Ceist Eile

Ceist Eile is in development. Features, questions and prices may change while we refine it.

Subjects · Leaving Cert Politics & Society

Leaving Cert Politics & Society: Causes of underdevelopment

How often Causes of underdevelopment comes up on the Politics & Society papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 5 of the last 7 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2024. most years

OL Asked on 3 of the last 7 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2024.

Causes of underdevelopment, Higher Level(8 marks)

Quick ones on Causes of underdevelopment.

(a)Which theory is André Gunder Frank associated with?
  1. Modernisation theory
  2. Dependency theory
  3. Rooted cosmopolitanism
(b)In Frank's theory, what are the 'metropolis' and the 'satellite'?
  1. Two equal trading partners who both gain from trade
  2. A capital city and the suburbs around it
  3. A rich core extracting from a poor periphery
(c)'Poor countries lack the knowledge, technology and industry of rich ones.' Which theory is this?
  1. Modernisation theory
  2. Ecofeminism
  3. Dependency theory
Show the answers

(a) Dependency theory

(b) A rich core extracting from a poor periphery

(c) Modernisation theory

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Causes of underdevelopment.

Higher Level

Asked on 5 of the last 7 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2024. most years

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Not asked
2024Q1c
2023Q1o, Q7
2022Not asked
2021Q1h, Q4a
2019Q1k
2018Q6

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Causes of underdevelopment questions

Causes of underdevelopment, 2 marks

What is tied aid?

  1. Aid that is given on a fixed date every year
  2. Aid that is given only in the form of food
  3. Aid that must be spent on the donor's goods
Show the answer

Aid that must be spent on the donor's goods

Tied aid benefits the donor's own firms and can cost the recipient more than buying locally. Irish Aid is untied.

Causes of underdevelopment, 3 marks

How can rich countries' protectionism harm poorer countries?

  1. It forces rich states to buy more
  2. Tariffs and subsidies shut out their exports
  3. It raises the price of their exports
Show the answer

Tariffs and subsidies shut out their exports

Farm subsidies and tariffs in rich countries make it harder for poorer countries to sell crops or processed goods, a common unfair-trade argument.

Causes of underdevelopment, 2 marks

What is the name of the Irish government's overseas development programme?

  1. Irish Aid
  2. Trócaire
  3. Concern Worldwide
Show the answer

Irish Aid

Irish Aid is run by the Department of Foreign Affairs. Trócaire and Concern are Irish NGOs (civil society), not government bodies.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 3 of the last 7 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2024.

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Not asked
2024Q1k
2023Q2, Q4
2022Q1m, Q1o
2021Not asked
2019Not asked
2018Not asked

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Causes of underdevelopment questions

Causes of underdevelopment, 3 marks

André Gunder Frank's dependency theory says poor countries are underdeveloped because...

  1. They have not yet adopted modern technology
  2. Their climate is too hot for industry
  3. Rich countries exploit them through trade
Show the answer

Rich countries exploit them through trade

Frank said rich metropolis countries drain wealth from poor satellite countries, so underdevelopment is caused by the world system, not by a lack of modernisation.

Causes of underdevelopment, 2 marks

Which cause of underdevelopment blames leaders who take public money for themselves?

  1. Lack of technology
  2. Corrupt local elites
  3. Unfair terms of trade
Show the answer

Corrupt local elites

The course sets out several explanations. Corruption diverts aid and tax money from schools and hospitals. Others blame unfair trade or a lack of technology and industry.

Causes of underdevelopment, 3 marks

How can past colonialism help explain underdevelopment today?

  1. Economies were built to export raw materials to colonisers
  2. Colonies received more investment than the ruling countries themselves
  3. Colonialism ended poverty everywhere it went
Show the answer

Economies were built to export raw materials to colonisers

Many former colonies still depend on exporting a few raw materials at low prices. This links to dependency theory and the argument about unfair terms of trade.

Other Politics & Society topics

All of Leaving Cert Politics & Society