Pols 481 Exam 1 Study Guide: Identifications And Definitions

Pols 481exam 1 Study Guideidentificationsdefinitions Be Able To Ide

Pols 481 Exam 1 Study Guide: Identifications, Definitions, and Development Discourse. Be able to identify and define key terms related to the discourse of development, including theories, historical contexts, and key concepts such as modernization theory, dependency theory, world-systems analysis, and post-developmentism. Additionally, address specific case analysis involving network infrastructure design for a security-focused corporate environment.

Paper For Above instruction

The study of development encompasses a broad spectrum of theories, historical contexts, and empirical observations that aim to explain the processes through which nations and societies evolve economically, socially, and politically. Understanding these perspectives requires familiarity with foundational concepts like modernization theory, dependency theory, world-systems analysis, and post-developmentism, alongside their interrelations and critiques.

Development discourse traditionally began in the aftermath of World War II, with a focus on rebuilding war-torn countries and fostering economic growth in underdeveloped nations. The Truman Doctrine (1947) marked a pivotal moment, emphasizing U.S. commitment to containing communism and promoting development through economic aid (Taylor, 2014). This era saw the rise of modernization theory, which posited that underdeveloped nations could progress through adopting Western values, industrialization, and technological advancement (Rostow, 1960). According to Rostow’s stages of economic growth, societies needed to pass through several phases—traditional society, preconditions for take-off, take-off, drive to maturity, and mass consumption—to achieve development.

However, modernization faced significant critique. Dependency theory emerged in the 1960s, challenging the assumption that underdeveloped countries could follow the same path as the West. Dependency theorists argued that underdevelopment results from exploitative relations between core (developed) and periphery (underdeveloped) nations—where wealth flows from poor to rich nations, perpetuating dependency (Frank, 1966). This perspective aligns with world-systems analysis, developed by Immanuel Wallerstein, which describes a global capitalist system divided into core, semi-periphery, and periphery zones, emphasizing structural inequalities that hinder development (Wallerstein, 1974).

While dependency and world-systems analysis highlight systemic barriers, post-development theory emerged in the late 20th century, questioning the very notion of development itself. Post-development advocates argue that development is a Western construct that often undermines local values, cultures, and knowledge systems. They call for a focus on local empowerment, sustainability, and cultural diversity rather than Western-style growth models (Escobar, 1995).

Other significant concepts include the Kuznets curve, which hypothesizes that income inequality initially increases with development but decreases after a certain income level (Kuznets, 1955). The role of international financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank became prominent during the post-WWII period, shaping development policies through structural adjustment programs and conditional loans that aimed to stabilize economies but often resulted in long-term social and economic issues within underdeveloped nations (Levitt, 2004).

Historically, the development debate also encompasses the dichotomy between “North and South,” representing the industrialized and developing worlds, respectively. The Marshall Plan (1948–1952), initiated by the United States, provided substantial aid to rebuild European economies, exemplifying Western efforts to promote economic stability and growth—an approach that contrasted with the dependency critique prevalent in developing nations. The contrasting strategies reflect different philosophies about growth, sovereignty, and development priorities.

In the realm of telecommunications and technology, these development theories intersect with contemporary issues like digital divide, technological innovation, and infrastructure development. For example, the case assignment demonstrates how infrastructure projects—particularly in security-sensitive environments—must incorporate technological considerations such as redundancy, intrusion detection, and secure networking protocols. Effective development strategies now include deploying wireless technologies, fiber-optic cabling, and high-availability data center solutions, each justified by their ability to enhance resilience, security, and economic productivity.

Specifically, the case assignment involves designing a secure, redundant network infrastructure spanning two sites in Orlando, FL, and Anaheim, CA, with strict security and availability requirements. The network must support a minimum data transfer rate of 50 Mbps, accommodate hundreds of connections across multiple floors, and maintain high security against sophisticated attacks. To achieve this, networking professionals recommend using leased line connections or MPLS VPNs for continuous, secure inter-site communication, integrating fiber-optic cabling for high-speed backbone connectivity, and deploying robust wireless networks for flexibility. Data center infrastructure should include high-availability configurations such as redundant power supplies, load balancers, and failover clustering to ensure continuous operations (Cisco, 2020). Firewalls, intrusion prevention systems, and security information and event management (SIEM) solutions should be employed to monitor and defend against intrusions, state change attacks, and other cyber threats.

Wired connections, such as Cat6a or fiber-optic cabling, should be used in wiring closets to support high-speed data transfer and future scalability. Wireless access points must be strategically placed to ensure coverage, employing WPA3 encryption and secure authentication protocols. For high survivability, the design should include physical security measures like biometric access control and environmental controls in data centers.

The implementation of Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDPS) and network traps, such as honeypots, can trick and trap attackers, providing early detection and response points. Secure VPN tunnels using IPsec or SSL protocols should be implemented for remote access and inter-site connectivity. Additionally, deploying a comprehensive security verification plan involving penetration testing, regular vulnerability assessments, and audit logs will ensure ongoing security integrity.

For high availability in data centers, clustering technologies, redundant hardware components, and cloud-based backup solutions should be integrated to reduce downtime and data loss. Employing virtualization technologies allows resource flexibility and rapid disaster recovery. Monitoring systems with real-time alerts and automated responses further enhance security and resilience.

In conclusion, the development discourse—ranging from modernization to dependency theory, world-systems analysis, and post-development perspectives—provides a comprehensive framework for understanding global economic dynamics. Applying these theories to real-world infrastructure projects underscores the importance of integrating technological solutions with strategic security measures, ensuring sustainable, resilient development that caters to both organizational needs and broader development goals.

References

• Cisco. (2020). Data Center Design and High Availability. Cisco Systems. https://www.cisco.com
• Escobar, A. (1995). Encountering Development: The Making and Unmaking of the Third World. Princeton University Press.
• Frank, A. G. (1966). The Development of Underdevelopment. Monthly Review, 18(4), 17–31.
• Kuznets, S. (1955). Economic Growth and Income Inequality. The American Economic Review, 45(1), 1–28.
• Levitt, T. (2004). The IMF and Development: The Politics of Conditionality. Journal of International Development, 16(8), 1225–1240.
• Rostow, W. W. (1960). The Stages of Economic Growth: A Non-Communist Manifesto. Cambridge University Press.
• Taylor, P. J. (2014). The Globalization of Development: Problems and Prospects. Routledge.
• Wallerstein, I. (1974). The Modern World-System. Academic Press.
• Wallerstein, I. (2004). World-Systems Analysis: An Introduction. Duke University Press.
• Additional relevant sources to support detailed security network design and infrastructure best practices can be cited accordingly.