SOAN 309: Colonialism &
Development
TuTh 1:20-2:35, Alumni 207
Colgate University
Fall 2004 Professor Thomas Hall
Office: 408 Alumni, x7083, email: tdhall@mail.colgate.edu
OFFICE HOURS: Tu 2:45-4; W 1:30-2:30 & 5:20-6, Th
12-1, & by appt
Last Updated 10-19-04
Study Guide for Midterm
Thursday, October 28
The test will cover all of the Ladakh book by Norberg-Hodge, Bodley Chapters 1 thru 6; Shannon Chapters 2, 3, 5; all of Memmi. You can USE Achebe and Toer, but will NOT be tested on those two explicitly, The test will be worth 200 points.
All questions will come from the study questions listed below, though they may appear in somewhat different form.
TERMS TO KNOW [short answers of one to three sentences]
Thought questions and potential SHORT essay questions:
1. What does the phrase, "the development of underdevelopment" mean? What does
this have to do with colonialism? What are some of the debates surrounding it
utility as a concept?
2. Explain how Europe, which Shannon describes as, "the least economically advanced and most politically disorganized agrarian era in 1400" (1996, p. 47), came to colonize so much of the world in a few centuries. How does Shannon's (world-system analysis) account differ from Bodley's account?
3. Why is the term "tribe" problematic?
4. What were the opium wars, and what do they have to do with colonialism?
5. Some people describe colonialism as something that only harmed colonized peoples. How would your respond to this in light of what Albert Memmi has said on the issue?
6. One of the counter-intuitive findings in sociology is that DISCRIMINATION [a behavior] often leads to, or CAUSES, PREJUDICE [attitude(s)]. How does Memmi's general discussion of colonialism illustrate this principle?
7. Describe how a world-system approach gives additional insight into colonial relations with respect to:
8. Memmi argues that colonizers, as well as the colonized, are hurt by colonialism. How is that possible? What are the harms to each?
9. Someone argues, "it is inevitable that capitalism like in the U.S. would develop." Comment on this in light of course materials.
10. "Social evolution has lead to a steady improvement in the living conditions of human beings." Comment in light of course materials.
11. How can it be that although most slaves were first enslaved by other Africans Europeans still must bear the brunt of the blame for the Atlantic slave trade? How does this relate to the world-system explanation for the abolition of slavery?
12. The changes which occurred in Ladakh appear, certainly in the short-term, to have made life less pleasant. Is there ANY way that they might be good in the long-term? State how long 'long-term' is in your view.
13. Clearly, Ladakh is a mild case of colonialism, or more like neocolonialism. Even so, the effects are dramatic. Are there any ways that the best or better parts of life before "development" can be recovered? How probable are they?
14. What, in your view, are the four most important changes that come from development in Ladakh? Why are these changes important? Are good or bad, in the long- or short-run? Why? [key here is the why part, not the list].
15. What are some of the ways that individual reproduction is controlled by elites in imperia or tributary states or empires?
16. Someone claims, "progress is inevitable!" What would Bodley comment on this? What would Hall comment on this (in formal terms, not slang!)?
17. According to Hall what is the key question in social change?
18. According to Bodley what are some of the negative or undesirable consequences of the increasing size and scale of human societies?
19. Bodley argues that individual members of elites make decisions that cause and shape change. How can this claim be reconciled with the broad pattern of social evolution? Why is this NOT a conspiracy theory?
20. Why is the number 500 significant to Bodley?
21. How and Why do tributary or imperia societies expand? Is this a form of colonization? How is it different from what happened when European states expanded in the last 500 years?
22. According to BODLEY what is new about the world-system that arose about 500 years ago?
23. According to Wallerstein/Hall/Shannon what is new about the world-system that arose about 500 years ago?
24. According to Bodley what drove English/British colonization? Who benefited? Who was hurt by it?
25. How was the U.S. different with respect to commercialization according to Bodley?
26. According to Bodley how and when di large corporations begin to grow rapidly?
27. How would Bodley critique the following claim: “Automobiles inevitably replaced rail transportation in order to give individuals greater choice”?
28. How does Hall explain the seeming contradiction between an overall pattern of social evolution with the claim that is NOT teleological, and is seemingly random? [this differs from 16 and 19].
29. What are the connections, if any, between the industrial revolution and colonization?
30. Comment on the following claim: "colonization, and decolonization, are 'accidents' of history; their timings are not explainable.
Send comments or questions to tdhall@mail.colgate.edu
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