CH-3 DEMOCRACY AND DIVERSITY ( POL. SC) CLASS - X

CH-3

DEMOCRACY  AND DIVERSITY

Q1. What is the main origin of social difference?

Ans. 1) The social difference are mostly based on accident of birth.

2) We don’t choose to belong to our community.

3) We belong to it simply because we were born into it.

Q2. Are all social differences based on accident of birth? Justify.

Ans. 1) All kinds of social differences are not based on accident of birth.

2) Some of the differences are based on our choices.

3) Foe example, some people are atheists.

4) Some people choose to follow a religion other than the one in which they were born.

5) All these lead to formation of social groups that are based on our choices.

Q3. Justify with example that every social difference does not leads to social division?

Ans. 1) Every social difference does not lead to social division. Social differences divide similar people from one another, but they also unite very different people.

2) Example Carlos and smith were similar in one way and thus different from Norman who was white. But they were also all similar in other ways- they were all athletes who stood against racial discrimination.

Q4. Justify with example that people have different identities in different contexts.

Ans. 1) People belonging to the same religion may not belong to the same community because their caste or sect is very different.

2) People from different religions may have the same caste and feel close to each other.

3) Rich and poor persons from the same family often do not keep close relations with each other.

4) Thus, we all have more than one identity and can belong to more than one social group.

Hence, we have different identities in different contexts.

  

Q5. What type of social differences leads to social division?

Ans. 1) Social division takes place when some social difference overlaps with other differences.

2) For example- the difference between the blacks and whites becomes a social division in the US because the blacks tend to be poor, homeless and discriminates against.

3) In our country Dalits tend to be poor, landless and face similar kind of social division.

4) When one kind of social differences becomes more important than the other and people start feeling that they belong to different communities, it leads to social division.

Q6. Justify with example that overlapping social differences leads to social division whereas cross-cutting social differences may not lead to social division?

Ans. 1) In cases of Northern Ireland and the Netherlands, both are predominantly Christian but divided between Catholics and Protestants.

2) In Northern Ireland, class and religion overlap with each other were Catholics are more likely to be poor and have suffered a history of discrimination.

3) In the Netherlands, class and religion tend to cut across each other were Catholics and Protestants are about equally likely to be poor or rich.

4) The result is that Catholics and Protestants have had conflicts in Northern Ireland, while they do not do so in the Netherlands.

    

Q7. What type of social differences do not lead to social division?

Ans. 1) If social differences cross cut one another, it is difficult to pit one group of people against the other.

2) It means that groups that share a common interest on one issue are likely to be in different sides on a different issue.

3) Overlapping social differences create possibilities of deep social divisions and tensions whereas cross-cutting social differences are easier to accommodate.

Q8. “Social divisions on one kind or another exist in most countries” Explain.

Ans. 1) It does not matter whether the country is small or big.

2) Even those countries such as Germany and Sweden, that were once highly homogenous are undergoing rapid change with influx of people from other parts of the world.

3) Migrants bring with them their own culture and tend to form a different social community.

4) Most countries of the world today are multi-cultural.

Q9. Explain how social division affects politics? Or

What will be the effect of mixing social division with politics?

Ans. 1) The combination of politics and social divisions is very dangerous and explosive.

2) Democracy involves competition among various political parties which tends to divide any society.

3) If political competing in terms of some existing social division, it can make social divisions into political divisions.

 4) This leads to conflict, violence or even disintegration of a country.

Q10. Justify that every expression of social division in politics does not lead to a disaster.

Ans. 1) Social divisions of one kind or another exist in most countries of the world.

2) In a democracy it is natural that political parties would talk about these divisions and make different promises to different communities.

3) The government will also make policies to redress the grievances of the disadvantaged communities.

4) Yet all this does not lead to disintegration of the country.

Q11. Explain the 3 factors which are crucial in deciding the outcomes of politics of social division? Or

What 3 determines are crucial in dividing the outcome of politics of social division?

Ans. 1) The outcome depends on how people perceive their identities- if people see their identities in singular and exclusive terms, it becomes very difficult to accommodate. It is much easier if the people see that their identities are multiple and are complementary with the national identity.

  2) It depends on how political leaders raise the demands of any community- It is easier to accommodate demands that are within the constitutional framework and are not at the cost of another community.

3) It depends on how the government reacts to demands of different groups- If the rulers are willing to share power and accommodate the reasonable demands of minority community, social divisions become less threatening for the country. But if they try to supress such a demand in the name of national unity, the end result is often destructive.    

Q12. “Social diversities in a country need not be seen as a source of danger”. Explain

or

How do social diversities leads to strengthening of democracy?

Ans. 1) In a democracy, political expression of social divisions is very normal and can be healthy.

2) This allows various disadvantaged and marginal social groups to express their grievances and get the government to attend to these.

  3) Expression of various kinds of social divisions in politics often results in their cancelling one another out and thus reducing their intensity.

4) This leads to strengthening of a democracy.

Q13. Explain how democracy is the best way to fight for religion/ recognition and accommodation of diversity?

Ans. 1) In any government people who feel marginalised, deprived and discriminated have to fight against the injustices.

2) Such a fight often takes the democratic path in a democracy, voicing their demands in a peaceful and constitutional manner and seeking a fair position through elections

3) Sometimes social differences can take the form of acceptable level of social inequality and injustice which can even leads to violence.

4) Hence, there is a need for positive attitude towards diversity and a willingness to accommodate such as diversities which is only possible in a democracy.