What were the policies adopted by Belgium and

What were the policies adopted by Belgium and Srilanka in terms of Power Sharing?

DEMOCRACY AND DIVERSITY Differences, Similarities and divisions

https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v =qck 5 arj. MGBg

A Story from Mexico Olympics 1968 • Two US athletes – Tommie Smith and John Carlos tried to draw international attention to racial discrimination in the United States. • They won the GOLD and Bronze respectively. • The black glove and clenched fists were meant to symbolize BLACK POWER. • The Silver medalists was Peter Norman – Australian athlete who supported them too. • Was their punishment fair? • Was their actions justified? • http: //news. bbc. co. uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/octob er/17/newsid_3535000/3535348. stm

Origins of Social Differences • We experience social differences are mostly based on the accident of birth. • A lot of factors contribute to the 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 people like in the case of Carlos, Norman and Smith. • It is common for people of the same religion to feel that they don’t belong to the same community because their caste or sect is 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

Overlapping Differences • Social division takes place when some social difference overlaps with other differences. • Situations of this kind produce social divisions when one kind of social difference becomes more important than the other and people start to feel that they belong to different communities. Could lead to militant movements. • The difference between the African Americans and Caucasians comes a social division in the US because the former tends to be poor, homeless and discriminated against. • Example -Northern Ireland & Netherlands both are predominantly Christians but divided between Catholics & Protestants. In Northern Ireland the Protestants have stayed richer than the Catholics here class & religion overlap each other, Catholics have been poor & have suffered discrimination. • In India, Dalits tend to be poor and landless.

Crosscutting differences • When social differences cross cut one another, it becomes difficult to pit one group of people against the other. • What this means is that groups share a common interest on one issue are likely to be in different sides on a different issue. • Cross cutting social differences are easier to accommodate • Where as in Netherlands , class & religion tend to crosscut each other and both are equally likely to be rich or poor. Social discrimination in Netherlands is not overlapped by economic issues both the Christian communities have equal number of rich and poor. It means they have conflict in Northern Ireland it is not so in Netherlands.

Distinguish between overlapping and cross cutting Overlapping differences Crosscutting differences • 1. When some social difference overlaps other difference it is called overlapping social difference. • 2. Overlapping differences is the mixture of one or more differences caused by one main difference. Situations of this kind produce social divisions, when one kind of social difference becomes more important than the other and people start feeling that they belong to different communities, racial or linguistic differences may lead to economic differences. • It is not easy to accommodate and even created deep social divisions and tensions. • Examples of overlapping communities are seen in Northern Ireland, Dalits in India, African- Americans in USA. • 1. If social differences cross-cut one another, it is difficult to pit one group of people against other. • 2. It means that a group that share a common interest on one issue are likely to be on different sides on a different issue. In here, it is easy to accommodate and no tensions. • Cross-cut social differences are easier to accommodate. • Example of cross-cutting communities are Netherlands.

Existence of social divisions • Social divisions of one kind or another exist in most country. • India is a large country with many communities. Belgium is a small country with many communities. • Countries like Germany and Sweden were once homogenous but because of migration are becoming increasingly diverse.

POLITICS OF SOCIAL DIVISION

How do social divisions affect politics?

Role of social division on politics • At first sight, The combination of social divisions and politics seems volatile. • Democracy involves competition, which is misused by political parties who try and make social divisions into political divisions and encourage conflict. • In Yugoslavia, ethnic and social differences mixed with political competition have led to the disintegration of Yugoslavia into six independent countries.

Northern Ireland • In Northern Ireland, there has been an ethno-political conflict for many years • The population has been divided into two major sects of Christianity. • The Protestants 53% and the Catholics 44%. • The Catholics were represented by Nationalist parties that demanded Northern Ireland to join the Republic of Ireland-which was predominantly catholic. • The Protestants were represented by the Unionists who wanted to remain with the UK. • Hundereds of people were killed. It was only in 1998 that the UK govt. and the nationalist party reached a peace treaty where the nationalist party surrendered.

THREE DETERMINANTS THAT DECIDE THE OUTCOME OF SOCIAL DIVISION

Factor 1 How people perceive their identities. • If people see their identities in singular and exclusive terms it becomes difficult to accommodate them. • As long as people saw themselves as only catholic or protestant, their differences became difficult to reconcile. • It is important for people to see themselves as having multiple identities.

Factor 2: How leaders raise the demands of any community. • Demands that are within the constitutional framework are easier to accommodate. • The demands should also not be at the cost of another community.

Factor 3: How the government reacts to the demands of different groups • If the rulers are willing to share power and accommodate the reasonable demands of a minority community, social divisions become less threatening. • If they try and suppress the demands in the name of national unity, it results in people feeling alienated and threatened.

Conclusion: • The assertion of social diversities is not a source of danger but rather very healthy. • In a democracy, the disadvantaged people get a right to address their grievances to government, who in turn may solve them. • Expression of social differences leads to one cancelling out the other, which leads to strengthening the democracy. • But people who are marginalized find it difficult to fight against injustices. • The best wat to fight for recognition and accommodation of diversity is to use democracy as a weapon.

Questions - • PRACTICE • What problem was raised by Smith and Carlos of U. S. A? With what gesture did they bring international attention to their problems? • What did the raised hand clenched fist mean? • Why did they receive the medal by wearing only the black socks without shoes? • INTERMEDIATE • Discuss the three determinants which are crucial in deciding the outcomes of politics of social divisions? • Distinguish between overlapping and cross cutting social differences with suitable examples • EXPERT • How are the social divisions reflected in politics? Explain with suitable examples. • “Social divisions of one kind or another exist in most countries. ” Explain the statement with suitable examples.