Outline what is meant by the rate of natural increase.

Explain one political cause and one political consequence of forced migration.

Political cause:

Political consequence:  

Explain two policies that are used to promote gender equality.

Policy 1:

Policy 2:

Award [1] for comment on relationship between BR and DR and [1] for development

For example: Birth rate – death rate/difference between birth rate and death rate [1], usually expressed as a % or per 1000 population OR does not take into account migration [1].

Award [1] for identification of a valid political cause/consequence (this may concern political groups, nations, international organisations etc.) and [1] for development/exemplification.

Political cause
For example: Civil war [1] in Somalia conflict has led many to flee to safe neighbouring countries such as Kenya [1].
The persecution of minorities [1] means that sub-national groups are afraid and flee to avoid discrimination [1].

Other possibilities could include:

• government policies
• changing borders
• civil unrest
• limited civic freedom
• political instability.
• lack of political liberties.

Political consequence 
For example: Rise of extremist groups in refugee camps [1] increased Al Shabaab terrorist attacks in Nairobi, Kenya [1].

Other possibilities could include:

• changing government policies
• rise of far-right groups in host countries
• establishment of harsh borders
• destabilisation of government due to actual or perceived pressures
• loss of trust in policy makers to control flows/alienation hypothesis transmission of political values of host country back to country of origin.
• Conflict between states – Belarus/Poland

Identification of valid and distinct policy [1] and [1] for further development and/or exemplification.

For example: A quota system whereby a number of positions are reserved for women [1]; in Afghanistan a quarter of the parliamentary seats are reserved for women [1].

Possibilities include but are not limited to:

• legislation – such as sex discrimination acts which make it unlawful to discriminate on the basis of sex
• education – put gender equity into the curriculum, promote women in STEM subjects
• empowering mothers with prolonged paid maternity leave, financial rewards, free childcare, paternity leave
• campaigns/Legislation promoting equal pay for women
• quotas for females in government so they have an influence on gender equality laws/legislation
• financing of women’s groups to aid their economic and social development.

Most candidates displayed a basic understanding of natural increase and identified the relationship between birth rate and death rate. The better answers went on to develop the relationship in response to the command word "outline". These candidates either described the numerical element(s) of the term or reinforced the "natural" dimension by pointing out the omission of migration as a component of increase. Where full marks were not awarded it was these aspects of development that were usually omitted.

Responses to the first element of this question were generally secure with the majority of answers referring to civil war as a driver of forced migration and illustrating this with exemplar material from Syria. The more comprehensive answers explained how civil war impacted on the decision to migrate with reference to safety and lifestyle. Where Myanmar was selected as the example many responses were careful to link cultural persecution with civic freedom, discrimination or government policies. This linked the example to the political requirement of the question. However, some answers were less analytical and simply made reference to the Rohingya being forced out. There were some candidates who recognized the broader elements of civic freedom and government policies and explained their impact on the persecution of particular political groups and human rights violations.

Candidates had less success in the second element of the question. Many answers failed to address the political aspect of the consequences of forced migration and instead gave general observations on the impacts of migration. These were frequently focused on cultural and social effects relating to resources used by migrants and although some hinted at discord they failed to link this approach to political consequences. There were some good responses that used this to develop political ramifications such as the rise in far-right groups, but these were not prevalent. Few explored border issues or impacts upon government policies.

Answers to this question were usually convincing, displaying a confident grasp of the relevant sections of the syllabus. The main policies advanced were those associated with education, equal pay and quota systems for political and corporate power. Many candidates were able to explain how these policies promoted gender equality with good exemplification including material from previous infographic resources. Where credit was lost it was often the result of vague and descriptive development which did not explicitly link the policy to the implementation of gender equality. In several instances candidates failed to focus on policies and instead highlighted goals, aspirations and measures that related to gender equality but contained no distinct strategy.