Development Studies

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/10564

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Start date: 1990End date: 1999

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    Social change and deforestation : a case study of Western Samoa : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Philosophy in Development Studies at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1997) Kobayashi, Harumi
    Deforestation has caught much attention within wider concerns about the global environmental crisis. Though it is often large countries with rich forest resources which have caught most attention globally, forests in Western Samoa are worthy of attention as they have experienced some of the highest per capita rates of loss. The causes of deforestation reveal an intricate mix of social, cultural, economic and political factors within a specific local context. At the same time, external factors, which exist outside the national borders, also influence on the state of the forest. Deforestation in Western Samoa is an example of such complex relationships. It is not commercial logging operations which cause deforestation in Western Samoa, and most deforestation is occurring on communal land. Recent studies have claimed that the modification of land tenure system, caused by the influences of Western individualism and the cash economy, induces Samoans to cut down trees. However, this study has found that the main cause of deforestation is the land conversion for agricultural use by villagers who seek increased money income. At the same time, changes in the traditional Samoan society have had significant influences on deforestation. Factors, such as an increasing number of matai (chief) and the advent of nuclear families, have interacted to encourage villagers to clear forests. No society is constant. Forests in Western Samoa have been lost in the continuing friction between traditional and modern values in the society. Conservation of the forest depends on the views and values of Samoans themselves, seen through the lens of their culture, and on the decisions made based on such perceptions and attitudes.
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    The role of special economic zones in China's development : a research project in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy in Development Studies at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1997) Xu, Yan
    Most economies of East and Southeast Asia have used export processing zones (EPZs) or special economic zones (SEZs) in their first stage of economic liberation programs. Many authors believed that these EPZs generally decreased welfare or had only a limited welfare-raising effect on the host country. However, by examining the role of SEZs in China's development, this study has concluded that China's SEZs have taken on a leading role in the process of economic reform, and have been important bridges over which foreign capital, technology, goods, management and ideas have crossed into the hinterland of China and over which the products of the hinterland have gained access to world markets. SEZs have been important economic laboratories in which some of the features of Western Capitalism could be tried out and when found appropriate to Chinese conditions, allowed to cross the bridge into the rest of China. They have also had a long-term effect on growth and development. This study has shown that changes in ideology and human capital development are more important than technology and capital because effective utilization of physical resources depends on human resources. This study has also shown that SEZs will continue to play the role of economic laboratories since inner China still features a centrally controlled and managed system and experiments with market mechanism are still at a very early stage.
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    Biodiversity and sustainable development : research exercise 31.499 in partial fulfilment of an M.Phil (Development Studies)
    (Massey University, 1997) Cowen, Justin
    Economic development has had an increasingly detrimental effect on the environment. The current level of environmental impact by humans has been unprecedented for a single species in the history of the earth. In recent years there has been an increased realisation of the detrimental impact of our actions. Along with this realisation there has been an improvement in the understanding of the fundamental importance of the environment to the human society. The aim of this thesis is to examine the possibility of sustainable development, a concept which has arisen out of this increased awareness of the dynamic interconnectedness of the environment and development. A more environmentally destmctive development path will reduce the quality of the environment not just for today but in the future. This thesis will endeavoux to show that, if we are to achieve sustainability, we need to change our attitude towards the environment. To do this I will look at two broad perspectives of what is meant by sustainable development: technocentric and ecocentric (O'Riordan 1981: 1 ). Their primary difference is in their attitude towards the environment. This thesis will highlight the technocentric perspective as it has become the dominant development throughout the globe. It will primarily focus on critiquing technocentrism, demonstrating how this approach has resulted in widespread environmental degredation. In looking at the technocentric and ecocentric perspectives I shall attempt to show the significant role that knowledge systems can have in shaping the attitudes of a society. [From Introduction]
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    Indigenous tourism in Australia, a development tool? : a research report presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters Degree in Development Studies at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1998) Penfold, Leysha Monica
    This research Report examines tourism and its potential role in the development of Australia's Indigenous peoples, namely Aborigines and Torres Straight Islanders. It begins by examining the current situation of the Indigenous people to establish that there is indeed a need for development. This is followed by a general examination of both tourism and development, and how the two might interact. The current state of Indigenous tourism, particularly cultural tourism, in Australia is then explored, with an emphasis on the role of Government and possible modes of Indigenous involvement. The next sections, which constitute the main thrust of this Report, examine: • barriers to Indigenous involvement in tourism, • the negative impacts of tourism involvement • the role of education and training in circumventing some of these problems It is hoped that this document can provide a counterpoint to the predominantly positive material which has been produced by the Australian Government and the tourism industry. Finally, this Report seeks to place Indigenous tourism in the wider context of economic and social developments, and changing Government policy. [Executive summary]
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    The economic and environmental policy evaluation of inland water transport development in Bangladesh : M.Phil. Development Studies project, Massey University, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 1998) Brooks, John F
    Throughout Asia, transport and water resources have followed generally separate paths of development and policy. This is particularly clear in Bangladesh where abstraction of surface water for irrigation, both higher in the international basin and within Bangladesh, contributed significantly to reduced channel depths for navigation. Similarly, dredging for channel improvements has had lower priority than embankment construction for flood protection and all weather road and rail services. These have impeded drainage and have constrained the significant informal inland water transport services. Other constraints include a weak legislatory and policy framework, and policy implementation and enforcement are weak in both sectors. Also, dredging is split under two public sector entities, with little incentive or encouragement of private sector involvement. In Europe and the USA, flood protection improvements, both by river training and dredging, have gone hand in hand over 200 years, and river user management is integrated and controlled under comprehensive legislation, policy, and institutional and user systems. The study has found that some initiatives along these lines are being taken in Bangladesh, especially under an ongoing National Water Management Plan due for completion by 2001, and some project initiatives are being considered. However, concerted effort is needed to recognize the economic and environmental benefits of inland water transport vis-a-vis other transport modes, and to design water resources development projects which also cater to this potential, and allow for inland water transport to make a significant contribution to cost recovery of the waterways improvement. Several potential projects have been identified which will help to address the situation. In parallel, further efforts to build international cooperation among the riparian states and measures to mitigate the potential pollution impacts of inland water transport need to be put into place quickly.
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    Subsistence food production and marketing in Papua New Guinea : a research paper presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master in Philosophy in Development Studies at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1994) Peng, Peter Benjamen
    Agriculture is the main component of the economic sector of the Less Developed Countries (LDC's) of Asia, Africa and Latin America. In most of these countries, which includes Papua New Guinea (PNG), subsistence agriculture dominates despite the tremendous advances in agricultural technology elsewhere, especially in Developed Countries, in the course of the twentieth century. The characteristic feature of these subsistence farms is low productivity which means small, if any, production surplus over consumption, which results in very little trade between the agriculture sector and other sectors of the country. In LDC's, this has often led to declining food production and increased dependence on imported food as the bulk of domestic food supply is produced by the subsistence sector. In PNG, very similar trends are noted. This paper examines some issues affecting smallholder agriculture and implications for increasing agricultural productivity in PNG. Specifically, the research problem and the focus of this study is firstly, how to increase subsistence food production and secondly, how to effectively move the rural surplus to urban consumers where it is required. To increase productivity, LDC's are faced with two choices; extend land area under cultivation if land is available or improve agricultural technology if land is scarce. While PNG is relatively well endowed with land (more than four times the average for developing countries) , much of the land is too mountainous to convert to arable land, with only less than 0.3 per cent of the land used for annual crops and grazing. The choice of strategy thus is determined by land. This paper shows that the PNG government has under-invested in agriculture, particularly subsistence agriculture. Further investment in research and technology is required, focusing especially on their farming systems. Traditional farmers are not traditionalist by choice. Agricultural techniques have been developed over centuries, through years of accumulated experience of generations of farmers. Extensive literature in agriculture economics show that traditional farmers cannot normally adopt technological innovations unless the circumstances in which they operate are first changed. The important role of marketing in economic development is also underplayed. It is a common fallacy to assume that markets when left to their own devices can lead to increased productivity and efficiency within the distribution system. Government intervention is also necessary in marketing to achieve social goals of self sufficiency in food production. This study attempts to demonstrate that given the right incentives, mostly institutional and technological, subsistence food production can be increased in PNG.
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    The Indonesian House of Representatives : the behaviour and effectiveness : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy in Development Studies at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1998) Retnoastuti, Endah Tjahjani Dwirini
    There is a widespread opinion that the performance of the Indonesian House of Representatives, the Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Indonesia, shortened as DPR, is weak. In other words, they have not been optimum In carrying out the legislative functions they are responsible for. In this thesis I critically assess the behaviour and effectiveness of the legislative institution, and in doing so, examine the Constitution and the Rules of Procedure to define the role and functions of DPR in the political system, breakdown the DPR structure to see its working process, and explore a bill deliberation. I conclude that DPR performances are inhibited by inadequate regulations and unconducive political systems. However, to some extent they have experienced considerable changes.
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    The road to empowerment : facilitating the participation of parents of children with special needs in Malaysia : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy in Development Studies at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1996) John, Solomon
    This study involves the design, development and evaluation of a parent training curriculum for parents of children with special needs in Malaysia. The objective of this programme was to empower parents through meaningful participation in the process of content identification, implementation and evaluation of the entire programme. The study was conducted at Bethany Home, a centre fcr children and adults with special needs, situated in a rural town of West Malaysia with an estimated population of 40,000 people mostly of a lower socio economic status. The study was prompted by a need for active parent participation. The researcher is a former director of the centre. The analysis of the data suggests that information sharing through participation is the road to empowerment for parents of children with special needs in a rural setting. As a result of the programme, teacher- parent interaction has improved and the setting up of a network for parents is imminent.
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    Social forestry for economic and ecological sustainability : a thesis submitted to Massey University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy in Development Studies, Massey University
    (Massey University, 1993) Sobrevinas, Josimar B
    This study looked into the prospects of state and other agency-sponsored social forestry project in addressing poverty and abating environmental degradation in the uplands. Forest destruction is rooted both on poverty condition of the swiddeners and their traditional farming practices. The social forestry's participatory component, scientific cropping modules and incentive schemes are viewed as effective measures to these problems. The social forestry project which is jointly implemented by the New Zealand government and the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) in the three geothermal reservations managed by PNOC was chosen as the study areas due to the presence of the above-mentioned social forestry components in the project. The research findings supported the strength of the monetary incentive scheme in eliciting farmers' participation in development projects which subsequently controlled their destructive kaingin-making practices. This, however, must be coupled with extensive social. economic and environmental training of the kaingineros. The attractiveness of the project scheme to both project and non-project beneficiaries was also established. This study also demonstrates some successes of participation in terms of the development of the farmers' potentials and capabilities in self-management and realization of individual rights. The financial analysis in the study determined the economy of scale of the combination of cropping modules while the economic analysis has established the project's beneficial effects on the environment. It justifies financial allocation to projects of this nature. The natural and social problems in the implementation of the social forestry project could be addressed locally through the joint effort of project staff and the farmers-participants. The donor and proponent agencies, on the other hand, showed their sincere intention to minimize the occurrence of administrative problems.
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    Participation of women in development projects in the SADC region : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy in Development Studies at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1996) Olifant, Sisimogang Pinkie M
    The key to the empowerment of women is their participation at all the stages and all levels of the development project cycle. This thesis examines participation of women in development projects in the Southern African Development Community region. Its main objective is to analyse evaluations of New Zealand's Voluntary Agency Support Scheme funded projects in Africa between 1988 and 1991. There was unequal gender participation in all the projects. Despite lack of empowerment of women in the projects, important development needs of women were met. This could be linked to the nature of traditional societies in this region. The recommendations focus on the need for equal participation of women and men in development projects at the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation stages as well as equal distribution of project benefits. Furthermore, attention is focused on World Bank and International Monetary Fund Structural Adjustment Programmes, the debt crisis, Southern and Northern NGO partnerships and the adoption of analytical framework to analyse projects.