SUPPORT STUDY MATERIAL

                              CHAPTER-3(DEMOCRACY AND DIVERSITY)

A  Story of Mexico Olympics

Civil Right movement (1954-1968) It refers to set of events and reform movements aimed at abolishing legal racial discrimination against African-Americans Led by Martin Luther kings Jr. (African-Americans : Afro-American , Black American and Black are the terms used to refers mainly to the descendant of African who were brought into America as slaves between 17^th and 19^th century)

The black power emerged in 1966 and 1975 which was more militant anti-racist movement advocating violence if necessary to end racism in the US

The picture depicts important landmark of civil right movement in the US These represent the medal ceremony of the 200 m  race in the 1968 olympics held at Mexico city .The two men standing with clenched fists upraised and heads bowed ,while the American national enthem was played ,are the US athletes, Tommie Smith and john carlos .They are African –American they won gold and bronze medals they received their medals wearing black socks and no shoes to represent black poverty with this gesture they try to draws the international attention against racial discrimination in US .The black gloved and raised clenched fists were meant to symbolise black power.The silver medalists white Austrian athelet ,petere norman wore a human rights badge on his shirt during this ceremony to show his support to the two Americans

Types of Social differences :

1.Social differences based on birth: Everyone experiences social differences based on accident of birth in every day life . For a newborn child, parents are his destiny ;the caste that he belongs to comes to him with his birth ;the language group ,the gender ,the religion , the social relationships all come with birth . Nobody can exercise any choice in these matters . All these result in social differences that an individual has to live with lifelong.

2.Social differences based on choice : However ,there are social differences based on our choice . Some people are atheists They don’t believe in  god or any religion. Some people chose other religion than the one in which they were born. Sportsman ,Artists ,occupation ,what to study bureaucrats and so on . All those who form these social groups belongs to it by choice.

•      Does social difference leads to social division:

Every social difference does not lead to social division

Social difference divide the people from one another but they also unite very different people In the above example Carlos and Smith were African-American  and thus different from Norman but they were also similar as they were athletes .There are two types :

1.    Overlapping social difference : Overlapping social difference arise when one kind of social difference becomes more important than the other and people start feeling that they belong to different communities

Overlapping social difference create possibility of deep social division and tensions.

For example : Dalits in india and Blacks and white in the USA

2. Cross-cutting social difference: All individual have different identities and therefore a different social role , As a women ,a mothers identity and attitude towards her child would be different from a teacher’s identity  with and attitude towards her students in the class .

Because of the different identities , a person may be identified with a  social group for a particular cause only; for all other ,causes he may belong to diametrically opposite social groups (are likely to be different side on a different issues )

Cross –cutting difference are easier to accommodate

How social division affects politics

The first view point is that combination of social division and politics is very dangerous and explosive

Politics expression of social division allows various disadvantages and marginal social groups to express their grievances and get the government to attend to these

Politics is all about competitive populism . Every political party tries to mobilize more and more support. It plays upon the social division and support the affected social group to launch movements in their case

For example : Northern Ireland in the united kingdom has been for many years the site of violent and bitter ethno-political conflicts .hundred of civilian ,militants and security forces were killed in the conflicts in 1998 it was amicably solved

In Yugoslavia , political competition along religious and ethnic lines led to the disintegration of Yugoslavia into six independent countries

The second view point is that the social difference and diversities can be re solved amicably to produce a  vibrant strong democracy

Example : Indian democracy

Factors that determine the Outcomes of politics of social division

The outcome will depend upon the following three factors

1.    People perception of their identities : If people see their identities in singular and exclusive terms ,it become difficult to accommodate them But if the people see their identity in multiple terms or  social group as a part of a large society , it helps them to stay together.

2.    Perception of the political leaders: It is easier to accommodate demands that are within the constitutional frame work and are not at the cost of another community

3.    Reaction of the government : If the rulers are willing to share power and accommodate the reasonable demands of minority community , social division become less threatening to the country . But if they try to suppress such a demand in the name of national unity , the end result is disintegration of the country