CBSE Class 10 Social Science Democracy And Diversity Notes Set 02

Politics of Social Divisions

Democracy involves competition among various political parties. Their competitions tends to divide any society if they start competing in terms of some existing social divisions, it can make social divisions into political divisions and lead to conflict, violence or even disintegration of a country.

– It would be best if there are no social divisions in any country. If social divisions do exist in a country, they must never be expressed in politics. – Social divisions affect voting in most countries.
– In a democracy, political expression of social divisions is very normal and can be healthy.
– Expression of various kinds of social divisions in politics after results in their canceling one an other out and thus reducing their intensity.

Notes For Class 10 Social Science Democratic Politics – II Chapter 3 Democracy and Diversity

• Social Division
Division of the society on the basis of language, region, caste, colour, race or sex. It signifies linguistic and regional diversity.
• Civil Rights Movement in the USA(1954-1968)
A series of events and reform movements with the aim of abolishing legal, racial discrimination against African-Americans. Martin Luther King Jr. started the movement in 1954.This movement practiced non-violent methods of civil disobedience against racially discriminatory laws and practices.
• African-Americans
Afro-American, Black American or Black are the terms used to refer mainly to the descendents of Africans who were brought into America as slaves between early 17th and 19th century.
• The Black power.
It was a movement started by black people in 1966(1966-1975) against racism and the practice of apartheid.It was a militant movement advocating even violence if necessary to end racism in the US .
• Migrants
Anybody who shifts from one region or country to another region within a country or to another country for the purpose of work or other economic opportunities.
• Minority
It refers to communities who are less than half of the total population of the country.The idea of minority at national level is totally different from what it is at state level.
• Homogenous Society.
Homogenous Society signifies absence of significant ethnic differences. It is a society that has similar kinds of people or inhabitants.
• Multi- Cultural Community
Social community formed on the basis of different cultures is known as theMulticultural community. This happens mostly due to the practice of migration when people bring with them their own culture.

Three determinants (factors) for the outcome of politics of social divisions –
• How people perceive their identities- eg-to be an Indian though belonging to different state
• How political leaders raise the demands of any community- eg- The demand for ‘only Sinhala’ in Srilanka brought distrust among Tamils.
• How the govt. react to different groups- eg –Willing to share power and be accommodative like in Belgium

Advantage of social division in democracy-
• Can express their grievances and the govt. attend to it
• Intensity of social division is reduced by canceling one another out, through their expressions(being accommodative)
• Raise their issues in a peaceful manner for seeking votes