Contents
- 1 Important Terms
- 2 Different forms of Social Differences
- 3 Factors in deciding outcome of politics on social divisions
- 4 The role of political leaders to determine the outcome of politics of Social Divisions
- 5 Social Difference become a Social Division
- 6 Different forms of Social Differences
- 7 The factors which decide the outcomes of the politics of Social Division
- 8 The Black Power Movement
Important Terms
African American : The descendants of Africa who were brought into America as slaves between the 17th century and early 19th century.
Civil Rights Movement : (1954-1968) Refers to a set of events and reform movements aimed at legally abolishing racial discrimination against African-Americans. Led by Martin Luther King Junior, this movement practised non-violent methods.
Democracy is a system of government in which the citizens exercise power directly or elect representatives from among themselves to form a governing body, such as a Parliament.
Homogenous society : A society that has similar kinds of people, especially where there are no significant ethnic differences. For example, Germany and Sweden.
The Black Power Movement : (1966-1975) This Movement emerged in 1966 and lasted till 1975, which was more militant anti-racist movement, advocating even violence if necessary to end racism in the U.S.
The case of Northern Ireland with reference to overlapping of social differences
In Northern Ireland, people are predominantly Christian but divided between Catholic and Protestants. Class and religion overlap with each other. Thus creating a possibility of deep social divisions and tensions. If you are Catholic, you are also more likely to be poor, and you may have suffered a history of discrimination. The result is that Catholics and Protestants have conflicts in Northern Ireland.
A social difference become a social division means
(i) If social differences cross cut one another, it is difficult to avoid clashes between the groups that hold different views.
(ii) It means that groups that share a common interest on one issue are likely to be on different sides of a different issue.
(iii) For example, in Northern Ireland, class and religion tend to cut across each other leading to social tensions.
In 2005, the San Jose State University installed a 20 – foot high sculpture representing the protest by Tommie Smith and John Carlos. Belgium, Sri Lanka and United Kingdom face the problem of social division.
Different forms of Social Differences
(i) Social differences are based on the accident of birth. e.g., people around us are male and female, they are tall and short, have a different kind of complexions, or have different physical abilities or disabilities.
(ii) Some differences are based on choices, e.g., 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.
(i) As social groups view their identities to be exclusive and superior, it becomes difficult to accommodate them.
(ii) It depends upon the type of demands raised by the political leaders on behalf of a community. It is easier to accommodate demands that are within the constitutional framework and are not at the cost of another community.
(iii) Reaction of the government to the demands of different communities determine the outcome. If the rulers are willing to share power and accommodate the reasonable demands of the minority community, social divisions become less threatening for the country.
The role of political leaders to determine the outcome of politics of Social Divisions
(i) It is easier to accommodate demands that are within the constitutional framework and are not at the cost of another community.
(ii) The demand for ‘only Sinhala’ was at the cost of the interest and identity of the Tamil community in Sri Lanka.
(iii) 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.
Social Difference become a Social Division
(i) If social differences cross cut one another, it is difficult to avoid clashes between the groups that hold different views.
(ii) It means that groups that share a common interest on one issue are likely to be on different sides of a different issue.
(iii) For example, in Northern Ireland, class and religion tend to cut across each other leading to social tensions.
The difference between the Blacks and Whites becomes a social division in the US because the Blacks tend to be poor, homeless and discriminated against. In our country, Dalits tend to be poor and landless. They often face discrimination and injustice. One kind of social difference becomes more important when other people start feeling that they belong to different communities.
Different forms of Social Differences
(i) Social differences are based on the accident of birth. e.g., people around us are male and female, they are tall and short, have a different kind of complexions, or have different physical abilities or disabilities.
(ii) Some differences are based on choices, e.g., 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.
The factors which decide the outcomes of the politics of Social Division
(i) As social groups view their identities to be exclusive and superior, it becomes difficult to accommodate them.
(ii) It depends upon the type of demands raised by the political leaders on behalf of a community. It is easier to accommodate demands that are within the constitutional framework and are not at the cost of another community.
(iii) Reaction of the government to the demands of different communities determine the outcome. If the rulers are willing to share power and accommodate the reasonable demands of the minority community, social divisions become less threatening for the country.
The role of political leaders to determine the outcome of politics of social divisions :
(i) It is easier to accommodate demands that are within the constitutional framework and are not at the cost of another community.
(ii) The demand for ‘only Sinhala’ was at the cost of the interest and identity of the Tamil community in Sri Lanka.
(iii) In Yugoslavia, the leaders of different ethnic communities presented their demands in such a way that these could not be accommodated within a single countries.
Political expression of social division in democracy beneficial in the following ways:
(1) This allows variously disadvantaged and marginal social groups to express their grievances and get the government to attend to these.
(ii) They can voice their demand in a peaceful and constitutional manner through elections
(iii) They can fight for their recognition and also to accommodate diversity.
People think that it is not correct to politicise social divisions because :
(i) It can make social divisions into political division and lead to conflict, violence or even disintegration of a country.
(ii) In Northern Ireland, there has been a violent and bitter ethno-political conflict for many years.
(iii) It caused disintegration of Yugoslavia into six independent.
Social division of one kind or the other exists in most of the countries
(i) Social divisions exist whether the country is big or small. India is a vast country with many communities. Belgium is a small country with many communities.
(ii) Countries such as Germany and Sweden that were once highly homogeneous are undergoing rapid change with the influx of people from other parts of the world.
(iii) Migrants bring with them their own culture and tend to form a different social community. In this sense, most countries of the world are multi-cultural and as much have social divisions.
Features of a homogeneous society :
(i) A society has similar kinds of people.
(ii) There are no significant ethnic differences.
(iii) Germany and Sweden have homogenous societies.
We have different identities in different contexts. It can be proved by the following points :
(i) It is fairly common for people belonging to the same religions to feel that they do not belong to the same community because their caste is different.
(ii) It is also possible for people from different religions to have the same caste and feel close to each other.
(iii) Rich and poor persons from the same family often do not keep close relations with each other for they feel they are different.
The consequences of Smith and Carlos reaction to the racial discrimination are :
(i) Carlos and Smith were held guilty for violating the Olympic spirit by making a political statement.
(ii) Medals were taken back.
(iii) Norman was not included in the Australian team.
(iv) Action helped in gaining international attention for the Civil Rights Movement.
The penalty was imposed on ‘Carlos, Smith and Norman’ for their action at the 1968 Mexico Olympics are :
(i) The International Olympics Committee took back the medals of Carlos and Smith.
(ii) There was a severe criticism of Carlos and Smith in the USA.
(iii) Norman was not included in the Australian team for the next Olympics.
Social differences divide similar people from one another but also unite very different people. People belonging to different social groups share differences and similarities cutting across the boundaries of their groups. People belonging to the same religion may feel different. Yet people from different religions may have similar views.
(i) For example, Carlos and Smith were similar in one way because both were African-Americans and thus different from Norman who was white.
(ii) But they were all similar in other way that they were all athletes who stood against racial discrimination.
To draw international attention to racial discrimination in the United States, the African-American athletes performed the following activities :
(i) They received their medals wearing black socks and no shoes to represent Black poverty.
(ii) When American national anthem was played, these two African-American athletes stood with clenched fists upraised and heads bowed.
(iii) The black gloved and raised clenched fists were meant to symbolise Black power.
(iv) Peter wore a human rights badge on his shirt to show his support.
Martin Luther King Junior was the leader of the Civil Rights Movement. This movement was started in 1954 and lasted till 1968. Importance of the Civil Rights Movement :
(i) It was a reform movement with the aim to abolish legal racial discrimination against African-Americans.
(ii) It practised non-violent methods of civil disobedience against racially discriminatory laws and practices.
The Black Power Movement
(i) The Black Power Movement was emerged in the USA between between 1966 and lasted till 1975.
(ii) It was more militant and an anti-racist movement.
(iii) Main aim of this movement was to end racism in the USA.
| Class 10 Civics – Notes & Study Material |
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