- Expectations of Modernity: Myths and Meanings of Life on the Zambian Copperbelt
The main argument of reading
The main argument of the reading intends to contest the idea behind social disturbance as an impeccable result of the process of urbanization. Understandably, Zambia has been repetitively coined as the Emerging Africa (Ferguson, 1999). The ideal process of developing a more distinct course of improvement especially in the way Africa was recognized around the globe became the primary goal of creating a better Zambia for the people and for the nation. Copper was the major export product of Zambia and copper mining was the primary industry in the nation that provided jobs for the people. Utilizing the product as the primary guideline towards the determination of growth path for Zambia was a critical part in aiming towards the economic success they are hoping to achieve.
The impact or importance of this argument
In discussions and presentations of facts regarding a city’s struggle towards development, it is essentially extensive that the role of the government in the picture plays a vital part on how urbanization is supposed to be undergone. Losing healthcare services and educational provisions as well as adequate housing has proven that the approach utilized in the efforts of Zambianization during the 1990s was rather scanty and in many ways faulty as it was not support the capacity of the community to thrive as developments were being established in the area.
Learning through the reading how Africa’s urbanization process took place under the colonial rule gives a clear vision on what communities forced into development suffer in the process. While fast approach to development is aimed, the welfare of the people has been set aside- which is definitely a downturn in the way Africa develops into a good sense of progress. Organization of procedures and entities involved in the adjustment was a critical part where the Zambian government failed. This resulted to large concepts of inequalities being pursued in the community that affected the Zambian community’s growth for a long time.
The relationship of this piece to other readings for the week or the course as a whole
This reading provides a clear picture on how urbanization changes not only the constructs of the community as a whole but also that of the lives of the people. In the same way, it also creates a huge distinction on how the attitude of the people adjust accordingly to the emerging situations. This written work serves as an evidence to the fact that progress does not immediately mean ease for the people and their lives. Often times, a progressive development that has not been properly planned results to determinable course of social failure that creates a rift in the way the people identify with themselves and the government at the same time. This is critical fact that should be considered especially when course of urbanization is being accomplished. Economic progress is surely a practicable concept of definition that basically idealizes the context of critical engagement of existing resources in order to determine the pathway of growth that the community ought to embrace.
What quotation from this piece sumps up its contribution/impact most succinctly?
It was social change under colonial rule and capitalist expansion that was their privileged object of study (Ferguson, 1999). In this passage, Ferguson highlights the fact that when it comes to determining development, Zambia’s condition depended so much on the colonial policies, motivating them to adhere to social adjustments and policy shifts in their governance and economic procedures. These shifts were the ones that created massive social problems that have aggravated the condition of the people especially those who were already poor even before the reconstruction that the community was going through. The succinct process of social development is essential in building up new and highly functional modern communities. But in the process of engaging in such goal, administrators of nations and cities have to be properly versed as to how the approach ought to be taken into account and how the welfare of the people ought to be properly taken care of.
How do you feel about the reading?
The reading further proves that with proper development and consideration towards positive progress, more could be expected of the situation that the country is trying to survive. Zambia is a fine example in terms of identifying the primary problems that have developed in line with the distinct process of determining a good sense of global distinction for the country. It was evident that in time, even though Zambia may have survived the challenge, the residual effects of the massive development that the nation has taken into account actually created a huge crease in the way the people defined themselves. It created a huge disturbance on how effective growth could be assumed and how the people’s reactions could be improved if only the government has carefully done its part in creating better options for the people.
- Development aid and Structural Violence of the Case of Rwanda
The main argument of reading
This reading provides a clear distinction on how the irony of social development could at times make things worse than better for the people in the process. To discuss the situation Peter Urvin explores the topic on Aiding violence- which particularly pertains to the ways by which social issues confront the constructions of determining elements that blead towards the development of failure and social regression as it did happen in Rwanda. The main argument of the reading is focused on defining the failure of development as it was happening for government and the people of Rwanda even before the genocide happened.
The impact or importance of this argument
This argument is extensive applicable across the borders and challenges the condition of thinking that the society is accustomed to especially when it comes to social development. Often times, people see development as the necessary stepping stone towards gearing a particular society towards a better and stronger future. Then again, they lose sight of the adjustments that it puts the whole community into- it creates a huge impact on the process of living that the smaller or the weaker members of the society lead- often bringing in more devastation than the ease it is expected to provide. In this reading, it became evident that the mishandling of the development desired and the wrong perspectives of the government lead to the dreadful effects of genocide that killed millions of innocent people in Rwanda.
The relationship of this piece to other readings for the week or the course as a whole
This reading identifies with the goal of all the other readings to present the other side of supposedly positive approaches to social growth and development. It provides a clearer understanding and vision of what needs to be done, how they ought to be done and what considerations are needed to be given specific attention to. Highlight the role of politics and the government in the picture, this material brings about a clear definition of what and how government developments intend to identify with the advancements that the society is supposed to embrace and lead the people, not force them into the planned form of progress.
What quotation from this piece sumps up its contribution/impact most succinctly?
Clientelism, corruption and abuse of power constantly intervene in project execution, determining much of their impact on poverty inequality and exclusion (p. 51). This line explains everything that the readings want to convey especially in imposing that the top three factors contributing to social unrest is what lead to the dreadful history that defined and will define Rwanda’s condition for a lifetime. This quote shows how capitalists utilize their power in order to rule over those who are affected by poverty.
How do you feel about the reading?
This reading gave me a better understanding on how the situation in Rwanda could be as much the same with other countries if the process of aiding progress fails determines the condition by which the welfare of the people is protected.
- The State in Africa: The Politics of the Belly
The main argument of reading
This reading represents the real pictures that define the African politics and forms of governance. Accordingly, this means that the condition of life and development in Africa, as presented through media, is not as exotic as expected, but instead, is a representation of how problematic the political arrangements is in the country. This opens up the minds of the readers into understand that the African problems could seem to have a sense of similarity with the social issues that other countries around the globe are experiencing- but are quite more drastic because of the failure of the government.
The impact or importance of this argument
This argument gives a much clearer definition of what is real and what specifically identifies with the constructs of a well-developed system of determination on how the government’s role play into the construction of growth that the society entails to embrace. The direction and control that belongs to the government could shape the whole process of development that any society undergoes.
The relationship of this piece to other readings for the week or the course as a whole
Governance is identified in this reading to be extensively powerful and directive especially as determines a much definitive construct of growth that the communities needs to go through. It is evident that through time, the capacity of the government to pull through, especially in the ways by which it defines the construction of social development, would strongly be more dependent on the goals, perceptions and internal desires of the administration. The concept of good governance is presented herein as the basis of good success for any nation; on the other hand, bad governance also results to bad conditions that the people have to face and engage with.
What quotation from this piece sumps up its contribution/impact most succinctly?
…All institutions in the society, the Islamic brotherhoods, or the trade unions, are subjected to the same type of action and the development planners start to take stock of the integrationist force of the factional networks, resigning themselves to making their peace with them rather than to bypass or confront them (630). This passage presents the reality behind the deconstruction of governance in Africa and how it has created a distinct crease in the society and how it ought to be considered as the very source of problem that the African society is battling with.
How do you feel about the reading?
This reading provides a clearer idea on how governance does impact the growth and development of the society and how it is supposed to be the source of organization in a country such as Africa. The pressure is real and the issues are serious. and unless they are dealt with more effectively, the condition of the people in the country will not change. Furthermore, the reading is dedicated towards creating an alarming warning that brings about a realization that hopes to bring every nation into a conclusion that redirecting the way the government functions is essential in order to bring about new opportunities and open new doors of growth for the sake of everyone receiving considerable guidance.
- The Economics of Polygamy
The main argument of reading
Economic systems are envisioned as the primary source of strength in any social setting. In this reading, polygamy as a culture is defined to have a great impact on the process of thinking of the people as well as with the way they consider the different issues that they are facing. Accordingly, polygamy hurts the family in the same way it affects the condition of the society’s progressive growth. While this may be defended by the ideals of reputation that it identifies with in the picture, it is essential that the consideration of polygamy as the basic foundation of a strong economy be noted as a faulty distinction of cultural failure that brings about long term issues.
The impact or importance of this argument
This argument identifies with the critical condition of determining how extensive developments actually identify with the different courses of cultural leanings that the society recognizes. Understandably, polygamy, as a culture in African, is also the source of social stratification and direction. In many ways, the argument of this reading proves that Africa does so much to create a huge leaning on polygamy because of their belief on how it defines the country’s economic standing as well.
The relationship of this piece to other readings for the week or the course as a whole
Culture and traditions do so much to affect the appeal of economic stability in any country. In the case of Africa, such condition is directed by the fact that the community is generally lead by men and the idealisms of men towards polygamy does so much to insist on the capacity of this culture to direct their economic development which is specifically dependent on the capacity of the men to prove their economic worth through polygamy.
What quotation from this piece sumps up its contribution/impact most succinctly?
A report by the secretariat of the UN Economic Commission for Africa affirms this point: One of the strongest appeals of polygamy to men in Africa is precisely its economic aspect, for a man with several wives commands more land, can produce more good for his household and can achieve a high status due to wealth which he can command (390). In this line, the report proves that while economic stability is connected to the highly polygamous men in Africa, it also denotes the incapacity of others which sets more of an imbalance than that of the balance that is needed in order to make social advancements to be dependent on more consistent patterns.
How do you feel about the reading?
This reading gives me a fair vision on how cultures and traditions directly affect a community’s social and economic standing and that if it is not controlled then the situation could develop from bad to worse; the issue is more on how the government would use such traditions to direct the people and how they would recognize the worth of such beliefs in their lives and the lives of the people surrounding them.
- Sitting on a Man: Colonialism and the Lost Political Institutions of Igbo Women
The main argument of reading
This reading provides a clarified distinction on how developments and modernization of a society could hurt the condition by which culture and tradition has already set balance on the lives and dealings of the people. Accordingly, the Western Influence of the Igbo women is considered both helpful and damaging to the original culture that has protected the rights of the women especially in relation to how they establish their worth in the society.
The impact or importance of this argument
Gender issues create a huge chaotic impact on how the world progresses. In many ways and many instances in history, gender issues are able to create or break communities depending on how they are handled. The argument in this reading presents a viable challenge on how modernization actually affects the proper standing of individuals in the community based on the recognition that they receive and the expectations that they need to live up to.
The relationship of this piece to other readings for the week or the course as a whole
While some may neglect the importance of gender definition in the field of social progress, it remains key to the development of the society especially that it is dependent on an individual’s vision of himself. Such development ought to provide a more constructive pattern of realization that shall improve the way he sees himself, the way he handles himself, and the way he creates a form of definition for the function that he serves in the community.
What quotation from this piece sumps up its contribution/impact most succinctly?
Western influence can sometimes weaken or destroy women’s traditional autonomy and power without providing them forms of autonomy and power in exchange (399). This quotation highlights the fact that at times, instead of providing women with a firm hold on the recognizable position they ought to hold in the community, social development hurt them more. It suggests that a balance on matters ought to be considered especially in terms of modernizing the vision on how gender recognition could be tied in with social developments and progress.
How do you feel about the reading?
This reading helped me realize that gender identity is important especially among women as they find their place in the community. At times, traditions do not hurt this demand for understanding how one ought to place herself in the situation; balancing the vision between tradition and modernization both create a huge impact on how women’s role in the community is defined more directly.
