Grade 7 CBC Social Studies Complete notesRKKSST
Grade 7 CBC Social Studies Complete notesRKKSST
Grade 7 CBC Social Studies Complete notesRKKSST
COM
7. Political Skills
From social studies classes, students learn about government, political
ideas, country economy and resources, and more. Students gain political
skills by analyzing and evaluating existing systems and imaging the future
of the place in which they live.
8. Respect History
History is what made the world the way it is, and it is essential that people
study it in order to have an appreciation for and understanding of the way
the world works. Learning about history is what makes it possible to learn
from the past and plan for the future.
Career opportunities related to social studies
Social work
Statistically, and probably unsurprisingly, the majority of Social Studies
graduates go on to work in the broad field known as “social work”.
Counselling
Another popular career option for Social Studies graduates is to complete
some further education and come a counsellor.
Prison services and probation
As part of your Social Studies degree you’ll look at the legal system and ask
important questions about crime and punishment.
If you have a particular interest in this area then a career in the probation
or prison service might appeal to you. Roles could be administrative or you
could be working in direct contact with offenders and those on probation.
Some career opportunities that one would pursue from studying Social
Studies in Kenya and globally include
teaching,
surveying,
law,
archeology,
political science,
diplomacy and meteorology.
a. We find the distance covered through one degree of latitude equal to 111km.
b. Find out the number of latitudes between the two places.
c. Multiply the distance through one degree of latitude by the number of latitudes
between the two places.
Example: Find the longitudinal straight line distance between place A 45°N and
place B 11°N.
Solution
-Distance covered through one degree of latitude = 111km.
-Number of latitudes between place A and place B = 45°-11° = 34°
-Longitudinal straight line distance = 111km * 34° = 3774km
Longitude Longitudes are imaginary lines that run from North to South
on a map. The longitude of a place is the angular distance of that place
measured in degrees. This distance is measured from the centre of the
earth to the East or West of the Greenwich meridian called longitude 0°.
Longitudes are also called Meridians. They meet at the North and South
poles. There are 360° of longitude which is equal to 360° of a
circle. Major longitude are;
CHARACTERISTICS OF LONGITUDES
1. If the time in Accra (Ghana) on longitude 0° is 12noon. What will be the local
time in Philadelphia (U.S.A) on longitude 70°W.?
2. What is the local time of Yaoundé 15°E and 5°N, when G.M.T is 8:00 am?
The longitude difference for a town in the East and another in the west is
obtained by adding the longitudes.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN LONGITUDES AND LATTITUDES
LATITUDES LONGITUDES
They run from E to W They run from N to S
They are parallel lines They met at the poles
They are complete circles They are semi-circles
Changes in Season
Changes in the length of day and night time and the altitude of the
midday sun cause a rise and fall in temperature during the year. The
period of the year, when temperature rises is called summer while the
period when temperature falls is called winter.
In summer, temperature increases the weather is bright and days are
longer than nights. From the 23rd of June to the 23rd of September, it is
summer in the Northern hemisphere. In Cameroon, it is the warm rainy
season. The north is directly under the sun.
In winter, from the 22nd December to 21st March temperature falls and
places are colder. During this time, nights are longer than days and less
heat are received. In Cameroon, it is the cold dry season.
From the 23rd of September to the 23rd of December, it is autumn in the
Northern hemisphere.
Spring season begins from the 21st of March to 21st June in the Southern
hemisphere. During this period, nights and days are equal.
DAWN AND TWILIGHT
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Dawn is a brief period between sunrise and full day.
Twilight is the period between sunset and complete darkness.
Internal structure of the earth in the solar system
They include:
Temperature
Air (Atmospheric) Pressure
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Wind (Speed & Direction)
Humidity
Precipitation
Visibility
Clouds (Type & Cover)
Sunshine Duration
Factors considered when siting a weather station
1. The area should be away from building/trees/tall objects
2. The ground should be free from flooding
3. The area should have a wide view/open space
4. The area should be secure
5. The ground should be gently sloping
Weather and climate are very important to man and his environment,
the most important benefit of weather and climate is that they bring
rain, snow and other forms of precipitation. This precipitation or rain is
what sustains all living things on the earth surface (humans, plant,
animal, and other microorganisms). Without a constant supply of water
on the earth, it would be difficult to predict what sorts of crops could be
cultivated in a given region. If a change in climate were to alter the
weather so that it produced too little or too much water, it will still have
a major impact on agriculture and livestock.
Weather and climate affect the distributions of plants and animals
across various biomes of the world. For instance, the tundra biome (the
Antarctica tundra) is characterized by a cold and dry climate, it supports
very little species of plants and animals, while the marine biome is
colder at the pole, but warmer at the equator- it supports various
species of plants and animals. However, both biomes are constantly
sharpened by the changes in atmospheric conditions.
The natural ecosystem is constantly influenced by the activities of
weather and climate, hence, places with extreme dry climate (desert
environments) are the best locations for mining of minerals and metals
that are used for many production industries such as electronics. On the
other hand, the rain forest environment, which receives much rainfall, is
a home to various plant species in which some are known for their
pharmaceutical benefits.
The study of weather and climate is obviously important to man as it
helps one to determine future climatic changes in some specific parts of
the world.
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Weather and climate are very important aspects of mans natural
environment; they create awareness as to what might happen on daily
or yearly basis. Such awareness helps us to prepare ahead of the
upcoming disasters that may occur in the future and also to find possible
ways to adapt to such situations. Such phenomena are, for example hail,
heavy rainfall, sleet, ice, etc.
Weather forecast are also important as they warn us about the dangers
of some natural occurrences or disaster that may occur in our natural
environment in the future, such disasters include fire risk, hurricane,
snows, hail, thunderstorm, tornadoes, etc.
Weather and climate directly or indirectly affect many of our activities;
the weather specifically helps us to decide on the type of crops to
cultivate, the cloth to wear, and the kind of food to eat, lastly, it
determines where and the nature of houses we live in.
Constructing weather instruments
Learners to construct the following instruments in reference to their
learner’s book: Materials should be sourced locally.
- Rain gauge
- Wind vane
- Windsock
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
Sources of Historical Information
Historical sources of information are classified into three categories:
i. Written – they include:
Books
Archives
Journals
Novels
Paintings
Magazines
Diaries
Constitutions
Periodicals
ii. Unwritten- they Include
An empire is a sovereign state consisting of several A kingdom consists of land from the
countries or peoples subject towards the authority of a same region or area head under the
single person often an emperor or empress. nominal rule of king or queen.
An empire is always ruled by a singular authority, in this A kingdom can have more than one
case, being the emperor/empress ruler at a time. In the event it has two
kings it is known as a diarchy and a
kingdom ruled by many kings is known
as an oligarchy
An empire grows larger by expanding and absorbing A kingdom will transition into an empire
individual states and nations. For better administration, when it absorbs other city-states through
a representative of the emperor, who acts as the conquest until it grows more than its
governor of the region will carry out day-to-day original size.
administrative functions.
From that date till 332B. C. thirty (30) dynasties reigned and ruled in
Ancient Egypt. The manifestation of Ancient Egyptian civilization under
these rulers (pharaohs) of the various dynasties is the main subject of this
chapter, But before delving into the various aspects of organization in
Ancient Egypt, it is necessary to know the factors that favoured the rise and
growth of Ancient Egypt and its civilization.
Factors that led to the Rise of Ancient Egypt
I. The existence of River Nile- these served to help in the following
functions:
- It served to protect against predators and attack from other
kingdoms
- It provided a mean of transport for the people
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- It provided water for agriculture. Basin irrigation was majorly
used to water farms.
- It had also fish which used as food as well sold for economic gain
- the Nile helped to unite people on the east and west banks,
making trade and exchanges between the villages, towns and
cities possible.
- the Nile River had a religious significance and even had a god of its
own, called Osiris.
II. Egypt's geographical position at the center of the Middle East has
always given it an edge. It was considered a channel of knowledge
between Europe and africa as well Mesopotamia.
III. In technology, medicine, and mathematics, ancient Egypt
achieved a relatively high standard of productivity and
sophistication.
They were the first to introduce mummification, medicine,
agriculture, fermentation, engineering and architecture. The
ancient Egyptians were pioneers in astronomy: their expertise
played an important role in determining the annual flooding of the
Nile, and aligning the pyramids towards the pole star.
IV. Good leaders: Ancient Egypt was also fortunate to have very able
and wise leaders, especially during the years of the first
dynasties.
V. The influence of other civilizations: Following the creation of the
state of Ancient Egypt, contacts were made with other
civilizations as time passed. Some of these contacts helped to
greatly enrich the civilization of Egypt. For example, the
Ancient Egyptians learned to fight war on horseback from the
Hyksos, people from Asia who conquered Egypt in 1730B. c.
Ancient Egypt also learned much from the Sumerians, The
Hebrews and Babylonians from Asia. They also borrowed from
the Greek and Roman civilizations from Europe. These peoples
also borrowed much from Ancient Egypt's civilization.
VI. Religion: The worship of gods like those of the Nile, the sun and
many others helped to bring the people of Ancient Egypt
together. This unity was very helpful to the construction of
Egypt's rich civilization.
- Great Zimbabwe is the name for the stone remains of a medieval city
in southeastern Africa.
- It is composed of three parts, including the Great Enclosure (shown
here). It is believed to have been a royal residence or a symbolic grain
storage facility.
- Great Zimbabwe is the name of the stone ruins of an ancient city near
modern day Masvingo, Zimbabwe. People lived in Great Zimbabwe
beginning around 1100 C.E. but abandoned it in the 15th century.
The existence of good leadership also contributed to its faster rise.
Kingdom Kongo
- Kongo, former kingdom in west-central Africa, located south of the
Congo River (present-day Angola and Democratic Republic of the
Congo).
They originated from Nguni communities who took part in the Bantu
migrations over millennia. As the clans integrated together, the rulership of
Shaka brought success to the Zulu nation due to his improved military tactics
and organization.
Zulus take pride in their ceremonies such as the Umhlanga, or Reed Dance,
and their various forms of beadwork.
The art and skill of beadwork takes part in the identification of Zulu people
and acts as a form of communication and dedication to the tribe and specific
traditions. The men and women both serve different purposes in society in
order to function as a whole. Today the Zulu people predominantly believe in
While personality shows what you are outside or what you are to the
world, character reveals what you are inside. As these are directly related
to a person’s attitude and behaviour, most people get confused between
these two easily.
- Personality refers to the combination of qualities, attitude and
behaviour, that makes a person distinct from others.
- Personality implies Who we seem to be
- Personality is a set of personal qualities
- The personality is the mask or the identity of a person
- Personality is subjective
- Personality is the outer appearance and behaviour of a person.
- The personality of an individual may change with time.
- personality, does not need validation and support of the society
the Personality attributes that differentiates us include:
- Authenticity
Authenticity relates to how genuine you are. You may show this by
providing honest answers and being true to yourself in your interview.
When you're working, you may demonstrate authenticity by showing how
- Transparency
Transparency, like honesty, relates to being open about your experience
and qualifications.
Desirable and undesirable personality attributes in a multi-cultural Society
multiculturalism: A characteristic of a society that has many different ethnic
or national cultures mingling freely.
1. Desirable characteristics: These are characteristics such as being
hardworking, or displaying honesty and integrity.
2. Undesirable characteristics: These are ones such as lying and
stubbornness.
Desirable characteristics are known as qualities and undesirable
characteristics are known as personality defects. Characteristics have been
grossly grouped in these two categories. Qualities bring about general well-
Quick to Judge
When you have a negative opinion of someone, it is one thing. When you
really tell them, that’s another story. No one wants to be in the company of
someone who is always criticizing them for their appearance, their diet, or
their words.
Negative and gloomy.
What if you’re one of those people who sees the glass as half-empty?
In our world, there are many different types of people that believe in
different things. Being one of these people is completely OK. This becomes
an issue when you cause everyone else in your immediate vicinity to fall
along with you.
The Perfectionists
If you meet a disabled person, do not assume what they are able or not
able to do something.
nucleated settlement:
Nucleated settlements are ones where the houses are grouped closely
together, often around a central feature like a church, pub or village green.
FIELD WORK
Field work is the process of observing and collecting data about people,
cultures, and natural environment s.
Types of field work
Field Excursion
-Visiting an area near or far from the school to see geographical phenomena
then note down and discuss later in class.
Aim
- Reinforce what has been learnt in class
- Gain more geographical knowledge
- Identify and appreciate geographical features
- Identify problems of geographical interest
Field Research
-Systematic problem solving done by experts in which scientific methods of
collecting, recording and analyzing data are used.
In 1884, at the request of Portugal, German chancellor Otto von Bismark called together
the major western powers of the world to negotiate questions and end confusion over the
control of Africa. Bismark appreciated the opportunity to expand Germany's sphere of
influence over Africa and hoped to force Germany's rivals to struggle with one another for
territory.
Terms included
1. It created spheres of influence. Any European power occupying any part
of Africa had the obligation to notify others to avoid double conflicting
claims
2. Effective occupation - Any claim of an African territory had to be
accompanied by effective occupation.
3. Each power had to stamp out slave trade in their territory and encourage
legitimate trade
4. Rivers Zambezi, Congo and Niger were left free for navigation by all
European powers
5. King Leopold was recognized as the sovereign ruler of the Congo Free
State.
Characteristics of democracy
a. Legitimacy: A legitimate government is one put in place, accepted and
recognized by the people, it is a major feature of a democratic system
of government that power vests in the people of the state. Therefore, a
government in place without the approval of the people is not a
legitimate government and as such cannot claim to be a democracy.
b. Rule of law: the rule of law is the supremacy of the law of a state over
every citizen or any other person residing in that state, this means
that nobody is above the law no matter his status in the society. This is
important in a democracy especially a representative democracy to
act as a form of check and balance in the powers of the elected
representatives so that they do not develop any illusions of being
better than the people who elected and thereby empowered them.
c. Public opinion: public opinion has to do with the aggregate of the
individual point of view as regards a particular matter by a significant
population of a community or state as the case may be. Since
democracy is a government of the people, the opinion of the said
people cannot be overemphasized in determining issues in the
government that will be to their benefit or detriment.
d. Periodic and transparent elections: For the people to be an active part
of their government especially in a representative democracy,
provisions must be made for a periodic, free and fair election which
will be conducted after sufficient political education to the people so
as to aid them in making informed choices in electing their
representatives at the poll on the election day.
e. Separation of powers: In a direct democracy, the decision resides in
every member of the community and in the representative democracy
where the people elect leaders to handle the affairs of the state, there
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is separation of powers into different arms of government so as to
allow for necessary checks and balances in the powers and
administration of the separate arms of government.
f. Fundamental human right: In a democracy, the fundamental human
rights of the citizens like right to life, right to fair hearing, right to
dignity of the human person, right to personal liberty and others must
be upheld according to the constitution of such country based on the
major constituent of democracy which is the people.
Types of democracies practices in africa
1. Direct democracy: direct democracy is a form of democracy which
involves individual participation of every eligible citizen in the
processes of government. This form of democracy works easily in a
small community where all members of the community can come
together to sit upon matters arising in their political arena, the
opinion of every single member is put into consideration before a
conclusion can be reached.
2. Representative or indirect democracy: this is a form of democracy
where the the affairs of the state is carried on by representatives
elected by the general public through application of the universal
adult suffrage i.e the sovereignty resides in the representatives and
not with the people.
3. Presidential democracy: this is a form of representative democracy
whereby the people elect a leader, the President in a free and fair
election to be at the helm of affairs. The President is the head of
government and the head of state who leads in executive capacity
independent of the legislative arm of government.
Importance of democracy in society
- Protecting the interests of citizens. People get the chance to vote on the
key issues affecting their country or can elect representatives to make
these decisions.
- Promoting equality. One principle of democracy is that all people are
equal in the eyes of the law, and every person gets a vote.
Ninth, a citizen must have a duty to obey the law. A democracy cannot exist
in a lawless society, and without the willingness of citizens to obey the law,
which is really a social contract, no government has the wherewithal to
police a nation of lawbreakers, and anarchy results.
4. Moral rights
Human rights that determine the spiritual and moral conduct of a person
are termed moral rights. They are primarily contained in moral rights as
they highlight various moral values that cannot be highlighted by any set of
institutional rights. They promote moral values like respect for everyone,
brotherhood, secularism, protection of life, peace in society, etc. Human
rights also put moral obligations on the state and people not to violate and
infringe on the rights of other people. If done so, it will be punished as per
the provisions of the set statute.
5. Legal rights
The rights that are recognized by the legal system of a country are called
legal rights. The two essential elements of these rights are:
- The holder of the right, and
- A person bound by duty.
Rights and duties are correlated to each other. A person cannot have a right
without any corresponding duty. A person having a right also has a duty not
to violate another person’s rights. Human rights are given to every
individual irrespective of any considerations, and the state has the
corresponding duty to protect the rights of its citizens. Article 2 of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights lays down that it is the primary duty
of the state to promote, protect, and implement all human rights through
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various measures and legislative provisions. The government of any state
should pass any such laws which infringe on the rights of the people.
6. Economic rights, cultural Rights and social rights
These rights are also called freedoms and guarantee a person the minimum
necessities of life. These are also included in the International Covenant on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. These form a part of positive rights as
the state is required to frame policies and provisions to implement such
rights. These rights are based on the concept of social equality and are
second-generation rights. These rights include the right to work, social
security, physical and mental health, and education. The various economic,
cultural, and social rights recognized by the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights are as follows:
- Right to social security
- Right to work and choice of employment
- Right to rest
- Right to standard living and health
- Right to education
- Freedom to participate in cultural life
- Right to social and international order
Characteristics of human rights
1. Human rights are universal in nature which means that they are given
to every individual irrespective of his/her caste, creed, race, religion,
nationality and place of birth.
2. These are inalienable rights. Many philosophers believe that these are
natural rights given by God and cannot be taken away or changed by
anyone.
3. These are indivisible and interdependent rights. If a government gives
one right then it has to protect the other rights of its citizens. For
example, it is the duty of government to protect the right of fair
hearing and provide food, shelter and clean environment to its citizens
in order to protect the right to life of its citizens.
4. They are inherent to each person and available since birth.
5. They are not lost if the man is not familiar with his rights or if he does
not use his rights. For example if a person is not aware of his right to
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consult the advocate then it does not mean that his right is finished. It
is then the duty of authorities to provide him with free legal aid or tell
him his rights.
6. They protect the dignity and personality of humans. Rights like right
to life, right to liberty, right against arbitrary arrest and punishment
etc protect the dignity of a person.
Sources of Human Rights
International treaties
These are the most important sources of human rights. There are multiple
treaties on human rights which are binding on the states who are party to
such treaties. For example, the European Convention on Human Rights, the
American Convention, the African Charter on Human Rights, and People’s
Rights.
International customs
These rights have acquired the status of customary international law by
their practice and, thus, are binding on all the states irrespective of their
consent. Many of these rights are a part of customary international law and
thus known as a source of human rights.
International instruments
There are several declarations, resolutions, and recommendations related
to human rights that have been adopted by the United Nations as a source
of such rights. Some of these are the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
(1948), declarations adopted at the Tehran Conference (1968) and the
Vienna Conference (1993).
Judicial decisions
The International Court of Justice serves as another important source of
human rights by setting up precedents and decisions in various disputes
and case laws relating to violations of human rights.
Official documents
Documents and journals like Human Rights Law Journal, Human Rights
Review, European Law Review, and other collective official work under the
United Nations serve as the source of human rights.
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Concept of Equity and non-discrimination in fostering solidarity
Equality affirms that all human beings are born free and equal. Equality
presupposes that all individuals have the same rights and deserve the same level of
respect.
All people have the right to be treated equally. This means that laws, policies and
programs should not be discriminatory, and also that public authorities should not
apply or enforce laws, policies and programs in a discriminatory or arbitrary
manner.
Non-discrimination is an integral part of the principle of equality. It ensures that
no one is denied their rights because of factors such as race, colour, sex,
language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin,
property or birth.
In addition to those grounds, discrimination on certain other grounds may also be
prohibited. These grounds include age, nationality, marital status, disability, place
of residence within a country and sexual orientation.
When do I need to consider the rights of equality and non-
discrimination?
You will need to consider the rights of equality and non-discrimination
whenever you are working on legislation, a policy or a program that
draws distinctions between people or groups based on any of the
following grounds:
- race
- sex
- disability, or
- age.
You will also need to consider the rights of equality and non-
discrimination whenever you are working on legislation, a policy or a
program that draws distinctions between people or groups based on:
- colour
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- language
- religion
- political or other opinion
- national or social origin
- property
- birth
- nationality
- marital status
- place of residence within a country, or
African Diasporas
African Diaspora is the term commonly used to describe the mass dispersion of
peoples from Africa during the Transatlantic Slave Trades, from the 1500s to the
1800s. This Diaspora took millions of people from Western and Central Africa to
different regions throughout the Americas and the Caribbean.
Factors that contributed to the presence of African Diasporas across the world
1. European nations hand links with West Africa hence the shipping of many Africans
from trans Saharan trade.
2. African chiefs had developed a taste for European goods such as glass, clothes, rum
and fire —arms which in turn made them sell many Africans as slaves to the
Europeans.
3. The establishment of mines and plantations and in new lands increased the demand
for slaves to provide labour in the farms and mines.
4. The increased demand of raw materials by European industries resulted in an
increased in demand for slaves in America to work on the plantations
5. Ship — building technology improved with building of larger ships with a greater
capacity for such slaves.
These factors among others highly contributed to the shipping of many Africans to the
Diaspora majorly as slaves.
United States
A quarter of the African-American population in Boston, Miami and New York were
born abroad and 8 percent of the total of African Americans in the US were born outside
the country[xv]. Ever since the Immigration and Nationality act in 1965 and the opening
of new legal channels, African immigrants have started to come to the US.
Today, Americans with African descent make up 13.5% of the total US-population.
Throughout the last decades, they have been becoming increasingly more present in the
middle classes.
Latin America
African immigrants came to South America and the Caribbean as a result of the
transatlantic slave trade. In the 1780s, slavery started to be criticized by the Christian
Church, philosophers and economists and, as countries gained independence, slavery was
abolished.
Over time, African descendants influenced most aspects of everyday life. Carnival, which
used to be only celebrated by Afro-Latinos, has now become a public holiday in Brazil.
Unlike African Diasporas in the rest of Latin America who combine their African past
with the culture of their host country, African descendants in the Caribbean who account
for more than 90% of the population, are in search of a new national identity. They do
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not define themselves in terms of Africans but rather as Jamaican or Haitian nationals, for
instance. They came to terms with their past and no longer need to think of themselves as
Africans.
Role of the Diasporas in political development in Africa
Pan-Africanism
Pan-Africanism unifies the cultural and political world of African diasporas and the
self-determination of people from Africa, or at least of African origin, as well as
the people of African descent resident outside Africa. Initially, there was an anti-
slavery and anti-colonial movement amongst black people of Africa and the
Diaspora in the late nineteenth century. Since then, the aims of Pan-Africanism
have evolved through the ensuing decades [.
This movement had its origin in the United States in the late nineteenth century,
thanks to the work of the advocate M.M. Garvey. He stated the idea of creating a
common state in Africa to welcome back all the African Americans. Later on, Du
Bois claimed the need to gain full rights, both in Africa and in the countries in
which African communities resided, created by the forced migration represented
by the slave trade in the previous centuries.
Pan-Africanism gained legitimacy with the founding of the African Association in
London in 1897, and the first Pan-African conference was held, again in London,
in 1900 when Henry Sylvester Williams, the power behind the African
Association, and his colleagues were interested in uniting the African Diaspora, and
gaining political rights for those of African descent[.
Between 1919 and 1945, Du Bois organized several conferences, which increased
and expanded the influence on the development of the African descendants’
emancipation movement in the Americas and Europe, as a way of nationalism in
colonial Africa. Moreover, between the world wars, Pan-Africanism became more
related and influenced by communism and trade unionism, especially through the
writings of George Padmore, Isaac Wallace-Johnson, Frantz Fanon, Aimé Césaire,
Paul Robeson, CLR James, WEB Du Bois, and Walter Rodney.
Significantly, Pan-Africanism had expanded beyond the continent into Europe, the
Caribbean and America. WEB Du Bois organized a series of Pan-African
Congresses in London, Paris, and New York in the first half of the twentieth
century. International awareness of Africa was also heightened by the Italian
invasion of Abyssinia (Ethiopia) in 1935.
Global Citizenship
A global citizen is someone who is aware of and understands the wider world – and their
place in it. They are a citizen of the world. They take an active role in their community
and work with others to make our planet more peaceful, sustainable and fairer.
Global citizenship involves
- Exploring local and global connections and our views, values and assumptions
- Exploring issues of social justice locally and globally
- Exploring the complexity of global issues and engaging with multiple perspectives
- Applying learning to real-world issues and contexts
- Opportunities to make informed, reflective action and be heard
Interconnectedness and interdependence among countries
Interconnectedness refers to the ability to understand and function in an increasingly
multicultural, international, yet interconnected environment. It fosters the development
of individuals to become successful professionals, civic leaders, and informed citizens in a
diverse national and global society.
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Interdependence is measured by the costs of severing the relationship (or the benefits of
developing it). The higher the costs to one country, the greater is the degree of
dependence of that country.
Why countries interconnect and interdepend on each other
Industrialization
Industrialization leads to the advancement of economies which in turn triggers the in-
house manufacturing of several products. When a country specializes in the production of
a certain product, it then needs to import other products from other countries. An
example is that of Asia (Pakistan); it specializes in the manufacturing of footballs however
leather and other preparatory materials are imported from China.
Producing specialized goods enhances production efficiency and therefore, most
countries only focus on their specialties, providing a narrow range of goods and services.
This creates economic interdependence among nations; the need for outsourcing or
importing other products for the fulfillment of basic needs.
Economy advancement
As an economy develops, it focuses on establishing more industries and manufacturing
more goods within the country's premises. This can lead to the creation of raw materials
and other labor services from within the country or from neighboring economies.
Regional Production
One main reason for high economic interdependence among economies is the region-
specific production. Different regions observe different weather, different soil, and other
conditions. Within such circumstances, they specialize in the production of certain goods
and crops only, while other necessities are fulfilled by importing goods.
For example, China is one major exporter of Apples, it produces more than 41 million
tons of apples each year. Blessed by the perfect climate and land to harvest apples, China
is an expert in harvesting Apples. On the other hand, America exports Maize, Soybean,
and Milk. Both of these countries exchange their products with each other and are
economically interdependent.
Labor Specialization
Another main driving force of Economic interdependence is Labor Specialization. When
too many similar products are produced by one nation or a party, the production
becomes specialized and economic interdependence takes place. That party then forms
- Job Insecurity
Before globalization, skilled people got employment in government sectors and
companies where they received high salaries. Job opportunities were waiting for those
who completed colleges and earned a degree. People would resign a job and quickly get
another. Due to globalization, there are many people seeking employment all over the
world. Employers take advantage of cheap labor. One can get a dismissal because of a
slight mistake as the employer can find a skilled worker who is ready to be paid less.
- Price Instability
Price instability is a significant effect of globalization on business. Some people establish
industries overseas where they get cheap raw materials and labor. They can cut
production costs and sell their goods at a low price. Due to competition, some high-
quality products differ in prices. No matter how the World Trade Organization has tried
to control price fluctuation, their efforts are not successful. These companies reach out to