Jakubowska - Key Idea 6

Question 1

What is aid?

Answer 1

Gifts or repayable loans made by one country or organisation to another.

Question 2

What are the benefits of aid?

Answer 2

1) Can drive economic development
2) Can save lives during humanitarian crisises
3) Can help to even out an unfair global economy
4) Provides jobs in new industries
5) Help to improve food yields/food security

Question 3

What are the drawbacks of aid?

Answer 3

1) Can be inappropriate
2) Dependency theory
3) May project western philosophies and development approaches
4) Misappropriation by corrupt governments
5) Can distort local markets

Question 4

What was the Pergau Dam and how was it funded?

Answer 4

• Tied aid between the UK and Malaysia
• Britain built the dam if Malaysia would buy $1 billion of weapons.
• The dam was a £243 ‘donation’ from the UK

Question 5

How effective was the Pergau Dam in bringing development to Malaysia?

Answer 5

• The dam cost 3 times more than a gas powered station

- Can only be used at certain times due to the low volume of water in the reservoir.

Question 6

Is the Pergau Dam sustainable?

Answer 6

• Rapid siltation due to deforestation in the region
• Flood waters destroyed large areas of forest, home to rare species such as the Javan Rhino
• Hasn’t benefited Malaysian people economically.