week 9 and worth 400 points
This assignment calls for you to select two Less Developed Countries (LDCs) and assess if there are any factors that are common to both as far as their development is concerned. Your two countries must come from the following list:
Burundi
Benin
Cameroon
Nigeria
Nicaragua
Guatemala
Central African Republic
North Korea
Angola
Ghana
Chad
Yemen
Eritrea
Cuba
Congo
Thailand
Egypt
Iran
Equatorial Guinea
Zimbabwe
Zambia
Oman
Ethiopia
Philippines
Congo
Liberia
Gabon
Bahrain
Tanzania
India
Guyana
Mexico
El Salvador
Lebanon
Honduras
Pakistan
Syria
Guinea
Kenya
Sri Lanka
Algeria
Gambia
Mozambique
Senegal
Malawi
Indonesia
Namibia
Vietnam
Morocco
Myanmar
Rwanda
Haiti
Sudan
Bolivia
Somalia
Kuwait
Mauritania
Mali
South Africa
Iraq
Botswana
Bangladesh
Tunisia
Niger
Libya
Malaysia
Uganda
Panama
Source: United Nations, 2014
It may help you to be familiar with the concept of poor governance, because this often plays a significant part in why a country is underdeveloped. According to the World Bank, governance is defined as how power is exercised in the management of a country’s economic and social resources for development. Therefore, if good governance is synonymous with sound development management, then poor governance means a government has failed to deliver desirable outcomes for its people. This could mean that officials are corrupt, not transparent with their decisions, unqualified to make decisions in the first place, or prone to make decisions based on racism, tribalism or ethnicity — all of which are very common practices in LCDs.
The most common factor used to decide whether countries are underdeveloped nations is through the Human Development Index. Countries that are underdeveloped in nature offer poor health care, few educational opportunities, a low average life expectancy, a low number of job opportunities, few recreational facilities, poor economic growth, a low standard of living and a poverty-stricken life.
Instructions:
Write at least a six-page paper, in which you:
Identify the two LDCs (from the list above), which you will compare and assess. Explain why you chose these two countries.
Analyze the features that the LDCs have in common using at least five of the following nine factors (clearly label the five factors using headings):
geography
extractive institutions
governmental corruption
internal or external conflicts
shaky financial systems
unfair judicial systems
ethnic, racial or tribal disparities
lack or misuse of natural resources
closed (statist) economies
Use at least seven credible sources. Wikipedia, encyclopedias, dictionaries, blogs and other material that does not qualify as reputable academic source work at the college level. Do not use sources that are older than seven years.
Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:
Be typed, double-spaced (no extra spacing between paragraphs), using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
Citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date (do not include an abstract).
The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length. Graphs, tables and photographs are not counted toward the length of the paper; only what you have written as text itself.
The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:
Determine why private investment, open political competition and the intelligent use of natural resources can serve as incentives to further economic development.
Decide why good governance, a sound financial system, and a fair system of judicial justice are necessary to development.
Assess why enforceable environmental regulations are critical to sustaining development.
Use technology and information resources to research issues in sociology of developing countries.
Write clearly and concisely about sociology of developing countries using proper writing mechanics.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
In this written assignment, students are tasked with comparing factors that contribute to underdevelopment in two Less Developed Countries (LDCs). The assignment requires students to choose two countries from a provided list and analyze common factors of underdevelopment. They are expected to apply at least five out of nine specified factors and support their findings with at least seven credible sources. The assignment aims to assess students’ understanding of the concept of poor governance and its impact on a country’s development.
Answer:
Based on the given instructions, it is crucial to choose two LDCs from the provided list and explain the rationale behind the selection.
For this assignment, I have chosen Nigeria and Yemen as the two countries for comparison and assessment. Both countries exhibit a range of common factors that contribute to their underdevelopment. This selection allows for a comprehensive analysis of how these factors have affected economic, social, and political progress in both nations.
1. Nigeria: Nigeria, located in West Africa, is the most populous country in Africa. It is often referred to as the “Giant of Africa” due to its large population and vast natural resources. Despite these advantages, Nigeria faces significant challenges in achieving sustainable development.
2. Yemen: Yemen, located in the Middle East on the Arabian Peninsula, is known for its historical significance and strategic location. The country has been plagued by internal conflicts, political instability, and humanitarian crises, hampering its progress towards development.
These two countries were chosen based on their contrasting geographical locations and the significant challenges they face in achieving development. Nigeria represents a country with abundant natural resources but struggles with issues such as corruption, ethnic disparities, and a shaky financial system. On the other hand, Yemen is a country with limited natural resources and faces additional challenges such as internal conflicts and poor governance.
By comparing these two countries, we can gain insights into the common factors that hinder development and understand the specific challenges faced by LDCs.
In the subsequent analysis, at least five out of the nine specified factors will be used to assess the similarities between Nigeria and Yemen in terms of their development. The chosen factors will be supported by credible sources to ensure accuracy and reliability.
Overall, this assignment provides an opportunity for students to critically analyze the common factors contributing to underdevelopment in LDCs and demonstrate their understanding of the impact of governance, economics, and social aspects on a country’s development. Through this research, students will develop a deeper insight into the complexity of factors involved in the development process and the importance of addressing these issues for sustainable progress.
