CBSE - Democracy and Diversity

Three factors which determine the outcomes of politics of social divisions:
→ The people's perception of their identities: When this is singular, the accommodation of other identities becomes difficult.
→ Representation of a community by political leaders: While representing a community, if politicians raise demands that are constitutional, then it is easier to accommodate those demands.
→ The government's reaction: If the reasonable demands of a community are suppressed by the government, then it leads to social divisions, which in turn threaten the integrity of the country.

A social difference becomes a social division when it overlaps with some other social difference. For example, the Whites were rich and powerful and the Blacks were poor and homeless and discriminated against. When one kind of social difference becomes more important than the other, then it leads to division.

In politics, there is competition between political parties. If these political parties use this
competition in support of some social divisions, it can lead to political divisions. This can lead
to conflict, violence or even disintegration of a country.
→ One example is of Northern Ireland where religious divisions led to ethno-political conflict. Two major sects of Christianity : 53% Protestants and 44% Catholics dominate the country. The Catholics wanted Northern Ireland to join the Republic of Ireland and the Protestants wanted to remain with UK. This led to years of violence where thousands were killed. Only in 1998, peace returned when the UK government and the Nationalists reached a peace treaty and stopped all violence.
→  The second example is of Yugoslavia where the political parties refused to accommodate each other. Each ethno-religious group wanted to dominate the other. Result – disintegration of Yugoslavia into seven independent countries.

Overlapping social differences create possibilities of deep social divisions and tensions.
Cross cutting social differences do not usually lead to conflicts.

In dealing with social divisions which one of the following statements is NOT correct about democracy?
(a) Due to political competition in a democracy, social divisions get reflected in politics.
(b) In a democracy it is possible for communities to voice their grievances in a peaceful manner.
(c) Democracy is the best way to accommodate social diversity.
(d) Democracy always leads to disintegration of society on the basis of social divisions.

Ans

(d) Democracy always leads to disintegration of society on the basis of social divisions.

Consider the following three statements.
A. Social divisions take place when social differences overlap.
B. It is possible that a person can have multiple identities.
C. Social divisions exist in only big countries like India.
Which of the statements is/are correct?
(a) A, B and C
(b) A and B
(c) B and C
(d) Only C

Ans

(b) A and B

Arrange the following statements in a logical sequence and select the right answers by using the code given below.
A. But all political expression of social divisions need not be always dangerous.
B. Social divisions of one kind or the other exist in most countries.
C. Parties try to win political support by appealing to social divisions.
D. Some social differences may result in social divisions.
(a) D, B, C, A
(b) D, B, A, C
(c) D, A, C, B
(d) A, B, C, D

Ans

(a) D, B, C, A

Among the following, which country suffered disintegration due to political fights on the basis of religious and ethnic identities?
(a) Belgium
(b) India
(c) Yugoslavia
(d) Netherlands

Ans

(c) Yugoslavia

Read the following passage from a famous speech by Martin Luther king Jr. in 1963. Which social division is he talking about? What are his aspirations and anxieties? Do you see a relationship between this speech and the incident in Mexico Olympics mentioned in this chapter?
"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character. Let freedom ring - when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children - back men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics - will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual: 'Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!' I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'we hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal'."

Answer

 There is mention of racial discrimination in the speech of Martine Luther King Jr in USA. He is referring to the segregation policies adopted by the Whites towards the Coloured people. He aspires for a country where there will be security for all; where racial abuse will not occur; and where everyone will be treated as equal irrespective of the colour of their skin. This speech and the incident at the Mexico Olympics are both part of a movement that wanted to highlight the plight of the African-American people.

Q1. Which of the following is associated with the Civil Rights movement in the U.S.A. (1954-1968) ?
(a) Abolishing legal racial discrimination against African Americans.
(b) Abolishing unequal income distribution.
(c) Health
(d) Education

Q2. Which type of social diversity or division do we find in Belgium ?
(a) Religious (b) Linguistic
(c) Regional (d) Gender

Q3. Which one of the following refers to The Black Power Movement (1966-75)’ in USA ?
(a) A non violent reform movement.
(b) The American freedom movement.
(c) A more militant anti-racist movement.
(d) A religious movement.

Q4. What is not the basis of social divisions in India ?
 (a) Language (b) Health
(c) Region (d) Caste

Q5. Which one of the following is the most important origin of social differences ?
(a) Accident of birth (b) Physical abilities
(c) Kinds of Complexion (d) Tall or Short

Q6. Which one of the following is the representative political parties of the Catholics in Northern Ireland
(a) Nationalist Parties (b) Unionist
(c) Democratic Party (d) Labour Party

Q7. Which University recently installed the statues of Smith, Carlos and Norman in its campus?
(a) The Howard University
(b) The Chicago State University 
(c) The Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
(d) The San Jose State University

Q8. Which one of the following is the actual political expression of social divisions in a democracy ?
(a) It results in social inequality and injustice.
(b) It is a normal practice and can prove healthy.
(c) It leads to definite violence.
(d) It is a rare practice and always proves unhealthy. 

Answer Key of MCQ:
 (1) a (2) b (3) c (4) b (5) a
 (6) a (7) d (8) b (9) b (10) d

(1) How people perceive their identities.
(2) How Political leaders raise the demands of any community.
(3) How the government reacts to demands of different groups.

(1) Both were African – Americans.
(2) Both won medals at the Mexico Olympic Games in 1968.
(3) Racial discrimination practiced against Africans in America.

Two types of democracy -
(1) Direct democracy
(2) Indirect democracy

(1) People may express their feelings and expectations as their demands.
(2) There is adjustment between two social divisions with different interests.
(3) Democracy is a system of governance of the people to rule on their own.

Peter Norman was an Australian Athlete.
 Norman wore a human rights badge on his shirt during the ceremony to show his support to the dissent of two American Athletes.
 Norman was not included in the Australian team for the next Olympic.

Direct Democracy	Indirect Democracy
(1) People directly participate in the Government of a country	(1) People do not participate in the Government.
(2) May be practical for the country with small population..	(2) May be practical for the country with its vast population.
(3) The country provides the opportunity to every member of the society to tell his/her view.	(3) The view of social groups is important and the majority is always influential in the formation of policies or rules.

Social differences simply refer to born or biological and socially created inequalities in the society. This
mainly based on race, caste, religion, language, culture etc.
(1) When some social differences overlap with other differences. For example the difference between
black and white becomes a social division in the US because the Blacks tend to be poor.
(2) If social differences cross cut one another, it is difficult to pit one group of people against other. It
means that group sharing a common interest on one issue are likely to be on different side on
different issues. For example both Northern Island and the Netherlands are predominantly
Christian but are divided into Catholics and Protestants.
(3) The overlapping social differences create possibilities of deep social division and tensions while
cross cutting differences are easier to accommodate.

(1) The racial form of social division, that is social differences on the basis of
 colour is widely prevalent in societies.
(2) The varna and caste based division of society is found in India. Here Brahmins are considered as
the highest varna while the Shudras are the lowest.
(3) Linguist division is another major form of social division found in all societies. There are more
than 1000 languages spoken in the world.
(4) The social division is also manifested by the cultural and sub cultural divisions of society.