Specialized Paper Sample Questions
Discipline: Social Affairs (P2)

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1. Limiting the role of government has been a recent trend common to many economies. Discuss the causes and modalities of this trend and assess its significance in resolving developmental problems of developing countries.
2. Discuss major social development issues that are currently attracting significant notice from many governments and the international community.
3. Incomes and material living conditions in developed countries have improved greatly since World War II; simultaneously, the countries' indicators of social malaise such as divorces, substance abuses and suicides have also risen. Discuss.

1. In recent years, there have been significant changes in migration. Briefly discuss the changes in the pattern of population movements.
2. Outline major policy options available to governments of developing countries to alter or modify the size distribution of their national income. Give three specific examples.
3. Modern communications and information technologies are becoming increasingly accessible. This modernization will accelerate redeployment of human resources and the consequent social changes. Briefly discuss any changes you have already observed and those you anticipate for the future.
4. Growing unemployment among young people is a significant concern in developing countries. Briefly discuss three major policy responses by these governments to improve this condition.
5. What are the principal characteristics of poverty groups? What do these characteristics reveal about the feasibility of a poverty focused development strategy?
6. How can governments of developing countries improve government spending on health in their countries? Give three examples.
7. List and briefly explain the objectives of three events that constitute "milestones" in the United Nations activities in the area of the advancement of women.
8. In some developing countries national food selfsufficiency will not necessarily eliminate hunger and malnutrition. Suggest three actions to reduce food insecurity.

Suggested reading includes basic textbooks and periodicals in the field of social affairs covering the following topics:

• Aging
• Child labour
• Community development
• Crime
• Drug abuse
• Education
• Family
• Gender equality
• Health
• HIV/AIDS
• Housing
• Hunger and malnutrition
• Human resources development
• Indigenous people
• Migration
• Persons with disabilities
• Population/demography
• Poverty reduction
• Refugees
• Research methods
• Role of NGOs
• Rural development
• Social development
• Social integration
• Social protection
• Statistics
• Unemployment
• Urbanization
• Women
• Youth

• Declaration on Social Progress and Development, United Nations
• Human development reports, UNDP
• International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, United Nations
• Major reports of FAO, ILO, UNAIDS, UNESCO, UNHCR, the World Bank, WHO, etc. Visit their website
• Millennium Declaration
• Reports of major UN conferences and summits such as the World Summit for Social Development, 24th Special session of the GA, 2000; Fourth World Conference on Women and 23rd Special session of the GA 2000; World Summit on Sustainable Development, 2002; International Conference on Finincing for Development, 2002, etc.
• Reports of the Secretary-General on the Implementaion of the UN Millennium Declaration, A/57/270, A/58/...
• Reports on the World Social Situation, 2001, 2003, United Nations
• Road map towards the implementaion of the UN Millennium Declaration, A/56/326
• The State of the World's Children, UNICEF
• UNRISD (United Nations Research Institute for Social Development) publications, www. unrisd.org
• World Population Plan of Action, United Nations

Examination Sample: General Paper (P2)