Democracy and Diversity

DemocracyandDiversity
Civil Rights Movement
It refers to a set of eventsand reform movementsaimed at abolishing legalracial
discriminationagainst African-Americans. It was led by Martin LutherKing Jr., this
movementpracticed non-violentmethods of civildisobedience againstracially discriminatorylaws
and practices.
The Black Power
It was an anti-racist movement advocating violence to end racism in the USA
Social Differences
Social differences are social identities based on caste, religion, race, ethnicity, economic status,
etc. Every country has social differences and social differences do not lead to any danger.
Social divisions
Social divisions are conflicts based on social inequalitiessuch as caste, religion, race, ethnicity,
economic status, etc. This may lead to disaster and disintegration of a country.
Origins of social differences
1. These social differences are mostlybased on accident of birth.
2. Some ofthe social differences are based on ourchoices.
Every social difference does notlead to social division. Socialdifferences divide similar
people fromone another, but they also unite verydifferent people.
1. People belonging todifferent social groups sharedifferences and similarities cuttingacross the
boundaries of their groups.
2. In the instance above, Carlos and Smith were similar in one way and different from Norman. But
they were also all similar inother ways they were all athletes whostood against racial
discrimination.
3. It is also possible forpeople from different religions to havethe same caste and feel close to
eachother.
Explain Overlapping and cross-cuttingdifferences with Examples
1. Social division takes place when somesocial difference overlaps with otherdifferences.
2. If social differences cross cut oneanother, it is difficult to pit one groupof people against the
other.

3. InNorthern Ireland, class and religionoverlap with each other. If you areCatholic, you are
minority and also more likely to bepoor, and you may have suffered ahistory of discrimination.
4. In theNetherlands, class and religion tend tocut across each other. If you areCatholic, you are
minority but more likely to be rich, and you may not have suffered ahistory of discrimination.
5. The result is thatCatholics and Protestants have hadconflicts in Northern Ireland, whilethey do
not do so in the Netherlands.
Homogeneous society:
A society that has similarkinds of people without caste, religion, race,
economicethnicdifferences.
Heterogeneous Society
A society which has different kinds of people such as many caste, religion, race, ethnicity,
economic status
How do these social divisions affectpolitics? OR What does politics do to thesesocial
divisions? OR How is combination of politicsand social divisions very dangerousand
explosive?OR Why do politics and social divisions must not be allowed to mix?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Northern Ireland region ofthe United Kingdom has been for manyyears the site of a violent and
bitterethno-political conflict. Its populationis divided into 53 % Protestants and 44% Roman
Catholics.
The Catholics wererepresented by Nationalist parties whodemanded that Northern Ireland
beunified with the Republic of Ireland. Protestants were represented byUnionists who wanted to
remain with the UK.
Hundreds of civilians,militants and security forces were killedin the fight between Unionists
andNationalists and between the securityforces of the UK and the Nationalists.
Yugoslavia had six ethnic groups and all the six ethnic groups were represented by six different
political parties.
In Yugoslavia, the story did not have ahappy ending. Political competitionalong religious ending
ethnic lines ledto the disintegration of Yugoslaviainto six independent countries.
Expressionof social divisions in politics does notlead to such disasters.

1. In ademocracy it is only natural thatpolitical parties would talk about social divisions.
2. Political Parties make different promises to different communities.
3. Political Parties look after duerepresentation of various communitiesand make policies to redress
thegrievances of the disadvantagedcommunities.
4. Social divisions affectvoting in most countries. People fromone community tend to prefer some
other party.
5. In manycountries there are parties that focusonly on one community. Yet all thisdoes not lead to
disintegration of thecountry.
Three factors that determine outcome of politics of socialdivisions.

1. First outcomedepends on how people perceive theiridentities. If people see their identitiesin
singular and exclusive terms, itbecomes very difficult toaccommodate. If the people see that their
identities are multiple and arecomplementary with the nationalidentity.
2. Second outcomedepends on howpolitical leaders raise the demands ofany community. It is easier
toaccommodate demands that are withinthe constitutional framework and arenot at the cost of
another community.
3. Thirdoutcomedepends on how thegovernment reacts to demands ofdifferent groups. If the rulers
are willing to share powerand accommodate the reasonabledemands of minority
community,social divisions become lessthreatening for the country.