Population
How does arithmetic population density differ from physiological density, and why might the latter offer more insight into population pressure?
Arithmetic density is total population divided by land area, while physiological density is population divided by arable land. Physiological density reveals how much pressure is placed on productive land.
Why is folk culture more resistant to change than popular culture, and how does globalization threaten folk traditions?
Folk culture is rooted in tradition and isolation, often passed down through generations. Globalization introduces mass media and consumerism, which can erode or replace traditional practices.
Why are some multinational states more politically stable than others? Use examples in your answer.
Canada (multinational but stable) has strong regional autonomy and inclusive policies, while the former Yugoslavia fragmented due to ethnic conflict and weak governance.
How can GDP per capita be misleading as an indicator of economic development? What alternative measures provide more nuanced insights?
GDP per capita averages income, masking inequality. GINI index or HDI offer better insight into wealth distribution, education, and life expectancy.
How does urbanization differ in more developed vs. less developed regions in terms of pace, infrastructure, and challenges?
In MDCs, urbanization is slower with better infrastructure, while in LDCs it's rapid and chaotic, often leading to informal housing and service deficits.
Why do countries in Stage 2 of the Demographic Transition Model typically experience rapid urban growth and what challenges does this pose?
Stage 2 countries have falling death rates and high birth rates, leading to rapid population growth and urbanization. This often results in overcrowded cities, lack of infrastructure, and sanitation issues.
Distinguish between relocation diffusion and stimulus diffusion using specific cultural traits as examples.
Relocation diffusion occurs when people move and bring culture (e.g., Italians bringing pizza to the U.S.), while stimulus diffusion is when an idea spreads but is adapted (e.g., McDonald’s menus in India).
Explain how physical geography can contribute to centrifugal forces in landlocked or fragmented states.
Fragmented or landlocked states like Afghanistan or the Democratic Republic of the Congo struggle with trade access and internal unity due to physical barriers like mountains or deserts.
Evaluate how the transition from subsistence to commercial agriculture affects rural communities in developing countries.
Commercial farming may increase food production and exports, but often displaces small farmers, reduces biodiversity, and increases dependence on cash crops.
Compare the concentric zone model and the multiple nuclei model. Which better explains the layout of a modern U.S. city and why?
Concentric model assumes uniform land use and doesn't reflect today’s complex urban areas. Multiple nuclei model is more realistic for cities like Los Angeles, with multiple business districts.
Compare how high dependency ratios can affect economic development in aging vs. youthful populations.
An aging population (e.g., Japan) increases healthcare and pension costs, while a youthful population (e.g., Nigeria) strains education systems and job markets. Both create financial pressure on the working-age group.
Using Hinduism and Christianity, compare how ethnic and universalizing religions affect cultural landscapes differently.
Christianity (universalizing) builds churches in global locations, adapting to local cultures. Hinduism (ethnic) has sacred sites in India and shapes the landscape through temples and rituals.
Discuss the impact of gerrymandering on voter representation and electoral outcomes in the United States.
Gerrymandering distorts democratic processes by creating districts that favor a party, often diluting minority votes and leading to less competitive elections.
How have maquiladoras impacted labor patterns, gender roles, and trade relationships in the U.S.-Mexico border region?
Maquiladoras provide jobs, especially to women, and increase exports, but often offer low wages and poor working conditions while reinforcing economic dependency on the U.S.
Assess how edge cities reflect economic and transportation shifts in post-industrial societies.
Edge cities reflect decentralization and reliance on highways. They show post-industrial trends of suburban job centers outside traditional downtowns.
Using an example, analyze how pro-natalist or anti-natalist policies have impacted population trends in a specific country.
China’s one-child policy reduced population growth but led to gender imbalances and an aging workforce. France’s pro-natalist policies offer incentives to increase fertility rates.
How do barriers to diffusion (e.g., physical, political, cultural) affect the spatial spread of cultural innovations? Provide an example.
Barriers such as mountains, language, or restrictive governments (like North Korea's censorship) can slow or prevent cultural diffusion. Example: the Iron Curtain limited Western cultural influence in Eastern Europe.
Compare the geopolitical advantages and disadvantages of federal vs. unitary systems in managing cultural diversity.
Federal states like the U.S. can accommodate diverse groups with regional power, while unitary states like France maintain control more efficiently. However, unitary systems may struggle with regional identity movements.
Explain how globalization has affected the spatial organization of economic sectors (primary through quaternary) in core and periphery countries.
In core countries, quaternary sectors dominate (e.g., tech), while periphery countries often rely on primary (e.g., agriculture). Globalization shifts manufacturing to cheaper labor markets in semi-periphery regions.
Analyze the social, economic, and spatial consequences of gentrification on long-standing urban communities.
Gentrification can revitalize neighborhoods but leads to rising rents, displacement of long-time residents, and cultural homogenization.
Evaluate the limitations of the Demographic Transition Model in explaining demographic changes in non-Western or developing countries.
The DTM was developed based on Western Europe's historical data. It doesn't account for modern influences like migration, government policies, or diseases like HIV/AIDS affecting demographic patterns in non-Western nations.
Apply the concept of sequent occupance to explain how multiple cultural groups have shaped the urban landscape of a major world city (e.g., Jerusalem, Istanbul).
Sequent occupance shows layers of different cultures influencing a place over time. Jerusalem reflects Jewish, Christian, and Muslim influence in architecture, neighborhoods, and place names.
Analyze how the legacy of colonial borders in Africa continues to contribute to political instability or conflict today.
Colonial borders ignored ethnic and tribal divisions, leading to ongoing conflicts (e.g., Sudan, Nigeria). States often lack legitimacy and face challenges uniting diverse populations.
Apply Wallerstein’s World Systems Theory to explain why some countries struggle to move from periphery to semi-periphery or core status.
World Systems Theory suggests core countries exploit peripheral ones. Nations like Bangladesh struggle due to historical colonization, unequal trade, and lack of infrastructure, limiting upward mobility.
Using the Latin American model and the Southeast Asian city model, compare how colonial history has shaped urban spatial structures in the developing world.
Latin American cities have a commercial spine and elite housing along it due to colonial influence. Southeast Asian cities feature ports and mixed-use zones influenced by colonial trade networks.