NCERT Solution for Class 10 S.St
Exercises, Page no - 37
1. Discuss three factors that determine the outcomes of politics of social divisions.
Answer :
In any democratic country political parties try to gain more and more votes to win over elections. They try to impress more and more voters so that they could be given more votes. They do so by doing a number of promises to the people.
But it doesn't mean that this type of politics of winning over the voters can lead to social division and conflict in the society. Actually, three factors are important in deciding outcome of politics of social division and these three factors are :
- Point of view of People - In democracy people's point of view is very important in looking at the social differences. If they look at these differences in context of each other, they tell us that all the social groups belong to different communities and this point of view is very difficult to adjust in society. But if people do not see their identity as multiple duty they perceive it as a part of nation and then this type of division is not destructive but is constructive for society. With this all the weaker sections of society will get representation in our political system.
- System of Leaders to use Social Divisions - Second important factor or outcome of politics of social division is that how our leaders raise their demands for different social groups. If the demands would be raised in a peaceful manner and by giving even preference to demands of other groups then it will be constructive for society. But if leaders will raise their demands at the cost of demands at the cost of demands of other groups then society can move towards conflict.
- Government's Reaction - Third important factor in this is the reaction of government towards these demands. If government will try to share powers with all the groups, even with minorities, then social division will be of no threat to the country. But if they will try to suppress those demands then it will lead to forced integration and later on in the form of disintegration.
2. When does a social difference become a social division ?
Answer :
Every social difference cannot lead to social division. The meaning of social difference is the difference in a group due to certain bases like race, religion, caste, colour, culture, language, etc. When some social differences join hands with another set of social differences then it becomes social division. It means that when some social differences join with each other then it becomes social division. Here we can take the example of blacks and whites of U.S.A. The main difference between them is of their race that they are of black and white race. This is social difference. But when another set of difference joins that set, like blacks are poor and homeless, then it becomes a social division and it produces a feeling that they both are of different communities.
3. How do social divisions affect politics ? Give two examples.
Answer :
In almost all the democracies, bi-party system or multiplayer system is there in which different political parties contest the elections against each other and try to win over maximum number of votes so that they could be able to win majority in assemblies. For this, they do a number of promises to voters so that they could join their party. Even they promise to favour any particular group to win over its loyalty and that group gives its full help to that party. In this way they try to create differences among the different social groups. These differences can create distrust among various social groups.
But it is not necessary that these social differences can become social division and can create conflict in the society. In this type of society every section of the society is able to raise its voice for its upliftment socially and economically. We can give many example of different countries where government has given its favours to any particular group and yet no conflict or violence occured in that country.
Examples - Firstly, we can take example of Northern Ireland which is a region of U.K. and has suffered violence due to bitter ethno-political conflict. Two major groups of people live in it. 44% people are Roman Catholics and they 53% people are Protestants. Nationalist parties were representing Catholics and they raised their voice regarding unification of Northern Ireland with Republic of Ireland which is a catholic country. But Protestants favoured to remain with U.K. who were represented by Unionists. There was a fierce struggle and violence between Nationalists and Unionists and between Nationalists and forces of U.K. But in 1998 they reached an agreement after which their armed struggle was suspended.
On contrary to this, we have example of Yugoslavia where a number of diverse people Catholics, Muslims and Eastern orthodox people are living. Religious and political competition was there among them which led to the tension and conflict in these groups. Due to this conflict Yugoslavia was then divided into 6 republics and 2 provinces. So political, religious and ethnic competition has led to the disintegration of the country into 6 independent countries. So, from here it is clear that social divisions should not be mixed with politics.
4. ____________ social differences create possibilities of deep social divisons and tensions. __________ social differences do not usually lead to conflicts.
Answer :
Over lapping social differences create possibilities of deep social divisions and tensions. Cross cutting social differences do not usually lead to conflicts.
5. 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 accomodate social diversity.
(d) Democracy always leads to disintegration of society on the basis of social divisions.
Answer :
Answer to this question is option (d) because democracy never always leads to distintegration of society on the basis of social divisions.
6. 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 divisons 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
Answer :
Answer to this question is option (b) that statements A and B are correct.
7. 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
Answer :
Option (a) is correct
8. 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
Answer :
Out of these options only (c) Yugoslavia has suffered disintegration due to political fights on the basis of religious and ethnic identities.
9. 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 nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character. Let freedom ring. And when this happens, and when we allow 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 - black 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 :
Martin Luther King Jr. was a great human activist who fought for the equal rights of all citizens in U.S.A. He started a movement called American Civil Rights Movement which was started to end discrimination specially racial, demand of right to vote and other labour and basic civil rights. So due to his efforts his demands were met by passing certain laws in U.S.
Actually black people were deported to U.S. from African countries as slaves and there was a great discrimination with them in U.S. Black people were used to treat inhumanly and were tortured by whites in a number of ways. That's why Martin Luther King wants to see a world where there is no racial discrimination. He wants to see that every one should be treated as equal even if he belongs to one religion, caste, race or another. He was thinking that there should be world where all the people should be given equal oppotunities to develop and the economic and social interests of every one should be respected.
Due to racial discrimination in the world two athletes of U.S. Tommie Smith and John Carlos who won gold and bronze medals in Mexico Olympics in 1968, raised their voice. During medal ceremony of 200m. race they stood with clenched fists upraised and heads bowed at the time of singing U.S. National anthem. They wore black socks and no shoes, to represent black poverty, to get their medals. The black gloves and raised clenched fists were showing black power.
Both these incidents are closely related with each other because they both had tried to draw people's attention towards racial discrimination and Atlantic slave trade. They tried to draw attention of people towards poor economic condition of blacks in U.S. So there is a great relation between speech of Luther King and incident of Mexico Olympics in 1968.