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Burnell & Randall: Politics in the Developing World 2e

Chapter 5

  1. Why does economic inequality matter when there is still so much absolute poverty in the developing world?

  2. Why have the developing world states that adopted highly egalitarian strategies usually failed in their objectives?

  3. Do poverty and inequality increase the likelihood of violent conflict within developing countries?

  4. Do either continued poverty or greatly increased global inequality increase the likelihood of violent conflict between countries in the 'developed' and developing worlds?

  5. What kinds of inequality matter most in the politics of developing countries and in the relations those countries have with the rest of the world?

  6. What are the main social bases of inequality in developing countries and do these differ from those prevailing in the developed world?

  7. Is clientelism best understood as a cause or a consequence of social and economic inequality?

  8. What are the implications of marked social inequality for the functioning of democratic institutions?

  9. Why is there greater social and economic inequality in some developing countries than in others?

  10. Why are there difficulties in reconciling the 'politics of recognition' with the 'politics of distribution'?

  11. Why does inequality matter for the purpose of explaining politics in developing countries?

  12. Where does vertical inequality (class-based) predominate and where does horizontal inequality (between communities such as those based on ethnicity) predominate as a major influence on politics among the developing countries?

  13. Can indigenous communities like the Indians in Latin American countries enjoy adequate political representation if they continue to be among the poorest members of society?

  14. Is there a link between socio-economic inequality and the quality of governance in developing countries?

  15. Compare the merits and limitations of different ways of measuring inequality.

  16. Apart from moral considerations, what are the main arguments for reducing social and economic inequality in developing countries?

  17. Is inequality within developing countries primarily attributable, as argued by Marxists, to the impact of capitalism?

  18. How far and in what circumstances can democracy help to challenge inequality within developing countries?

  19. Within contemporary developing societies what are the main sources and who are the main proponents of egalitarian discourse?

  20. Should international bodies encourage measures in developing countries to reduce inequality, and if so which bodies in particular and what mechanisms of persuasion could they employ?