Download Population Growth Fuels Uprisings - Afghanistan article

Mrs. Jordan
Geography
Runaway population growth often fuels youth-driven uprisings
1.
Fill in the information regarding Afghanistan in the space provided and then answer the question
for letter “e”.
a. Population:
b.
% Living in Poverty:
c. Literacy rate:
d. Fertility rate:
e. In one sentence, respond to the following: What can you assume about living conditions
in Afghanistan for most people based on the statistical information in letters a-d (be more
specific than just “good” or “bad”?
2.
Where have 80% of the world’s civil conflicts since the 1970s occurred?
3.
How has Afghanistan’s population changed since the start of the 21st century?
4.
Explain what motivates young men to join the Taliban.
5.
In addition to a large youth population, what other factors can spark or contribute to uprisings.
6.
How did the bipartisan commission that investigated the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001
determine that it was linked to population trends in distant lands?
7.
Why does political demographer Richard Cincotta believe the situation in Afghanistan does not
look promising for the future?
8.
What do the results of the International Council on Security and Development’s survey of over
420 Afghan men reveal about ways in which potential Taliban recruits could be steered away
from joining?
9. What trend have rising levels of education in women around the work been associated with?
10. Summarize how AND why attempts to educate women about family planning have met with
resistance.
11. What was Ahmad Mokhtar jailed for?
a.
Interviewed in jail, he states that “if Afghans had good jobs, if we had peace and
stability, we would not go for the fight”. Based on what you have read, what are the
obstacles to peace and stability, and is it the U.S.’s responsibility?