CBSE Class 10 Social Science HOTs Democracy and Diversity

Summary

MCQ Questions for Class 10 Social Science Democracy and Diversity  

Very Short Questions for Class 10 Social Science Democracy and Diversity

Question : Which university has recently installed the statues of Tommie Smith and John Carlos in its campus?
Answer : In 2005, the San Jose State University installed a 20-foot high sculpture representing the protest by Tommie Smith and John Carlos. 

Question : What are the features of a homogeneous society? Mention the name of any one country having such society.
Answer : Features of a homogeneous society : (i) A society has similar kinds of people. (ii) There are no significant ethnic differences. Germany and Sweden have homogenous societies. 

Question : Give one example to show overlapping social difference create possibilities of deep social division and tensions.
Answer : The example of Catholics and Protestants and their conflicts in Northern Ireland.

Question : What is a homogenous society?
Answer : It is a society that has similar kinds of people especially where there are no significant ethnic differences. For example, as in the countries like Germany and Sweden.

Question : Who are represented by the term' African American?
Answer : The descendants of Africa, who were mostly brought into America as slaves between 17th and early 19th century.

Short Questions for Class 10 Social Science Democracy and Diversity

Question : Taking the example of Carlos, Smith and Norman, explain how social differences divide similar people from one another but also unite very different people.
Answer : (a) Carlos and Smith were similar because both were African-Americans and thus, different from Norman who was white.
(b) However, all three were similar because they were athleties who stood against racial discrimination. Thus, it is correct to say that social differences divide similar people from each other but it also unites different people.

Question : How is political expression of social division in democracy beneficial?
Answer : Every expression of social division in politics does not lead to disasters. Sometime, it is beneficial too.
(i) The various disadvantaged groups express their grievances and get the government to attend to the same.
(ii) Expression of various kinds of social divisions in politics often results in their cancelling one another out and thus, reducing their intensity.
(iii) Fight against injustice often takes a democratic path, voicing their demands in a peaceful and constitutional manner and seeking a fair position through elections.

Question : Describe the consequences of Smith and Carlos reaction to the racial discrimination.
Answer : (i) Carlos and Smith were held guilty for violating the Olympic spirit by making political statement.
(ii) Medals were taken back.
(iii) Norman was not included in the Australian team.
(iv) Their action helped in gaining international attention for Civil Rights Movement. 

Question : Highlight the case of Northern Ireland in reference to cross cutting of social differences.
Answer : In Northern Ireland, people are predominantly Christian but divided between Catholic and Protestants. Class and religion overlap with each other thus, creating a possibility of deep social divisions and tensions. If one is Catholic, he/she is also more likely to be poor, and may have suffered a history of discrimination. The result is that Catholics and Protestants have conflicts in Northern Ireland. 

Question : Explain the two basis of social differences with examples.
Answer : Different forms of social differences :
(i) Social differences are based on accident of birth, e.g., people around us are male and female, they are tall and short, have different kind of complexions, or have different physical abilities or disabilities.
(ii) Some differences are based on choices, e.g. some people are atheists. Some people choose to follow a religion other than the one in which they were born. 

Question : Why do some people think that it's not correct to politicize social divisions? Give three reasons.
Answer : People think that is not correct to politicize social divisions because :
(i) it can make social divisions into political divisions and lead to conflict, violence or even disintegration of a country.
(ii) In Northern Ireland, there has been a violent and bitter ethno-political conflict for many years.
(iii) It caused disintegration of Yugoslavia into six independent countries. 

Question : "In a democracy, every expression of social divisions in politics is not disastrous. "Establish the truth of the statement with the help of an example.
Answer : (i) Every expression of social division in politics does not lead to disasters because wherever social divisions exist, they are reflected in politics and get huge support.
(ii) In many countries, there are parties that focus on one community e.g., AIADMK and BSP in India.

Question : "Social divisions exist in most of the countries." Explain.
Answer : Social division of one kind or the other exists in most of the countries.
(i) Social divisions exist whether the country is big or small. India is a vast country with many communities. Belgium is a small country with many communities too.
(ii) Countries, such as Germany and Sweden, that were once highly homogeneous are undergoing rapid change with influx of people from other parts of the world.
(iii) Migrants bring with them their own culture and tend to form a different social community. In this sense, most countries of the world are multicultural and have social division.

Question : How far do the emergence of social difference lead to social division? Explain by giving a suitable example.
Answer :  (i) If social differences cross-cut one another, it is difficult to avoid clashes between the groups holding different views.
(ii) It means that groups that share a common interest on one issue are likely to be in different sides of a different issue.
(iii) For example, in Northern Ireland class and religion tend to cut across each other leading to social tensions.

Question : Explain with example the role of political leaders to determine the outcome of politics of social division.
Answer :  It depends on how political leaders raise the demands of any community. For example :
(i) it is easier to accommodate demands that are within the constitutional framework and are not at the cost of another community.
(ii) The demand for 'only Sinhala' was at the cost of the interest and identity of the Tamil community in Sri Lanka.
(iii) In Yugoslavia, the leaders of different ethnic communities presented their demands in such a way that these could not be accommodated within a single country. 

Question : Distinguish between Civil Rights Movements (1954-1968) and the Black Power Movement (1966-1975) in the USA.
Answer :  Civil Rights Movement (1954-1968) : Refers to a set of events and reform movements aimed at legally abolishing racial discrimination against African-Americans. Led by Martin Luther King Junior, this movement practised non-violent methods. The Black Power Movement (1966 - 1975) : This movement was a more militant anti-racist movement, advocating even violence, if necessary, to end racism in the U.S.

Question : "Social division takes place when some social differences overlap with other differences." Justify the statement.
Answer : (i) The difference between the Blacks and Whites becomes a social division in the US because the Blacks tend to be poor, homeless and discriminated against.
(ii) In our country Dalits tend to be poor and landless. They often face discrimination and injustice.
(iii) One kind of social difference becomes more important when other people start feeling that they belong to different communities.

Long Questions for Class 10 Social Science Democracy and Diversity

Question : How do social divisions affect politics? Give two examples.
Answer : Social divisions affect politics in both negative and positive ways :
Negative ways :
(i) In Northern Ireland, there has been a violent and bitter ethno-political conflict for many years. Northern Ireland population was divided into Protestant (53%) and Roman Catholic (44%). The Catholics were represented by Nationalist parties who wanted to be unified with the Republic of Ireland. In contrast, Protestants were represented by Unionists who wanted to remain with the U.K. Hundreds of civilians, militants and security forces were killed in the fight between Unionists and Nationalist.
(ii) Disintegration of Yugoslavia into six independent countries happened due to ethnic and religious differences. 
Positive ways : 
(i) Every expression of social division in politics does not lead to disasters because wherever social divisions exist, they are reflected in politics. In e.g. AIADMK and BSP in India. 

Question : Politics and social divisions must not be allowed to mix. Substantiate this statement, with five arguments.
Answer :  (i) Democracy involves competition among various political parties. Their competition tends to divide any society. If they start competing in terms of some existing social divisions, it can change social division into political division and lead to conflict, violence or even disintegration of a country.
(ii) Hundreds of civilians, militants and security forces were killed in the fight between Unionists and Nationalists and between the security forces of the UK in Ireland.
(iii) Political competition along religious and ethnic lines led to the disintegration of Yugoslavia into six independent countries.
(iv) In a democracy, it is only natural that political parties would talk about the social divisions, make different promises to different communities, look after due representation of various communities, but often it takes a negative turn. (v) Social divisions affect voting in most countries. People from one community tend to prefer some party to others. In many countries, there are parties that focus only on one community, which does not serve the greater cause.

Question : Explain the three factors that are essential in deciding the outcome of politics of local decisions. 
Answer : (i) People’s perception : This is the most important factor which decides the outcome of politics of social divisions. If people see their identities in singular and exclusive terms, it will lead to social divisions and violence. As long as, people in Ireland saw themselves as only Catholic or Protestant, their difference prevailed leading to conflicts. It is better when the people see their identities as made of multiple factors that are in sync with the national identity. Such as a majority of Belgians now feel that they are as much Belgian nationalist as they are Dutch or German speaking. This feeling binds them together. Though India is a multi-cultural country, but the feeling of nationalism binds us together. 
(ii) Raising of demands by political leaders : The outcome of politics of social division also 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. The Sinhalese leaders of Sri Lanka wanted to fulfil their demand at the cost of other communities, and this led to the civil war. In Yugoslavia, the leaders of different ethnic communities presented their demands in such a way that these could not be accommodated within a single country. 
(iii) Reaction of Government : The outcome also depends on how the government reacts to the 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 suppress such a demand with force and in the name of national unity, this can lead to civil war or division of country, and that is what happened in Sri Lanka.