CAIE Sociology (9699)

A strong answer would explain how colonialism created long-term economic, political and social inequalities between countries, including unequal trade patterns, extraction of resources, underdevelopment, and the legacy of imperial borders and institutions. It would also evaluate alternative explanations such as neo-colonialism, dependency theory, world-systems theory, global capitalism, debt, transnational corporations, and internal factors within states. A balanced conclusion would assess the extent to which colonialism remains important compared with other causes of global inequality.

A strong answer would discuss negative consequences such as exploitation, discrimination, insecure work, family separation, legal vulnerability, and social exclusion. It would also evaluate positive consequences including improved income, remittances, social mobility, access to education and safety, and the creation of transnational networks. The answer should consider differences between voluntary and forced migration, and between skilled and unskilled migrants, before reaching a balanced judgement on whether consequences are entirely negative.

A strong answer would explain ownership-based control through perspectives such as Marxism, the propaganda model, and the role of media concentration, profit motives, and editorial influence. It would evaluate limits to owner control, including professional norms, audience demand, state regulation, advertising pressures, digital media, and the influence of journalists, producers, and other institutions. A balanced conclusion should assess how far owners shape media content compared with other forces.

A strong answer would discuss how new media can support activism, rapid communication, citizen journalism, online protest, and the spread of dissenting views, making it easier to challenge governments. It would also evaluate limitations such as surveillance, censorship, misinformation, platform control, digital divides, and the ability of states to regulate or manipulate online spaces. A balanced conclusion should judge the extent to which new media empowers opposition to government authority.

A strong answer would explain how religion can generate conflict through sectarianism, fundamentalism, religious competition, identity politics, and clashes over values, power, and resources. It would also evaluate the view that religion can unite people through shared beliefs, moral consensus, community cohesion, and social support. The answer should consider both inter-religious and intra-religious conflict, and conclude with a balanced assessment of whether religion is more divisive than unifying.

A strong answer would assess arguments that religious organisations have declining influence due to secularisation, pluralism, and the separation of religion from politics and public life. It would also evaluate evidence of continuing influence through moral campaigns, education, welfare provision, political lobbying, community leadership, and global religious movements. A balanced conclusion should judge whether religious organisations still shape society in significant ways despite reduced authority in some contexts.