Societal Complexity and Institutions Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What was the primary factor that facilitated the emergence of 'crowd diseases'?

A decrease in the overall population of hunter-gatherer groups.

The growth of large, dense populations in sedentary farming societies. (correct)

Increased travel and migration between different regions.

The development of advanced medical techniques.

What is the correct evolutionary order of increasing societal complexity?

States, Chiefdoms, Tribes, Bands

Tribes, Bands, States, Chiefdoms

Bands, Tribes, Chiefdoms, States (correct)

Chiefdoms, States, Bands, Tribes

Which of the following best describes a defining characteristic of a state?

A centralized organization that imposes rules over a defined territory and population. (correct)

A highly mobile social structure with minimal rules.

A society based on kinship and personal relationships.

A decentralized organization with shared governance.

What is a key distinction between a 'state' and a 'nation,' as described in the text?

A state is a political entity, while a nation is often an ethnic or cultural entity. (A) Signup and view all the answers

According to Douglas North's framework, what is a defining feature of an extractive institution?

Elite control of political and economic systems. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is a typical outcome of extractive institutions, according to the provided content?

Stifled economic growth due to limited participation. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the defining characteristic of an inclusive institution?

Broad access to political and economic opportunities. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What typically results from the competition fostered by inclusive institutions?

Innovation, creative destruction, and economic growth. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Approximately what percentage of the global population lives on less than $1.90–$2.15 per day?

9.2% (C) Signup and view all the answers

Where is the highest concentration of extreme poverty found?

Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary effect of food surpluses in societies?

Time for non-food activities and technological advancement (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following geographical regions is known for its early development due to favorable conditions?

The Fertile Crescent (D) Signup and view all the answers

What was a critical factor that led to a shift from dwindling wild resources to farming in the Fertile Crescent?

A decline in the availability of wild animals (C) Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic of plants in the Fertile Crescent was particularly conducive to domestication?

They were self-pollinating (D) Signup and view all the answers

How did the East-West axis of Eurasia influence agriculture?

It facilitated similar day lengths and seasonal changes, aiding agricultural spread (B) Signup and view all the answers

What role did diseases like smallpox play in the context of European conquest of the Americas?

They devastated the indigenous populations (B) Signup and view all the answers

According to the provided content, what is a key characteristic of 'authority', as it relates to government?

It operates without using any form of coercion or explanation. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which type of legitimacy is primarily based on the established role and importance of a particular function?

Substantial legitimacy (D) Signup and view all the answers

According to the content, what was Europe's state in the early 15th century?

A continent plagued by disease, conflict, and backwardness. (C) Signup and view all the answers

According to Niall Ferguson, what primary factor explains the West's rise to dominance?

The structure and function of its institutions. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main comparison provided to illustrate the effect of competition on innovation?

The difference in the political landscape and its effects on innovation between China and Western Europe. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the relationship between trade, colonization, and advancements in technology among Europeans during the period discussed?

Competition for trade and colonization drove technology advancements. (B) Signup and view all the answers

According to the material, how does Ferguson explain the shift in scientific advancement from the East to the West?

Through an analogy of loading multiple apps on a device influencing industrialisation. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What event ended the strict seclusion policy in Japan, mentioned in the content?

The Meiji Restoration (B) Signup and view all the answers

According to Marx, what is the primary driver of low wages in a capitalist system?

The exploitation of workers' labor by the ruling class, who generate profit while suppressing wages (C) Signup and view all the answers

What was a key misconception in Marx's view of industrial economies, which was disproved in the real world?

That capitalists would lower wages to subsistence levels to increase profits. (A) Signup and view all the answers

According to Achille Mbembe, how does 'tradition' often function in relation to responsibility?

It often avoids responsibility by blaming external factors. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What does Moussa Konate identify as a consequence of historical trauma and colonial injuries in Africa?

Resentment of the West, leading to a distrust of modernity. (D) Signup and view all the answers

According to Axelle Kabou, what does the rejection of development by urban elites in Africa reflect?

A perception that development is an acknowledgement of cultural inferiority. (A) Signup and view all the answers

According to Weber's theory, which branch of Protestantism is most associated with fostering capitalist development?

Calvinist Protestantism (C) Signup and view all the answers

According to the content, what is a common characteristic of African traditions?

Strong social pressure and forced conviviality (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is another characteristic of African traditions, according to the provided content?

A prioritization of the family over individual achievements. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant consequence of a high population growth rate combined with an economy that grows at a rate of 3-4% or less?

A decline in the standard of living due to increasing poverty. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary cause of trade deficits in the described economic situation?

A primary reliance on imports to meet consumption needs. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is identified as a significant obstacle to effective schooling for some children?

The use of a formal language that is not the child's native tongue. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by the term 'demographic window'?

A specific time period when a country's age structure is ideal for economic growth. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What does the text suggest about the long-term prospects of children from socioeconomically disadvantaged families regarding quality schooling?

They are likely to be caught in a cycle of poor public education. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Why does the text say that a country may struggle to balance its trade?

If the country lacks a comparative advantage in its industries. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the direct impact of many adults needing to work to provide for their children?

It limits the potential for saving and investment. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What does the text imply about the efficiency of the schooling system, as a result of the language barrier?

It leads to a deterioration in the quality and effectiveness of the education. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary condition for a demographic dividend to materialize?

A working-age population that is larger than the dependent population. (A) Signup and view all the answers

According to the content, which of the following factors are essential to fully realize a demographic dividend?

Investments in education, healthcare, and job creation. (B) Signup and view all the answers

In the context of demographic transition, what is characteristic of Stage 2?

Death rate falls but birth rate remains high, leading to fast population growth. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What does ODA stand for?

Official Development Assistance (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is a typical example of multilateral ODA?

Aid provided through the World Bank. (A) Signup and view all the answers

According to Jeffrey Sachs, what is a primary factor that keeps some countries in poverty traps?

Being landlocked, which hinders access to trade and development. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the stance of Peter Bauer and Dambisa Moyo on foreign aid?

They believe that foreign aid is harmful. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What approach does Esther Duflo recommend regarding the debate on foreign aid?

Focusing on microeconomic interventions to alleviate poverty. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Poverty Worldwide

Over 700 million individuals (9.2% of the global population) live on less than $1.90-$2.15 per day (approximately €64 per month)
Extreme poverty is concentrated in developing countries, with about 90% of this population in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

Geographical Factors in Development

Hunter-gatherers had limited food surpluses;
Food production, involving domestic animals and food surpluses, led to farming societies with increased population and technological development;
Larger, denser societies with more specialization and stratified social structures emerged;

Fertile Crescent

Dwindling wild resources led to a need for alternative food sources
Abundance of domestic animals (goats, sheep, cows, and pigs)
Richness in domestication-friendly plants (wheat, barley, and peas) suitable for cultivation due to their characteristics: big seeds, easy to grow, edible, and quick harvest
Geographical advantages in Eurasia shaped agricultural spread because locations shared similar day lengths and seasonal variations, allowing for easier adaptation of plants

Germs' Role

European conquest of the Americas was exacerbated by the spread of diseases like smallpox, devastating indigenous populations.
The Black Death (bubonic plague) in the 14th century similarly decimated a quarter of Europe's population.
Crowd diseases cannot sustain themselves in small, scattered populations

Birth of States

Societies evolved through distinct phases from bands, tribes, and chiefdoms to states that emerged around 8,000 years ago, and expanded control over defined territories and populations.

Institutional Factors

Extractive institutions grant elite control over political and economic systems, extracting rents through monopolies and privileges but stifle economic growth, relying on personal relationships and patronage instead of formal mechanisms.
Inclusive institutions allow broad access to political and economic opportunities, encouraging diverse participation and governance.

Power & Economic Growth

Competition fosters innovation, creative destruction, and economic growth.
Historical transitions extended elite privileges to wider populations.

Amartya Sen's Perspective

Development prioritizes individual capabilities and freedom.
Addressing the root causes of "unfreedom" like poverty, hunger, lack of healthcare, clean water, sanitation, poor economic opportunities, and social deprivation is pivotal.

Theories Explaining the Rise of States

Social Contract Theory: individuals create states to protect themselves from internal and external threats.
Thomas Hobbes (1651) supports a strong state to prevent chaos and anarchy
John Locke (1690) believes in a state for safeguarding property rights and liberties.
Jean-Jaques Rousseau (populist movement) values the “general will” as the foundation of legitimate power.

The West and the Rest

In the 15th century, Europe was a backwater compared to the Orient's intellectual and technological advancements in mathematics, algebra, and science.

Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment

Factors like competition, religious tenets (Christianity emphasis on separation of church and state vs. Islam's indivisibility of God's laws), and the invention of the printing press contributed to Europe's rise.

Property Rights

Anglo-America emphasizes rule of law, individual freedom, and protection of private property, fostering representative government, contrasting with Latin America which has had slow development of self-governance and property rights.

Medicine

Healthcare improvements in European-colonialized areas, especially in Africa and Asia, led to increased life expectancy, driven by European medical innovations and interventions.

Consumption

Marx argued that under capitalism, labor is treated as a commodity, leading to subsistence wages and exploitation of the working class by the ruling class who gain profit by generating wealth at the expense of the labor.

Cultural Factors

Achille Mbembe: tradition often involves blaming external forces for social problems.
Moussa Konate: colonialism and the past have led to deep-seated psychological trauma and mistrust of modernity within African communities.
Axelle Kabou: urban elites reject development, viewing it as an admission of cultural or racial inferiority.

Demographic Factors

Malthus: population growth can outpace resource production, leading to potential problems like shortages and inequality.
States face issues when population growth outpaces resource development, school, healthcare, and infrastructure development.

Official Development Assistance (ODA)

ODA is governmental aid to help developing countries, often focused on poverty reduction and welfare improvement but can be problematic.
Bilateral: aid between two nations
Multilateral: aid through institutions like the World Bank or IMF
Effective aid depends on the recipient country’s internal policies and political regime and local implementation.

Demographic Window

Demographic trends influence development through age structure.
A working-age population greater than the dependent age population (children and elderly) provides a demographic dividend or economic growth potential, provided investment in education, healthcare, and employment.

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Description

Test your knowledge on the emergence of crowd diseases and the characteristics of states and institutions. Explore the distinctions between extractive and inclusive institutions, as well as socioeconomic factors influencing global poverty. This quiz covers essential concepts from societal evolution and institutional frameworks.