CAIE Sociology (9699)

A strong answer would assess how transnational organisations (TNCs, international financial institutions, and global corporations) may increase global inequality by concentrating wealth, investment, and decision-making power in richer countries, exploiting cheap labour in poorer countries, and creating dependency through unequal trade and debt relations. It would also consider counter-arguments that transnational organisations can reduce inequality by creating jobs, transferring technology, increasing foreign investment, and integrating developing countries into the global economy. A balanced conclusion should judge the extent to which transnational organisations are responsible compared with other causes such as state policies, historical colonialism, and unequal access to education, technology, and markets.

A strong answer would examine negative consequences such as brain drain, loss of skilled workers, family separation, exploitation of migrant labour, and social tensions. It would also evaluate positive consequences including remittances, reduced unemployment, skill acquisition, diaspora links, and the return of migrants with new knowledge and capital. A balanced conclusion should assess whether the overall impact depends on the type of migration, the policies of sending and receiving states, and the economic and social conditions of the developing country.

A strong answer would consider postmodernist claims that media saturation, fragmentation, and the blurring of reality and representation make the media highly influential in shaping identity, consumption, and lifestyles. It would then evaluate criticisms that audiences are active, media effects are limited or mediated by social factors, and that class, gender, ethnicity, and age still shape media influence. A balanced conclusion should judge whether postmodernists overstate media power or whether contemporary digital media have genuinely increased its influence.

A strong answer would assess arguments that governments can control media content through censorship, laws, regulation, licensing, ownership, propaganda, and pressure on media organisations. It would also consider limits on control, such as the influence of global media corporations, the internet, social media, market forces, and the difficulty of regulating transnational communication. A balanced conclusion should decide whether government control is substantial, partial, or increasingly weakened in the digital age.

A strong answer would explain Marxist views that religion acts as an ideological tool supporting ruling-class domination by legitimising inequality, encouraging obedience, and distracting people from exploitation. It would also evaluate alternative perspectives, such as functionalist views that religion promotes social cohesion, feminist views that it may support patriarchy, and evidence that religious organisations can challenge power through liberation theology, civil rights activism, and social reform. A balanced conclusion should assess whether religious organisations mainly support ruling-class interests or can also oppose them.

A strong answer would discuss secularisation arguments that religion has declined in influence due to modernisation, rationalisation, scientific thinking, and declining participation in religious institutions. It would also evaluate evidence that religion remains socially significant through identity, politics, community life, fundamentalism, and the growth of religion in some parts of the world. A balanced conclusion should consider whether religion has declined in traditional institutional terms but remains significant in new or transformed ways.