1

CBSE Class 10 Social Science

Revision Notes
Political Science CHAPTER –3
Democracy and Diversity

1. We saw how power can be distributed to accommodate linguistic and regional diversities.
2. People also identify them on the basis of their physical appearance, class, religion, gender, caste,
tribes, etc.
3. In this chapter, we will study how democracy responds to socials difference, divisions, and
inequalities.
4. We then turn to how democratic politics affects and is affected by these social diversities.

A Story from Mexico Olympics

1. The story depicts an important landmark in the history of the CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT IN THE
UNITED STATES.
2. The two men standing with clenched fists upraised and head bowed are the US athletes, Tommie
Smith and John Carlos.
3. The International Olympics Association held Carlos and Smith guilty of violating the Olympic spirit
by making a political statement.
4. Their medals were taken back.
5. Back home, they were subjected to a lot of criticism even Norman had also suffered a lot, he was
not included in the next Olympics.
6. But their action gained attention for the Civil Rights Movements in the US.
 Racial Discrimination
 It refers to the ideology that discriminates people on the basis of their skin colour. The
‘whites’ consider themselves superior than the ‘blacks’.
 Mexico Olympics: In the Olympics held at Mexico City (1968), US athletes Tommy Smith
and John Carlos received their medals wearing black socks and no shoes that signified Black
poverty. This was the first incident opposing racial discrimination and proved to be an
important landmark in the history of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States.

Differences, similarities, divisions

1. The athletes above were responding to social divisions and social inequalities
2. Social diversity can take different forms in different societies.

Origins of social differences

1. These social differences are mostly based on an accident of birth.
2. We don’t choose to belong to our community.
3. But all kinds of social differences are not based on our birth.
4. Some of the differences are based on our choices.
5. For example, some people are atheists. They don’t believe in God or any religion.
6. Every social difference does not lead to social divisions.
7. In the instances above, Carlos and Smith were similar in one way and thus different from Norman
who was white.
8. But they were also all similar in another way – they were all athletes who stood against racial
discrimination.
9. We all have more than one identity and can belong to more than one social group.
10. We have different identities in different contexts.
Overlapping and cross – cutting differences
1. Social division takes place when some social differences overlap with other differences.
2. In the US because the blacks tend to be the poor, homeless and discriminated against.
3. In our country, Dalits tend to be poor and landless.
4. They often face discrimination and injustice.
5. The group that shares a common interest on one issue are likely to be in different issues.
6. Overlapping social differences create possibilities of deep social divisions and tensions.
7. Cross – cutting social differences are easier to accommodate.
8. Cross-cutting social differences are easier to accommodate as each person is a part of
more than one social group and does not strongly identify with the members of only one
group.
 Politics of Social Divisions
2

1. Competition among various political parties on the basis of some existing social division can
transform these social divisions into political divisions and would further lead to conflicts,
violence or even disintegration of the nation.
2. At first sight, it would appear that the combination of politics and social divisions is very dangerous
and explosive.
3. Political parties can make social divisions into political divisions and lead to conflict, violence or
even disintegration of a country.
4. This has happened in many countries.
Range of outcome

1. Northern Ireland of the United Kingdom has been for many years the site of a violent and bitter
ethnic – political conflicts. In Northern Ireland, hundreds of civilians, militants and security forces were
killed in the fight between Unionists (represented the Protestants) and Nationalists (represented the
Catholics) and between the security forces of the UK and the Nationalists
2. Such example leads some people to conclude that politics and social divisions must not be allowed
to mix.
3. But if social divisions do exist in a country, they must never be expressed in politics.
4. At the same time every expression of social divisions in politics does not lead to such disasters.
5. In a democracy, it is only natural that political parties would talk about these divisions, make
different promises to different communities.
6. Social divisions affect voting in most countries.
7. In many countries, there are parties that focus only on one community.
8. Political competition along religious and ethnic lines resulted in the disintegration of Yugoslavia into
six independent countries.
9. Social divisions affect voting in most of the countries. People from one community tend to
prefer some party more than the others.
10. However, social division does not lead to disintegration of the country if it is respected and
dealt with properly
Three determinants
1. Three factors are crucial in deciding the outcome of politics of social divisions.
a. First of all, outcome depends on how people perceive their identities. If people see that their
identities are multiple and are complementary with the national identity, then it becomes easy to
accommodate.

b. Second, it depends on how political leaders raise the demands of any community. Demands that
are within the constitutional framework and are not at the cost of another
community become easier to accommodate.

c. Third, it depends on the how the government reacts to demands of different groups.
2. Thus the assertion of social diversities in a country need not be seen as a source of danger.
3. Expression of various kinds of social divisions in politics often results in their canceling one another
out and thus reducing their intensity.
4. People who feel marginalised, deprived and discriminated have to fight against the injustices.
5. Sometimes social differences can take the form of unacceptable level of social inequality and
injustice.
6.Political expression of social division in a country allows various marginal social groups to
express their grievances and get the government to attend to these. Hence, social diversity
is normal and healthy for a democracy
7. History shows that democracy is the best way to fight for recognition and also to accommodate
diversity.
strongly connected to one group and alienated towards the other.

Q.1. ‘Most of the social differences are based on accident of birth.’ Explain.
Ans. The social differences are mostly based on accident of birth. Normally, we
don’t choose to belong to our community. We belong to it simply because we were
born to it. We all experience social differences based on accident of birth in our
everyday lives. People around us are male or female, they are tall and short, have
different kinds of complexions, or have different physical abilities or disabilities.
3

Q.2. What is a homogenous society? Give two examples.

Ans. A society that has similar kinds of people, especially where there are no
significant ethnic differences. For example, Germany and Sweden.
Q.3. Mention one impact of migration.
Ans. The process of migration is converting the homogeneous countries into
heterogeneous countries because migrants bring with them their own culture, and
tend to form a different social community.
Q. 4 How are the social divisions reflected in politics? Explain.
Ans.
1. Political parties talk about social divisions, make different promises to different
communities, look after due representation of various communities, and make
policies to redress the grievances of the disadvantaged communities.
2. Social divisions affect voting in most countries. People from one community
tend to prefer a party more than others. In many countries, there are parties that
focus only on one community
Q. 5. Name the two athletes who raised the issue of Civil Rights in the
Mexico Olympics. What methods were used by them?
Ans. Tommie Smith and John Carlos
1. They received their medals without shoes, but with socks to represent Black
poverty.
2. Smith wore a black scarf around his neck to represent Black pride.
3. Carlos wore a string of beads to commemorate Black People, who had been
killed.
Q. 6. ‘Overlapping social differences create possibilities of deep social
divisions and tensions.’ Explain.
Ans.
1. When one social difference overlaps another difference, it is known as
overlapping social difference.
2. Overlapping social differences between Blacks and Whites became a social
division in the United States. Overlapping social difference became the main
factor for the Black Power Militant Movement.
3. Even in India, Dalits face discrimination and injustice. These kinds of situations
produce social divisions which are harmful for democracy and weaken the basic
foundation of democracy.
Q. 7. Explain the overlapping and cross-cutting differences.
Ans. Overlapping differences
1. These social divisions take place when some social differences overlaps with
many other differences.
2. The difference between the Blacks and Whites becomes a social division in the
United States because historically most of the Blacks are poor, homeless and
discriminated.
3. In India, the Dalits tend to be poor and landless. They often face discrimination
and injustice.
4. These kinds of situation produce social divisions which are harmful for
democracy, and weaken the basic foundation of democracy.
5. When one kind of social difference become more important than any other, and
people start feeling that, they belong to different communities then this can lead to
the disintegration of the country.
Cross-cutting differences
1. Under cross cutting differences, people share common interest on one issue
but are likely to be on different side on another issue.
2. Cross-cutting social differences are easier to accommodate.
3. Netherland and Northern Ireland are Christian countries divided into Catholics
and Protestants.
4. In Netherland class and religion tend to cut across each other. This means
Catholics and the Protestants are about equally likely to be poor or rich.
Q. 8. What are the bases of social differences?
Ans. Social Differences are based on two main factors:
1. On the basis of accident of Birth
2. On the basis of our choices.
4

Differences on the basis of Birth

1. Normally we don’t choose to belong to our community. We belong to it simply
because we are born into it.
2. People around us, have different physical abilities or disabilities.
Differences on the basis of choices
1. Some people are atheists. They don’t believe in god or any religion.
2. Some people choose to follow a religion other than the one in which they are
born.
3. Most of us choose what to study, which occupation to take up and which games
or cultural activities to take part in.
Q. 9 How do social divisions affect politics?
Ans. Negative Impact
1. It would appear that the combination of politics and social divisions is very
dangerous and explosive.
2. Democracy involves competition among various political units/parties. Their
competition tends to divide the society.
3. If they start competing in terms of some existing social divisions it can make
social division into political divisions and lead to conflict, violence or even
disintegration of a country.
Positive Impact
1. At the same time every expression of social divisions in politics does not lead to such disasters
because wherever social divisions exist, they are reflected in
politics.
2. In democracy political parties would talk about these divisions, they make
different promises to different communities, look after due representation of
various communities.
3. Social divisions also affect voting in most countries. People from one
community tend to prefer some party more than others.
Q. 10. What are the three determinants to accommodate social divisions in
politics?
Ans .
1. Role of Identity:- Outcome depends on how people perceive their identities. If
people see their identities in singular and exclusive terms, it becomes very difficult
to accommodate.
2. Role of community and culture:- The outcome 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.
3. The role of political party and government:- In another way political outcome
of social divisions depends on how the government reacts to demands of different
groups. This is very much observed in Belgium and Sri Lanka. If the rulers are
willing to share power and accommodate the reasonable demands of minority
community, social divisions becomes less threatening for the country.