CBSE Class 10 Democratic Politics Democracy And Diversity Worksheet Set B

CASE STUDIES OF MEXICO OLYMPICS

• The Civil Rights Movement in the USA (1954- 1968) refers to a set of events and reform movements aimed at abolishing legal racial discrimination against African-Americans. Led by Martin Luther King Jr., this movement practiced non-violent methods of civil disobedience against racially discriminatory laws and practices.
• African-American, The Black Power movement emerged in 1966 and lasted till 1975, which was a more militant anti-racist movement, advocating even violence if necessary, to end racism in the US.
• An important landmark in the history of the Civil Rights Movement occurred at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. In the the medal ceremony of the 200 meters race the two men standing with clenched fists upraised and heads bowed, while the American national anthem was played, they were the US athletes, Tommie Smith and John Carlos.
• They had won the gold and bronze medals respectively. They received their medals wearing black socks and no shoes to represent Black poverty. With this gesture, they tried to draw international attention to racial discrimination in the USA.
• The black-gloved and raised clenched fists were meant to symbolize “Black Power”. The silver medalist, white Australian athlete, Peter Norman, wore a human rights badge on his shirt during the ceremony to show his support to the two Americans.
• The International Olympic Association held Carlos and Smith guilty of violating the Olympic spirit by making a political statement. Their medals were taken back. In the United States they were subjected to a lot of criticism. Norman too suffered for his action and was not included in the Australian team for the next Olympic.
• But their action succeeded in gaining international attention for the Civil Rights Movement in the US. Recently, the San Jose State University, of which they were former students, honored them and installed their statue in the University campus. When Peter Norman died in 2006, Smith and Carlos were pallbearers at his funeral.

DIFFERENCES, SIMILARITIES AND DIVISIONS

• Social differences are mostly based on the event of birth and the community one belongs to. In most cases, we belong to a community because we were born into it. We all experience social differences based on our birth. People around us are male or female, they are tall and short, have different kinds of complexions, or have different physical abilities or disabilities.
• However, some of the differences are based on our choices. For example, some people are atheists. Some people choose to follow a religion other than the one in which they were born. Most of us choose what to study, which occupation to take up and which games or cultural activities to take part in. All these lead to formation of social groups that are based on our choices
• Every social difference does not lead to social division. Social differences divide similar people from one another, but they also unite very different people. People belonging to different social groups share differences and similarities, cutting across the boundaries of their groups.
• If social differences cut across one another, the effects of the differences reduce considerably. Let us take the cases of Northern Ireland and the Netherlands.
• Both are predominantly Christian but divided between Catholics and Protestants.
• In Northern Ireland, class and religion overlap with each other.The Catholics are generally poor. They also have a history of discrimination.
• In the Netherlands, class and religion tend to cut across each other. Catholics and Protestants are about equally likely to be poor or rich.
• The result is that Catholics and Protestants have had conflicts in Northern Ireland, while they do not do so in the Netherlands
• The presence of different socio-economic groups, different religious groups, different linguistic groups, different cultural groups and different caste groups can be termed as diversity in society.
• India is a perfect example of diverse nation. In India, people of almost all major religions of this world can be found. There are thousands of languages, varieties of food habits, all hues of costumes and myriad varieties of cultures and subcultures in India.
• Diversity as perfect stimulus to politics: As per Darwin's theory of evolution, the theory of survival of fittest applies. Human beings need to prosper economically; in their endeavor to survive. The economic prosperity ultimately leads to social upgradation. History is full of examples of economically stronger social groups dominating comparatively weaker sections. This was done to ensure uninterrupted control over resources and power.

Civil Rights Movement in the USA (1954-1968) refers to a set of events and reform movements aimed at abolishing legal racial discrimination against African-Americans. Led by Martin Luther King Jr., this movement practiced nonviolent methods of civil disobedience against racially discriminatory laws and practices. African-American, Afro-American, Black American, or Black are the terms used to refer mainly to the descendants of Africans who were brought into America as slaves between the 17th century and early 19th century.
The Black Power Movement emerged in 1966 and lasted till 1975, which was a more militant anti-racist movement, advocating even violence if necessary to end racism in the US.

POLITICS OF SOCIAL DIVISIONS

At first sight, it appears that the combination of politics and social divisions is very dangerous and explosive, as has been the experience in many countries. In democracy, there is competition among various political parties. The competition tends to divide the society. If they start competing in terms of some existing social divisions, it can change social divisions into political divisions and lead to serious conflict.

However, we must know that diversity exists in every society in every country and it does not lead to large conflicts. In fact, political expression of social diversities in a country is normal and can be healthy.
Thus, the assertion of social diversities in a country need not be seen as a source of danger. This allows various disadvantaged and marginal social groups to express their grievances and get the government to attend to it. Political expression of social diversity depends on three factors, which are as follows:

(a) How people perceive their identities. If people see their identity in singular or exclusive term, it becomes difficult to accommodate social diversity. A majority of Belgians now feel that they are as much Belgian as they are Dutch or German-speaking. This helps them to stay together. This is how most people in our country see their identity: they think of themselves as Indian as well as belonging to a state or a language group.
(b) 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. In Sri Lanka, the demand for ‘only Sinhala’ was at the cost of the interest and identity of the Tamil community.
(c) How the government reacts to the demands of a community. If the government accommodates the demands of a particular community in a justified way, it makes the politics much better. As seen in the case of Belgium and Sri Lanka, if the rulers are willing to share power and accommodate the reasonable demands of minority community, social divisions become less hazardous for the country. However, when the demands are suppressed, the end result is very bad.

Important Words and Terms

• Homogenous Society : A society that has similar kinds of people, particularly when there are no significant ethnic differences.
• Migrant : Anyone who shifts from one region or country to another region within a country or to another country for work or other opportunity.

SUMMARY:

We begin our chapter with an example of public expression of social divisions (Racial discrimination practiced in US). We then draw some general lessons about how social differences can take various forms and how democratic politics affects and is affected by these social diversities. In this chapter we also analyse how social differences occur and leads to political divisions.

Note: Answer the questions 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21 & 22 in your class work book.

1 Point out why the Mexico Olympics of 1968 was depicted as a landmark in the history of the Civil Rights Movements in the United States of America .Pg 30 & 31 c1&2

The US athletes, Tommie Smith and John Carlos were AFRICAN-AMERICANS. They had won the  gold and bronze medals respectively.

They received their medals wearing black socks and did not wear shoes, this was done to represent Black poverty. With this gesture, they tried to draw international attention to racial discrimination in the United States.
The black-gloved and raised clenched fists were meant to symbolize BLACK POWER. The silver medalist, white Australian athlete, Peter Norman, wore a human rights badge on his shirt during the ceremony to show his support to the two Americans

2 What are the origins of social difference? Pg32 C1

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 into it. We all experience social differences based on accident of birth in our everyday lives. Peopl e around us are male or female, they are tall and short, have different kinds of complexions, or have different physical abilities or disabilities.
But all kinds of social differences are not based on accident of birth. Some of the differences are based on our choices. For example, some people are atheists. They don’t believe in God or any religion. Some people choose to follow a religion other than the one in which they were born

3 When does a social difference become a social division? Pg33 c1

Social division takes place when some social difference overlaps with other differences. Situations of racial discrimination and economic inequality produce social divisions; at the same time when one kind of social difference becomes more important than the othe r, people start feeling that they belong to different communities. If social differences cross cut one another, it is difficult to pit one group of people against the other. It means that groups that share a common interest on one issue are likely to be in different sides on a different issue.
Overlapping social differences create possibilities of deep social divisions and tensions. Cross - cutting social differences are easier to accommodate.
(Eg: Catholics and Protestant rich and poor of Northern Ireland and Netherlands)

4 “Every social difference does not lead to social division”. Explain with suitable example. Pg 32,C2

Every social difference does not lead to social division. Social differences divide similar people from one another, but they also unite very different people. People belonging to different social groups share differences and similarities cutting across the boundaries of their groups Example: Carlos and Smith were similar in one way (both were African-American) and thus

different from Norman who was white. But they were also all similar in other ways – they were all athletes who stood against racial discrimination

5 How does social division affect politics? Give 2 examples. Pg34-36

At first sight, it would appear that the combination of politics and social divisions is very dangerous and explosive. 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 make social divisions into political divisions and lead to conflict, violence or even disintegration of a country. This has happened in many countries.
Example: Unionist and Nationalist Parties in Ireland, Yugoslavia was divided into six independent states. (Note: Please add the example for full answer text)

6 Discuss three factors that determine the outcomes of politics of social differences. Pg36 C2- pg37 C1

First of all the outcome depends on how people perceive their identities. If people see their identities in singular and exclusive terms, it becomes very difficult to accommodate. It is much easier if the people see that their identities are multiple and are complementary with the national identity. A majority of Belgians now feel that they are as much Belgian as they are Dutch or German-speaking.
Second, it 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. 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. Third, it depends on the how the government reacts to demands of different groups. Examples of Belgium and Sri Lanka, 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 in the name of national unity, the end result is often quite the opposite. Such attempts at forced integration often sow the seeds of disintegration.

7 Define the term ‘Homogeneous Society’. (C.B.S.E question –March 2008) 

8 What is the basis of social division in India?(C.B.S.E question- March 2008)

9 Discuss what was Civil Rights Movement in USA? (C.B.S.E question- March 2008) 

10 With two examples discuss how social divisions affect politics? (C.B.S.E question- March 2008) 

11 Name the Australian athlete who supported Tommie Smith and John Carlos in the 1968

Olympics. (C.B.S.E question- Compartment, July 2009)

12 Mention one similarity and one dissimilarity between John Carlos and Peter Norman.

(C.B.S.E question-March 2009)

13 How do we have different identities in different contexts? Explain with suitable examples.

Ans:

It is common for people belonging to the same religion to feel that they do not belong to the same community, because their caste or sect is very different. It is also possible for people from different religions to have the same caste and feel close to each other.
Rich and poor persons from the same family often do not keep close relations with each other for they feel they are very different. Thus, we all have more than one identity and can belong to more than one social group. We have different identities in different contexts. (C.B.S.E question-March 2010)

14 When do social divisions take place in the society? Explain with suitable example.

(C.B.S.E question-March 2010)Answer – refer to Answer Three of the work sheet

15 Explain with examples the three factors that determine the outcome of politics of social divisions.

(C.B.S.E question-March 2010) Answer – refer to Answer Six of the work sheet.

16 “Politics and social divisions must not be allowed to mix”. Support your answer with three arguments. (CCE question-First Summative Assessment –September,2010)

17 Social Divisions do affect politics. Give example of two such countries where social divisions led to disintegration of a nation. (CCE question-First Summative Assessment –September,2010)

18 Describe any three factors that determine the outcome of politics of social divisions. (CCE question-First Summative Assessment –September,2011)

19 What did the African-American athletes in Mexico Olympic do in order to draw international attention to racial discrimination in the United State? (CCE Question- September-2011)

20 Despite being a nation with numerous social divisions, Netherlands has not faced a crisis or a conflict. Analyse the reason. 

Show how social divisions are reflected in politics.  (CCE questions-First Summative Assessment –September,2012)

21 What penalty was imposed on “Carlos Smith and Norman” for thei r action at the 1968 Mexico Olympics. (CCE questions-First Summative Assessment –September,2013)

22 Why is it so that religious differences created social division in Northern Ireland and failed to do the same in Netherlands? Explain. (CCE questions-First Summative Assessment –September,2014)

23 Explain overlapping and cross cutting social differences with three examples. (CCE questions-First Summative Assessment –September,2015)

24 How do social divisions affect politics? Explain with examples. (CCE questions-First Summative Assessment –September,2015)

25 “Social differences divide similar people from one another, but they also unite very different people”. Justify the statement with suitable arguments. (CCE questions-First Summative Assessment –September,2016)

Please click on below link to download CBSE Class 10 Democratic Politics Democracy And Diversity Worksheet Set B