Final answer:
Blaikie argues that colonial-era policies persist through the maintenance of colonial institutions and ongoing economic dependency(option a).
Step-by-step explanation:
Blaikie notes that colonial-era policies and assumptions have continued into the post-independence period through two main arguments.
Firstly, the persistence of colonial institutions, wherein structures that had existed under colonialism, including political and economic systems, remained largely unchanged after independence. This persistence is evident in the difficulties new leaders faced in politically and economically restructuring their states while managing the diverse ethnic and cultural groups within artificially drawn colonial boundaries.
Secondly, the continuation of economic dependency is a significant issue that postcolonial countries face. The colonial policy of curtailment of industrial development to protect European industry has left many post-independence states with economies dominated by a few mining and cash crop exports. Their economic growth is stunted due to fluctuating global prices for raw materials and the eroding actual value of these exports over time. This economic scenario underscores the ongoing influence of former colonial powers in almost ensuring that genuine development remains elusive for these countries, This relationship is sometimes referred to as neocolonialism, where colonial controls over an economy are replaced by indirect control through economic dependencies.