Social Science
DEMOCRATIC POLITICS-II Textbook in Political Science for Class X
Download all NCERT books PDFs from www.ncert.online 2019-20 ISBN 81-7450-711-6
First Edition March 2007 Chaitra 1928 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED q No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval Reprinted system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, February 2008 Magha 1929 mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior January 2009 Pausa 1930 permission of the publisher. January 2010 Magha 1931 q This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way January 2011 Magha 1932 of trade, be lent, re-sold, hired out or otherwise disposed of January 2012 Magha 1933 without the publisher’s consent, in any form of binding or cover November 2012 Kartika 1934 other than that in which it is published. December 2013 Pausa 1935 q The correct price of this publication is the price printed on this December 2014 Pausa 1936 January 2016 Pausa 1937 January 2017 Magha 1938 December 2017 Pausa 1939 OFFICES OF THE PUBLICATION January 2019 Magha 1940 DIVISION, NCERT PD 400T BS NCERT Campus Sri Aurobindo Marg New Delhi 110 016 Phone : 011-26562708 © National Council of Educational Research and Training, 2007 108, 100 Feet Road Hosdakere Halli Extension Banashankari III Stage Bengaluru 560 085 Phone : 080-26725740
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Download all NCERT books PDFs from www.ncert.online 2019-20 Foreword
The National Curriculum Framework (NCF), 2005, recommends that children’s life at school must be linked to their life outside the school. This principle marks a departure from the legacy of bookish learning which continues to shape our system and causes a gap between the school, home and community. The syllabi and textbooks developed on the basis of NCF signify an attempt to implement this basic idea. They also attempt to discourage rote learning and the maintenance of sharp boundaries between different subject areas. We hope these measures will take us significantly further in the direction of a child-centred system of education outlined in the National Policy on Education (1986). The success of this effort depends on the steps that school principals and teachers will take to encourage children to reflect on their own learning and to pursue imaginative activities and questions. We must recognise that given space, time and freedom, children generate new knowledge by engaging with the information passed on to them by adults. Treating the prescribed textbook as the sole basis of examination is one of the key reasons why other resources and sites of learning are ignored. Inculcating creativity and initiative is possible if we perceive and treat children as participants in learning, not as receivers of a fixed body of knowledge. These aims imply considerable change in school routines and mode of functioning. Flexibility in the daily timetable is as necessary as rigour in implementing the annual calendar so that the required number of teaching days is actually devoted to teaching. The methods used for teaching and evaluation will also determine how effective this textbook proves for making children’s life at school a happy experience, rather than a source of stress or boredom. Syllabus designers have tried to address the problem of curricular burden by restructuring and reorienting knowledge at different stages with greater consideration for child psychology and the time available for teaching. The textbook attempts to enhance this endeavour by giving higher priority and space to opportunities for contemplation and wondering, discussion in small groups, and activities requiring hands-on experience. The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) appreciates the hard work done by the textbook development committee responsible for this book. We wish to thank the Chairperson of the advisory group in Social Sciences, Professor Hari Vasudevan. We also wish to thank the Chief Advisors for this book, Professors Yogendra Yadav and Suhas Palshikar along with Advisor for this book, Professor K. C. Suri for guiding the work of this committee. Several teachers contributed to the development of this textbook; we are grateful to their principals for making this possible. We are indebted to the institutions and organisations which have generously permitted us to draw upon their resources, material and personnel. We are especially grateful to the members of the National Monitoring Committee, appointed by the Department of
Download all NCERT books PDFs from www.ncert.online 2019-20 Secondary and Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development under the Chairmanship of Professor Mrinal Miri and Professor G.P. Deshpande, for their valuable time and contribution. As an organisation committed to systemic reform and continuous improvement in the quality of its products, NCERT welcomes comments and suggestions which will enable us to undertake further revision and refinement.
Director New Delhi National Council of Educational 20 November 2006 Research and Training
iv Download all NCERT books PDFs from www.ncert.online 2019-20 A Letter for You
Dear students, teachers and parents, Political Science textbooks for Class IX and Class X together form an integrated whole. That is why we called them Democratic Politics-I and Democratic Politics-II. This book begins where the Political Science textbook stopped last year in Class IX. Last year the tour of democracy introduced you mainly to some basic ideas, institutions and rules of democracy. This year the focus shifts from the institutions to the process. The book introduces you to how democracy works in practice and what can be expected of it. As a result of this shift, you would read much more directly about politics in this book. Politics is about how thinking human beings determine and change the way they live together. This involves ideas and ideals, cooperation and coordination. This also involves conflict and competition, self and collective interest. Therefore much of democratic politics is about power sharing. This forms the subject matter of the first six chapters in this book. In these chapters, we explore various forms of sharing and shaping of power in a democracy. Chapters One and Two constitute the first unit that presents the idea of power sharing and elaborates it in the context of power sharing between different levels of government. The second unit, comprising chapters three and four, is about power sharing and accommodation among different social groups. The next two chapters make up the third unit. It tells us how different political organisations and movements are important in democratic politics. The seventh and the eighth chapters take up the larger questions with which we began our tour last year. Thus, what democracies have achieved and what is yet to be achieved is discussed in the seventh chapter on outcomes. This leads us, in the last chapter, to the challenges democracy faces in our times and the ways in which we can overcome them. Thus ends the tour of democracy we began last year. As we travel through the different chapters, the meaning of democracy expands. This book is a continuation of the Class IX textbook in another sense as well. Last year the textbook had introduced a different style and form. Since we have had a very positive feedback from many of you regarding these features, we continue the experiment this year as well. This book also interacts with the students with the help of stories, illustrations, puzzles and cartoons. This time we have increased the visual elements and introduced a new feature called ‘Plus Box’. Do read about all the old and new features in the 'How to Use this Book'. Above all, this book does not seek to teach and preach about democracy. It seeks to engage in a conversation with you. You would agree that this is a democratic way of thinking about democracy. We were fortunate this year as well that some of the leading political scientists of the country agreed to join the Textbook Development Committee. We would like to express our deep appreciation of the support we received in preparing this textbook from Professor Krishna Kumar and Professor Hari Vasudevan and the advice received from the National Monitoring Committee. We would like to thank Professor Satish Deshpande for reading specific chapters and giving comments. A group of teachers and educationists comprising Anuradha Sen, Suman Lata, Manish Jain, Radhika Menon,
Download all NCERT books PDFs from www.ncert.online 2019-20 Malini Ghose, Alex M. George and Pankaj Pushkar read the drafts and made valuable suggestions. We would like to make a special mention of the untiring efforts of Alex and Pankaj, the two 'super advisors' of this book, to ensure that what is presented in the book was accurate, interesting and communicative. Parthiv Shah and Shroboni gave the book its attractive look. Irfan Khan once again created new-look Unni and Munni for you. Ahmed Raza of ARK Grafix provided with informative and appealing graphics and maps. We are highly thankful to the Lokniti and Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) for providing a congenial home for the textbook development committee, for sparing space and resources for this enterprise during the last two years. At the end of this academic year, you will be taking the Board examinations. We wish you all the best in your examinations. We wish and hope that the tour of democracy undertaken in these two books will help you overcome two most common reactions: that Political Science is boring and that politics is disgusting. We hope you will continue to take interest in a critical and balanced understanding of democratic politics either by opting for Political Science as a subject or by acting as a responsible citizen in future.
K. C. Suri Yogendra Yadav, Suhas Palshikar Advisor Chief Advisors
vi Download all NCERT books PDFs from www.ncert.online 2019-20 How to use this book
This book retains several features with which you are familiar. These were introduced in your Political Science textbook for Class IX. This book also has some new features that you might wish to know about.
Overview comes at the beginning of every chapter. It tells you about the purpose of the chapter and what is covered in it. Please read the overview before and after reading the chapter.
Section and sub-section headings: Each chapter is divided into sections and sub-sections. A section heading spreads over both columns on the page. This indicates the beginning a major part of the chapter and often covers a topic specified in the syllabus. The sub-section heading in a column indicates one point under the section concerned.
Graphics, Collages, Photographs and Posters occupy more space in this textbook than they did in your textbook for Class IX. You would continue to find a wide range of political Cartoons. These images provide visual relief and some fun. But you should not merely ‘see’ these images and turn the page. You are expected to ‘read’ the meaning of these images. Very often politics is carried out not through words but through images. The captions and questions that often accompany these images help you to read these images.
Munni and Unni are back with you. Like you, they have also grown up a little since you met them in Class IX. They keep popping up and asking questions that you may have wished to ask. Do stop to engage with their questions. And don’t hesitate to ask similar questions to your teachers and parents.
Plus boxes contain supplementary information related to the theme of the chapter. Sometimes the plus box has a story that invites you to reflect on the dilemmas + concerning our social and political life. You are supposed to read and discuss these. But you need not memorise the information and contents of the plus box. Nor is there a ‘correct’ answer to some of the moral questions posed there. These are just meant to help you think hard. Each plus box carries a special + sign.
Download all NCERT books PDFs from www.ncert.online 2019-20 Let us watch television, Let us listen to radio, Let us read newspaper, Let us debate, Let’s find out or Let’s do it give students some activity in or outside the classroom. These activities become more meaningful when the students present their findings to the entire class and have the space for discussion. Where necessary, please feel free to substitute one type of media with another.
Glossary appears at the margin of the page in which an unfamiliar word or expression comes in the text. Such a word is highlighted in the text. Remember, you don’t need to learn the definition by heart. You just need to understand the word.
Let us revise usually comes at the end of every section. The questions invite you to apply the points learnt in that section to a specific situation. Teachers can come up with more such in-text exercises and use these to check the progress that everyone has made.
Exercises come at the end of every chapter. You would notice that we have introduced some new kinds of exercises, particularly in multiple choice format, which require reasoning and application of mind. Once you become familiar with the format, you ercises would enjoy the challenge. Ex Maps are essential not just for understanding geography but also for history and politics. That is why some of the information is presented by way of maps in this book. You are not expected to draw the maps, but understand patterns depicted here.
viii Download all NCERT books PDFs from www.ncert.online 2019-20 Textbook Development Committee
CHAIRPERSON, ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR TEXTBOOKS AT THE SECONDARY LEVEL Hari Vasudevan, Professor, Department History, University of Calcutta, Kolkata
CHIEF ADVISORS Yogendra Yadav, Senior Fellow, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, Delhi Suhas Palshikar, Professor, Department of Politics and Public Administration, University of Pune, Pune
ADVISOR K. C. Suri, Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad Members Sanjyot Apte, Senior Lecturer, Department of Politics, S. P. College, Pune Rajeev Bhargava, Senior Fellow, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, Delhi Peter R. deSouza, Senior Fellow, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, Delhi Alex M. George, Independent Researcher, Eruvatty, District Kannur, Kerala Malini Ghose, Nirantar, Center for Gender and Education, New Delhi Manish Jain, Researcher, University of Delhi, Delhi Suman Lata, Senior Lecturer, Department of Education, Gargi College, University of Delhi, Delhi Pratap Bhanu Mehta, President and Chief Executive, Center for Policy Research, New Delhi Nivedita Menon, Reader, Department of Political Science, Faculty of Arts, University of Delhi, Delhi Radhika Menon, Lecturer, Department of Education, Mata Sunderi College, University of Delhi, Delhi Sanjeeb Mukherjee, Senior Lecturer, Department of Political Science, Calcutta University, Kolkata Priyavadan Patel, Professor, Department of Political Science, M. S. University, Vadodara Malla V. S. V. Prasad, Lecturer, DESSH, NCERT, New Delhi Pankaj Pushkar, Senior Lecturer, Lokniti, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, Delhi Madan Lal Sawhney, PGT (Pol. Sc.), Govt. Sr. Sec. School, Sec. VII, R.K. Puram, New Delhi Anuradha Sen, Principal, The Srijan School, Model Town III, Delhi Meenakshi Tandon, PGT (Pol. Sc.), Sardar Patel Vidyalaya, Lodhi Road, New Delhi Coordinator
Sanjay Dubey, Reader, DESSH, NCERT, New Delhi
Download all NCERT books PDFs from www.ncert.online 2019-20 Acknowledgements
Maps, photographs, posters, graphics and cartoons for this book are drawn from a variety of sources. We gratefully acknowledge the following institutions and persons (with their institutional affiliation) in this regard: Wikipedia for the map on page 2 and for the photographs on pages 4, 5, 30 and 64, which are available under GNU license. ARK Grafix for the maps on pages 3 and 14 and for the graphics on pages 45, 50 and 82. UNFPA for the map on page 43. Flikr for the use of the photograph on page 36, under ‘Creative Commons’. Min Bajracharya for the photographs on pages 58 and 59. The Hindu for the photographs on pages 72 and 75. Anhad/NCDHR for the posters on pages 33 and 54; and Anhad for the two posters on pages 46 and 65. Zuban for generous help in searching several precious posters, including the ones on pages 40, 41 and 76. Oxfam GB for the poster on page 44; Voluntary Health Association of India for the one on page 48; and APDP for the poster on page 65. Oxford University Press and Raza/ARK for the graphics on pages 78, 92 and 98, which are taken from the Report on the State of Democracy in South Asia. Ajit Ninan of Times of India for the cartoons on pages 21, 49 and 53; Keshav of The Hindu for the cartoons on pages 62 and 86; Kutty for the cartoon on page 21; Manjul of DNA for the one on page 85; Surendra of The Hindu for the cartoons on pages 45 and 66; Cagle Cartoons for the cartoons on pages 6, 8, 32, 37, 68, 79, 83, 84, 91, 93-98, 103 and 111; R.K. Laxman of Times of India for the cartoons on pages 73 and 90; and Irfaan Khan for the cartoon on page 110. Irfaan Khan, Yesudasan and R.K. Laxman for the cartoons on the Cover page. Zuban, INSAF (Delhi), SAHMAT, Street Art Workers.com, Oxfam GB, Aalochana (Pune), Chandralekha (Chennai), Nari Nirjatan Pratirodh Manch (West Bangal), Sakhi (Kerala), Institute of Development Communication (Chandigarh), Sahiyar (Gujarat), Sheba Chhachhi for the posters on back cover. We thank Uttam Kumar and Ritu Sharma, both DTP operators at the NCERT, for their sincere efforts in making this book error-free. We also thank Devyani Oniyal and Deepti Sharma of NCERT for copy-editing the book.
REQUEST FOR FEEDBACK How did you like this textbook? What was your experience in reading or using this? What were the difficulties you faced? What changes would you like to see in the next version of this book? Write to us on all these and any other matter related to this textbook. You could be a teacher, a parent, a student or just a general reader. We value any and every feedback. Please write to: Coordinator (Political Science) Department of Education in Social Sciences (DESS) NCERT Sri Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi 110 016.
Download all NCERT books PDFs from www.ncert.online 2019-20 Contents
Foreword iii A Letter for You v How to Use this Book vii
Unit I Chapter 1 Power-sharing 1 Chapter 2 Federalism 13
Unit II Chapter 3 Democracy and Diversity 29 Chapter 4 Gender, Religion and Caste 39
Unit III Chapter 5 Popular Struggles and Movements 57 Chapter 6 Political Parties 71
Unit IV Chapter 7 Outcomes of Democracy 89 Chapter 8 Challenges to Democracy 101
xi Download all NCERT books PDFs from www.ncert.online 2019-20 Download all NCERT books PDFs from www.ncert.online 2019-20 Download all NCERT books PDFs from books www.ncert.online NCERT all Download Pow the designofademocr power amonglegislature,executiveandjudiciaryisveryimportantto rest withanyoneorganofthegovernment.Anintelligentsharing With thi Ov last y gener democracies handledemandsforpower-sharing.Thestoriesyieldsome from BelgiumandSriLanka.Boththesestoriesareabouthow carry thisideaofpower-sharingforward.Westartwithtwostories taken upinthefollowingtwochapters. This allowsustodiscussvariousformsofpower-sharing thatwillbe erview ear al conclu s chapter . Wenotedlasty sion er-s , wer s abouttheneedforpower-s esume thetourofdemocr acy ear thatinademocr . Inthi s andthenexttwochapter 2019-20 haring acy allpowerdoesnot haring indemocr acy thatwestarted s , we acy . Chapter I
1 Power-sharing Belgium and Sri Lanka
Belgium is a small country in Europe, and education much later. This led to smaller in area than the state of tensions between the Dutch-speaking Haryana. It has borders with France, and French-speaking communities the Netherlands, Germany and during the 1950s and 1960s. The Luxembourg. It has a population of a tension between the two communities little over one crore, about half the was more acute in Brussels. Brussels I have a simple population of Haryana. The ETHNIC presented a special problem: the equation in mind. composition of this small country is Dutch-speaking people constituted a Sharing power = very complex. Of the country’s total majority in the country, but a dividing power = population, 59 per cent lives in the minority in the capital. weakening the Flemish region and speaks Dutch Let us compare this to the country. Why do we language. Another 40 per cent people situation in another country. Sri start by talking of live in the Wallonia region and speak Lanka is an island nation, just a few this? French. Remaining one per cent of the kilometres off the southern coast of Belgians speak German. In the capital Tamil Nadu. It has about two crore city Brussels, 80 per cent people speak people, about the same as in Haryana. French while 20 per cent are Dutch- Like other nations in the South Asia speaking. region, Sri Lanka has a diverse The minority French-speaking population. The major social groups community was relatively rich and are the Sinhala-speakers (74 per cent) powerful. This was resented by the and the Tamil-speakers (18 per cent). Dutch-speaking community who got Among Tamils there are two sub- the benefit of economic development groups. Tamil natives of the country Communities and regions of Belgium
Ethnic: A social division based on
shared culture. People © Wikipedia
olitics belonging to the same ethnic group believe in Brussels-Capital Region their common descent because of similarities Walloon (French-speaking)
atic P of physical type or of Flemish (Dutch-speaking) culture or both. They need not always have German-speaking Look at the maps of Belgium and Sri Lanka. In which the same religion or region, do you find concentration of different communities? nationality.
Democr For more details, visit https://www.belgium.be/en
2 Download all NCERT books PDFs from www.ncert.online 2019-20 Download all NCERT books PDFs from books www.ncert.online NCERT all Download adopted aseriesof democratically electedgovernment of theirmajority.Asaresult,the dominance overgovernmentbyvirtue Sinhala communitysoughttosecure country in1948.Theleadersofthe Sri Lankaemergedasanindependent Majoritarianism inSriLanka speaking peopleareBuddhist east ofthecountry.MostSinhala- Tamils areconcentratedinthenorthand As youcanseefromthemap,SriLankan colonial period,arecalled‘IndianTamils’. India asplantationworkersduring The rest,whoseforefatherscamefrom are called‘SriLankanTamils’(13percent). They felt thatthe constitution and sensitive totheir languageandculture. led bytheBuddhist Sinhalaleaderswas that noneofthemajorpolitical parties among theSriLankanTamils. Theyfelt increased thefeelingof alienation coming oneaftertheother, gradually and fosterBuddhism. stipulated thatthestateshallprotect government jobs.Anewconstitution applicants foruniversitypositionsand policies thatfavouredSinhala governments followedpreferential language, thusdisregardingTamil.The recognise Sinhalaastheonlyofficial measures toestablishSinhalasupremacy in situationslikethis.InBelgium,the and Sinhala. Christians, whoarebothTamil Muslims. Thereareabout7percent most oftheTamilsareHindusor All thesegovernmentmeasures, In 1956,anActwaspassedto Just imaginewhatcouldhappen MAJORITARIAN s , while . countries. look atwhathappenedinboththese will ontheentirecountry.Now,letus bigger majorityandcouldimposeits Sinhala communityenjoyedaneven control overBrussels.InSriLanka,the country; boththesideswouldclaim to averymessypartitionofthe communities further.Thiscouldlead would pushtheconflictamong German-speaking population.This force itswillontheFrenchand advantage ofitsnumericmajorityand Dutch interests. Asaresult,therelations opportunities andignoredtheir them ingettingjobsandother political rights,discriminatedagainst government policiesdeniedthemequal For more det 2019-20 community couldtake Ethnic Communities ails, visit http of SriLanka Sri Lankan s://www Indian Sinhalese Muslim T T .gov amil amil .lk minority. wishes andneeds ofthe by disregarding the whichever wayitwants, able toruleacountryin community shouldbe belief thatthemajority Majoritarianism: A
3 Power-sharing between the Sinhala and Tamil The distrust between the two What’s wrong if communities strained over time. the majority communities turned into widespread community The Sri Lankan Tamils launched conflict. It soon turned into a CIVIL WAR. rules? If Sinhalas parties and struggles for the recognition As a result thousands of people of both don’t rule in Sri of Tamil as an official language, for the communities have been killed. Many Lanka, where regional autonomy and equality of families were forced to leave the country else will they opportunity in securing education and as refugees and many more lost their rule? jobs. But their demand for more livelihoods. You have read (Chapter 1 autonomy to provinces populated by of Economics textbook, Class X) about the Tamils was repeatedly denied. By Sri Lanka’s excellent record of economic 1980s several political organisations development, education and health. But were formed demanding an the civil war has caused a terrible setback independent Tamil Eelam (state) in to the social, cultural and economic life northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka. of the country. It ended in 2009. Accommodation in Belgium The Belgian leaders took a different single community can make decisions path. They recognised the existence of unilaterally. regional differences and cultural l Many powers of the central diversities. Between 1970 and 1993, government have been given to state they amended their constitution four governments of the two regions of the times so as to work out an arrangement country. The state governments are not that would enable everyone to live subordinate to the Central Government. together within the same country. The l Brussels has a separate government arrangement they worked out is in which both the communities have different from any other country and equal representation. The French- is very innovative. Here are some of speaking people accepted equal the elements of the Belgian model: Civil war: A violent representation in Brussels because the conflict between l Constitution prescribes that the Dutch-speaking community has opposing groups within number of Dutch and French-speaking accepted equal representation in the a country that becomes ministers shall be equal in the central Central Government. so intense that it appears government. Some special laws require like a war. the support of majority of members from each linguistic group. Thus, no olitics
What kind of a solution is
atic P this? I am glad our © Wikipedia Constitution does not say The photograph here is of a street which minister will come from address in Belgium. You will notice that which community. place names and directions in two languages – French and Dutch. Democr
4 Download all NCERT books PDFs from www.ncert.online 2019-20 Download all NCERT books PDFs from books www.ncert.online NCERT all Download l l l interests ofdifferent communitiesand only byrespecting thefeelingsand that theunityofcountry ispossible In Belgium,theleadershave realised question ofpowersharing differently. democracies. Yet,theydealt withthe of BelgiumandSriLanka?Bothare What dowelearnfromthesetwostories came togethertoformtheEuropean lines. WhenmanycountriesofEurope division ofthecountryonlinguistic major communitiesandapossible avoid civicstrifebetweenthetwo worked wellsofar.Theyhelpedto Belgium. Butthesearrangementshave complicated, evenforpeoplelivingin very complicated.Itindeedis and language-relatedissues. power regardingcultural,educational they live.Thisgovernmenthasthe German-speaking –nomatterwhere community –Dutch,Frenchand people belongingtoonelanguage ‘community government’iselectedby third kindofgovernment.This the StateGovernment,thereisa students couldpooltheirclippingstogetheranddothefollowing: sharing arr outside India). Which oftheseconflictscouldberesolv these arerelatedtopowersharingdisputes? Find outthecauseofeachtheseconflicts.How man Classif You mightfindtheBelgianmodel Apart fromtheCentraland news relatedtoongoingconflictsorw y theseconflictsb R ead an angements? y newspaperforoneweekandmak y theirlocation(y European ParliamentinBrussels,Belgium headquarters. Union, Brusselswaschosenasits unity ofthecountry. to sharepower, itcanunderminethe its dominanceoverothers and refuses if amajoritycommunitywants toforce contrasting example.Itshows usthat sharing power.SriLanka shows usa mutually acceptablearrangementsfor regions. Sucharealisationresultedin 2019-20 ed b ars. Agroupoffiv our state,India, y workingoutpower e clippingsof y of e think. odd! Letme powerful. Sounds mak sharing ofpower sa So y ying that es usmore ou are
5 Power-sharing The cartoon at the left refers to the problems of running the Germany’s grand coalition government that includes the two major parties of the country, namely the Christian Democratic Union and the Social Democratic Party. The two parties are historically rivals to each other. They had to form a coalition government because neither of them got clear majority of seats on their own in the 2005 elections. They take divergent positions on several policy matters, but still jointly run the government.
, Cagle Cartoons Inc. For details about the German Parliament, visit https://www.bundestag.de/en
oppressive for the minority; it often brings ruin to the majority as well. The Calgary Sun There is a second, deeper reason ab - T why power sharing is good for © democracies. Power sharing is the very Why power sharing is desirable? spirit of democracy. A democratic rule involves sharing power with those Thus, two different sets of reasons can affected by its exercise, and who have be given in favour of power sharing. to live with its effects. People have a Firstly, power sharing is good because right to be consulted on how they are it helps to reduce the possibility of to be governed. A legitimate conflict between social groups. Since government is one where citizens, social conflict often leads to violence through participation, acquire a stake and political instability, power sharing in the system. is a good way to ensure the stability Let us call the first set of reasons of political order. Imposing the will of majority community over others PRUDENTIAL and the second moral. While may look like an attractive option in prudential reasons stress that power the short run, but in the long run it sharing will bring out better outcomes, undermines the unity of the nation. moral reasons emphasise the very act Tyranny of the majority is not just of power sharing as valuable.
Annette studies in a Dutch medium school in the northern region of Belgium. Many French-speaking students in olitics Prudential: Based on her school want the medium of instruction to be French. Selvi prudence, or on careful studies in a school in the northern region of Sri Lanka. All the calculation of gains and students in her school are Tamil-speaking and they want the atic P losses. Prudential decisions medium of instruction to be Tamil. are usually contrasted with decisions based purely on If the parents of Annette and Selvi were to approach moral considerations. respective governments to realise the desire of the child who is more likely to succeed? And why? Democr
6 Download all NCERT books PDFs from www.ncert.online 2019-20 Download all NCERT books PDFs from books www.ncert.online NCERT all Download Khalil’s Muslim. Thisw from differentcommunities.HisfatherwasanOrthodoxChristianandmotheraSunni together various communitiesthatlivedinLebanoncametoliveitscapital,Beirut.They A be fromtheSunniMuslimcommunit President mustbelongtotheMaronitesectofCatholicChristians.ThePrimeMinister rules forpowersharingamongdifferentcommunities.Aspertheserules,thecountry’s uncles w either hisfather under thepresentsystemtoppositionisoutofhisreach.Hedoesnotpracti Khalil doesnotlikethissystemonebit.Heisapopularmanwithpoliticalambition.But respect thisagreementthoughnowtheMuslimsareinclearmajorit this agreement,theywerenearlyequalinpopulation.Bothsideshavecontinuedto unification withtheneighbouringstateofSyria.WhenChristiansandMuslimscameto Christians agreednottoseekFrenchprotectionandtheMuslims Orthodox ChristiansectandthatoftheSpeakerforShi’aMuslims.Underthispact, cannot understandwh the civilw other democraciesoftheworld?”heasks.Hiselders,whohaveseenbloodshed president, nomatterwhichcommunityhecomesfrom.Whycan’twedothat,likein an election,alloweveryonetocontestandwhoeverwinsmaximumvotesbecomesthe where theystoppedev The storywasnotfinished,buttheyhadreached theTVtower Can youhelppoorVikram inansweringVetal? W the rulesinLebanon,whatwouldyoudo? Vikram: “Ifyouhadthepowertorewrite quickly andposedhiscustomaryquestionto so willy do notspeakup,yourmobike willfreeze,and pact: “Ifyouhaveananswer inmindandyet did notforgettoremindVikramoftheirbasic the oldrules?Ordosomethingelse?”V everywhere, asKhalilsuggests?Orstickto t theendofthiscivilw ould y dilemma ou! ou adoptthe‘regular , intermingled,y as killedinthatw ar ” , tellhimthatthepresentsystemisbestguar as notsouncommoninthismodern,cosmopolitancit ’ s orhismother “In thecityofBeiruttherelivedamancalledKhalil.Hisparentscame y Lebanoncan’ ery da ar et foughtabittercivilw , Lebanon’ ar . ’ rulesfollowed driving. Thistimethestorywentasfollows: y started tellingVikramastorytokeephimawakewhile . V silence andV As usual,Vikramwasdrivingthemotorbikeunderavowof ’ s religionanddoesnotwishtobeknownb etal wr y s leaderscametogetherandagreedtosomebasic . ThepostofDeput t belik etal apped up 2019-20 etal w e an ar amongthemselv y other‘normal’democr as thepillionrider y PrimeMinisterisfix antee forpeace… y. . Asusual,V es. OneofKhalil’ y . P eople from acy y either . “Justhold ed for etal ” se . He s
7 Power-sharing Forms of power-sharing
The idea of power-sharing has power should be distributed among as emerged in opposition to the notions many citizens as possible. of undivided political power. For a In modern democracies, power long time it was believed that all power sharing arrangements can take many of a government must reside in one forms. Let us look at some of the most person or group of persons located common arrangements that we have at one place. It was felt that if the or will come across. power to decide is dispersed, it would 1 Power is shared among different not be possible to take quick decisions organs of government, such as the and to enforce them. But these legislature, executive and judiciary. Let notions have changed with the us call this horizontal distribution of emergence of democracy. One basic power because it allows different organs principle of democracy is that people of government placed at the same level are the source of all political power. to exercise different powers. Such a In a democracy, people rule separation ensures that none of the themselves through institutions of organs can exercise unlimited power. self-government. In a good democratic Each organ checks the others. This government, due respect is given to results in a balance of power among diverse groups and views that exist in various institutions. Last year, we studied a society. Everyone has a voice in the that in a democracy, even though shaping of public policies. Therefore, ministers and government officials it follows that in a democracy political exercise power, they are responsible to Reigning the Reins the Parliament or State Assemblies. Similarly, although judges are appointed by the executive, they can check the functioning of executive or laws made by the legislatures. This arrangement is called a system of checks and balances. 2 Power can be shared among governments at different levels – a general government for the entire country and governments at the provincial or regional level. Such a general government for the entire
olitics country is usually called federal government. In India, we refer to it as the Central or Union Government.
atic P The governments at the provincial or In 2005, some new laws were made in Russia giving more powers to © Olle Johansson - Sweden, Cagle Cartoons Inc., 25 Feb. 2005 its president. During the same time the US president visited Russia. regional level are called by different What, according to this cartoon, is the relationship between democracy names in different countries. In India, and concentration of power? Can you think of some other examples to illustrate the point being made here? Democr
8 Download all NCERT books PDFs from www.ncert.online 2019-20 Download all NCERT books PDFs from books www.ncert.online NCERT all Download to di in theg is ag of constitutional andle In somecountriesthereare ‘Comm par constituencies’ inassembliesandthe y legislatures andadministration.Last w w r dif constitution c po ar le Belgium, gov gov lik T w lo e po T system isnotf as them us calldi gov higher andlo po length inthene 3 eligious andlinguisticg ear xtended tole her e callthemSta her his iscalledf omen ar w v e nopr ar e our w w f w liament of els of er thantheSta er er er , Pow er er v w er ood e er e ar eb r er nment. nments ang ent socialg . W . e studiedthesystemof . T nment v s of y sociall se socialg unity g ov unicipality andpanc s, er ma e man b ement ismeanttogi vision of e shallstud w he sameprinciplecanbe er xample of ut w nment andadministr e r her g T dif . Butinthosecountries y alsobeshar ourcountr ollo ov y countriesw o as r his isw lear y w te Go v e ther xt c e vincial orsta er er r els of pr ov eder te g oups w f w efused inSriLanka. tical di nment’ r eak er po w l ed inallcountries ha esented inthe oups y la thisar er g er le ov ent le y thesea v al ar pter er sectionsand e ar al di w er nment, ha er g ys do er nments ho otherwise t the nment, y.T inBelgium suc r ov . s in e dif r ang ed vision of ang vision her ha v
er ‘r v h asthe v els of among his type y didin wn the v eser els of ya ements e space r t some the nment e ther ement. olving f oups . . T er t. suc a tion Let v
ent his ed of te h e . . in po gov gi di w v one hand. mo m contempor in po par v also beseeninthew ensur shar dif the f social mo tha political par III, the decision-makingpr committees orbringinginf social g sharing canbedir a democr contest elections mor suc elected, gov par industrialists gov w 4 arious w arious contender or v ould f v ust ha e minoritycomm f er t r h asthoseof v w er er er er ticipa k Power sharingarrangementscan ed amongdif ties ements e par sities er w e w es tha nment. nment andthusshar or nmental po ent par pr e shallstud er s.T er 2019-20 r v m of oups esent dif , . the . e fr Inademocr InUnitII, a pr v ac . eel aliena tion ing Inthelongr ys ties f he ements ar t po y, ties
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9 Power-sharing Here are some examples of power sharing. Which of the four types of power sharing do these represent? Who is sharing power with whom? l The Bombay High Court ordered the Maharashtra state government to immediately take action and improve living conditions for the 2,000-odd children at seven children’s homes in Mumbai. l The government of Ontario state in Canada has agreed to a land claim settlement with the aboriginal community. The Minister responsible for Native Affairs announced that the government will work with aboriginal people in a spirit of mutual respect and cooperation. l Russia’s two influential political parties, the Union of Right Forces and the Liberal Yabloko Movement, agreed to unite their organisations into a strong right-wing coalition. They propose to have a common list of candidates in the next parliamentary elections. l The finance ministers of various states in Nigeria got together and demanded that the federal government declare its sources of income. They also wanted to know the formula by which the revenue is distributed to various state governments.
1. What are the different forms of power sharing in modern democracies? Give an example of each of these. 2. State one prudential reason and one moral reason for power sharing with an example from the Indian context. 3. After reading this chapter, three students drew different conclusions. Which of these do you agree with and why? Give your reasons in about 50 words. Thomman - Power sharing is necessary only in societies
ercises which have religious, linguistic or ethnic divisions. Mathayi – Power sharing is suitable only for big countries that have regional divisions. Ouseph – Every society needs some form of power sharing
olitics even if it is small or does not have social divisions. Ex 4. The Mayor of Merchtem, a town near Brussels in Belgium, has defended a ban on speaking French in the town’s schools. He atic P said that the ban would help all non-Dutch speakers integrate in this Flemish town. Do you think that this measure is in keeping with the spirit of Belgium’s power sharing arrangements? Give your reasons in about 50 words. Democr
10 Download all NCERT books PDFs from www.ncert.online 2019-20 Download all NCERT books PDFs from books www.ncert.online NCERT all Download 7. 5. 6. B. C. D. (a) A,B Which ofthestatements giv A. arr Consider thefollowingstatementsaboutpowersharing and selecttheanswerusingcodesgiv prudential reasonsforpowersharingofferedinthis. power sharing.Identif B. A. Read thefollowingpassageandpickoutanyoneof G. Different argumentsareusuallyputforthinfavourofandagainst F. D. C. E. (d) (c) (b) (a) angements inBelgiumandSriLanka. In SriLanka,thepoliciesofgo The T The tr In Belgium,theDutch-speakingmajorit their dominationontheminorit dominance oftheSinhala-speakingmajorit opportunit power sharingtoprotecttheirculture,language and equalit linguistic lines. feder decreases thepossibilit reduces conflictamongdifferentcommunities undermines theunit democracy.” Panchayati Rajwillstrengthenthefoundationsofour schemes. Thiswouldeliminatethecorruptmiddlemen.Thus, they wouldnaturallyexercisegreatercontroloverthese the planningandimplementationofdevelopmentalschemes, increase administrativeefficiency.Whenpeopleparticipatein power toPanchayatsisalsoawayreducecorruptionand belongs inademocracy–thehandsofpeople.Giving democracy. Itrestorespowertotheonlyplacewhere of ourConstitution.PanchayatiRajestablishestrue the dreamofMahatmaGandhiandhopesmakers “We needtogivemorepowerthepanchayatsrealise promotes people’ accommodates div dela increases instabilit , CandD(b)A,B D (c)Cand(d)B ys decisionmakingprocess al oneprev amils inSriLankademandedafeder ansformation ofBelgiumfromunitarygo F D D B B B A A A y ineducationandjobs. C C ented apossibledivisionofthecountryon s participationingo y thosewhichareinfa y anddivisiv ersities y ofacountry F D E y ofarbitr en abo G G v eness y French-speakingcommunit e arecorrect? ariness v ernment soughttoensurethe v 2019-20 ernment en below?P y peopletriedtoimpose v al arr our ofpowersharing y. v angement of ernment toa ower sharing: , CandD y. y of Exercises
11 Power-sharing 8. Match List I (forms of power sharing) with List II (forms of government) and select the correct answer using the codes given below in the lists:
List I List II
1. Power shared among different organs of government A. Community government 2. Power shared among governments at different levels B. Separation of powers 3. Power shared by different social groups C. Coalition government 4. Power shared by two or more political parties D. Federal government
1 2 3 4 (a) DAB C (b) B C DA (c) BDA C (d) C DAB
9. Consider the following two statements on power sharing and select the answer using the codes given below: A. Power sharing is good for democracy. B. It helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups. Which of these statements are true and false?
(a) A is true but B is false (b) Both A and B are true (c) Both A and B are false (d) A is false but B is true ercises olitics Ex atic P Democr
12 Download all NCERT books PDFs from www.ncert.online 2019-20 Download all NCERT books PDFs from books www.ncert.online NCERT all Download go begin b of power di pr tries tounder analy s different levelsofgovernmentisonethemajorformspower In thepr Ov F haring inmoderndemocr scu actice. T v ernment, anewandthir erview ssion ofthefeder si s ofthepoliciesandpoliticsthathasstr eder y describingfeder eviou - sharing. Itismostcommonlyreferredtoasfederalism.We owar s chapter stand thetheoryandpr ds theendofchapter , wenotedthatv al con ali acies s d tierofIndianfeder m ingener stitutional pr . Inthi ali s chapter actice offeder 2019-20 al term ertical divi o vi sm , weturntothelocal s engthened feder sion . Ther , wefocu sion ofpoweramong ali s i s m. s followedb est ofthechapter ali s s onthi m inIndia.A ali s form s y an m in - Chapter 2
13 Federalism What is federalism?
Let us get back to the contrast between for all practical purposes, a unitary Belgium and Sri Lanka that we saw in system where the national government the last chapter. You would recall that has all the powers. Tamil leaders want one of the key changes made in the Sri Lanka to become a federal system. Constitution of Belgium was to reduce Federalism is a system of the power of the Central Government government in which the power is and to give these powers to the regional I am confused. divided between a central authority and What do we call governments. Regional governments various constituent units of the the Indian existed in Belgium even earlier. They country. Usually, a federation has two government? Is had their roles and powers. But all these levels of government. One is the it Union, Federal powers were given to these or Central? governments and could be withdrawn government for the entire country that by the Central Government. The is usually responsible for a few subjects change that took place in 1993 was that of common national interest. The the regional governments were given others are governments at the level of constitutional powers that were no provinces or states that look after longer dependent on the central much of the day-to-day administering government. Thus, Belgium shifted of their state. Both these levels of from a unitary to a federal form of governments enjoy their power government. Sri Lanka continues to be, independent of the other.
Federal political systems
Russia Canada Germany
Belgium Austria Switzerland United States Spain of America Bosnia and Pakistan Herzegovina St. Kitts India PACIFIC OCEAN Mexico and Nevis Nigeria United Venezuela Arab Ethiopia Emirates ATLANTIC Comoros Malaysia PACIFIC OCEAN Brazil OCEAN INDIAN OCEAN Micronesia Australia
olitics Argentina South Africa atic P Source: Montreal and Kingston, Handbook of Federal Countries: 2002, McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2002.
Though only 25 of the world’s 193 countries have federal political systems, their citizens make up 40 per cent of the world’s population. Most of the large countries of the world are federations. Can you notice an exception to this rule in this map? Democr
14 Download all NCERT books PDFs from www.ncert.online 2019-20 Download all NCERT books PDFs from books www.ncert.online NCERT all Download has itso gov tier administration. matters oflegislation,taxationand Both theseg ans can passonor system, something features offederalism or po the localg ans guaranteed. gov Suc both thele the constitutionandpo c the constitutioncannotbeunilaterally contr le e specified intheconstitution.So of gov sub-units aresubordinatetothecentral is onl Under theunitar ensur disputes arisebetw dif of highest cour r especti 5 3 2 1 6 4 hang xistence andauthorityof v der thesta g g w f els ortier s) of w w h c er er er T Dif T Let uslooka In thissense Sour Cour T ov er ov er er er y onele asted withunitar e itsf ent le he jurisdictionsof n thesamecitiz her nment. he fundamentalpr ed b s of nment isconstitutionall er er hang ab ab thecentr v f g er nment inthee nment ar ces of e po e ar wn ts ha le tothepeople le tothecentr ov ov y onele itso ent tier v inancial autonom . v es r Sta els of ov er els of T er e tw v JURISDICTION w v t actsasanumpir el of der s of te g nment. er nment. e thepo er he centr r wn f equir al g te g ev nments ar y system, s. o ormor s tothepr e c g v t someof g een dif g ov en , s of g el of ov f ov or w lear ov e theconsentof ens ov ov ue f er ov eder Butinaf er er y g w : x al g er al g er ther g nment todo er er l nment cannot er tointer g er , nment. y specif nment orthe hic b . or eac ov nment. f eitherther o cise of inspecif nment has eac ov ov ov e se nment ar er e le a ut eac ov visions of ovincial or tions ar er h itisnot y. ent le er especti er er thek er w h tierof nments par v nment. nment. nment h le nment els (or er eder ied to h tier their T a s of pr v e if tel v els he ve ey et ic el al y y e e e . unity of objectives: tosafeguardandpromote tha time accommoda po the a le federalism. Governmentsatdifferent the institutionsandpracticeof Therefore, twoaspectsarecrucialfor has bothaspects: betw agr gov coming to a big to another the f mainl r so tw f can incr the USA, ‘coming to constituent Sta this f countr na betw f po vis-à-vis theSta constituent unitsof this secondca ‘holding to Belgium areexamplesofthiskind gov unequal po gr eder eder oute in 7 v anted special po v tional g o kindsof w w els shoulda t eac eement toli er er er The federalsystemthushasdual T T er er andar gr eder ir een theconstituentSta a al g een thecentr y onthehistoricalconte eignty nment v nment tendstobemor he secondr he e g tions ha -sharing st ca eement. y decidestodi er unit, 2019-20 ease theirsecurity thecountr h w ov v a Switz ov g tion w olv te er xact balanceof g ether ontheiro andr . ould a
er g ether’ g nment. w aries fr v or es inde r ether’ . T . T nment.
e beenf e str er tes er v An idealf gr tes usuall sotha y of his balancede outes thr e to as f te land and he etaining identitythe s. oute isw ee tosomer te r . V . w f bide b g y, thef Someunits ar m y shouldalsotr eder ong vis-à-visthe f er g om onef or er or al andthesta f w eder e ether India, pendent s. or y oftendif eder gional di utual tr med. hile a vide itspo y, t b eder a med. thecentr eder . T y ha y itspar a tions ough w A . tions her wn tof a y pooling T tes andthe xt inw ustr e po his typeof Spainand t thesame a tions eder al system tion ha T v e alar po her ust and e equal ules of inc v , he f alia. S allthe pends w f er er a ta e ar erful hic or hic lude . t of w tion sity w ent ir ust tes In ge In ve er m er te al st h h e y e . subjects of boundaries orin ter ter has le ov ar J urisdiction: ea ma cer er w adopt it? did Belgium countries, wh works onlyinbig If feder ms of g tain kindsof hic al authority y bedef . g h someone eo alism gra T he ar ined in phical . T . ms y ea he
15 Federalism Some Nepalese citizens were discussing the proposals on the adoption of federalism in their new constitution. This is what some of them said: Khag Raj: I don’t like federalism. It would lead to reservation of seats for different caste groups as in India. Sarita: Ours in not a very big country. We don’t need federalism. Babu Lal: I am hopeful that the Terai areas will get more autonomy if they get their own state government. Ram Ganesh: I like federalism because it will mean that powers that were earlier enjoyed by the king will now be exercised by our elected representatives. If you were participating in this conversation what would be your response to each of these? Which of these reflect a wrong understanding of what federalism is? What makes India a federal country?
What makes India a federal country?
We have earlier seen how small the Union of India and the State countries like Belgium and Sri Lanka governments. Later, a third tier of face so many problems of managing federalism was added in the form of diversity. What about a vast country like Panchayats and Municipalities. As in India, with so many languages, religions any federation, these different tiers and regions? What are the power enjoy separate jurisdiction. The sharing arrangements in our country? Constitution clearly provided a three- Isn’t that Let us begin with the Constitution. fold distribution of legislative powers strange? Did our India had emerged as an independent between the Union Government and constitution nation after a painful and bloody the State Governments. Thus, it makers not know partition. Soon after Independence, contains three lists: about several princely states became a part of l Union List includes subjects of federalism? Or the country. The Constitution declared national importance such as defence did they wish to India as a Union of States. Although it of the country, foreign affairs, banking, avoid talking did not use the word federation, the communications and currency. They about it? Indian Union is based on the principles are included in this list because we need of federalism. a uniform policy on these matters throughout the country. The Union olitics Let us go back to the seven features of federalism mentioned above. We can Government alone can make laws see that all these features apply to the relating to the subjects mentioned in the Union List. atic P provisions of the Indian Constitution. The Constitution originally provided l State List contains subjects of for a two-tier system of government, State and local importance such as the Union Government or what we call police, trade, commerce, agriculture
Democr the Central Government, representing and irrigation. The State Governments
16 Download all NCERT books PDFs from www.ncert.online 2019-20 Download all NCERT books PDFs from books www.ncert.online NCERT all Download Sta special pr cannot b to thisSta Indian Constitutionarenotapplicable f the Sta not per le the IndianUniondonotha Constitution. Union Go According toourconstitution,the after theconstitutionw to tr If on thesubjectsmentionedinthislist. the Sta succession. po its constituentunits Go of commoninteresttoboththeUnion lik fall inanyofthethreelists?Orsubjects status Go Go l alone canmak the la subjects mentionedintheStateList. eder ade unions gisla theirla g decisions b l l l e computersoftw w tes of v v ether’ v W Concur W er er er R er a . News items about therelationshipbetween theCentr News items that relateonlytoy News itemsthatrelate only totheCentr te onthese J tions tha nments adio dailyforoneweek. Mak e noteda s. nment willpr ha te Go nment asw te amm manent r w madeb SomeSta uy landorhouseher t a donotgi Indiaasw o ws conf Assemb v te withoutthea visions e BoththeUnionasw Listen toonenationaland oneregionalnewsbulletinbroadcastbyAll India bout subjectstha er r u andK v , ent List mar Man , nment hasthepo er suc t ar y classif e la nments canmak esidents of h aseduca e f ‘r lict witheac ly. ria y pr tes enjo bo ws r xist f esiduar v .T ev or ell. ashmir hasitso Indiansw e equalpo ar ge ell astheSta inc y theUnion v ail. med b hus e tha o , e tha adoptionand ying theseintothefollowing categories: ela visions of or someother ludes subjects , allSta y’ ting tothe v y aspecial tion, ppr as made? t cameup thisSta e identical subjects y e. t donot t most ‘holding h other Similar ov w ho ar f w e la or tes in ell as er to er to al of the est, wn ws te te e . , e alistofnewsitemsrelated togo ha assigned toeac Union w le gov T and theSupr least half T become aninde An r Union Go to ber the di mak of theConstitution.Itisnoteasyto on itso ar pr w r of b a gov Go of Chandig ha T capital cityofDelhi,arecalledUnion ole ino unning thesear our oran t leasttw y boththeHousesof er vying tax hese ar he UnionandSta hic r ocedur v v thee constitutionalpr ang y c v e thepo e thepo ritories er er T T T e c er h couldnotbemer vision of her he judiciar his sharingof nments isbasictothestr nment andther hang ement. nment hasspecialpo a hang 2019-20 xisting Sta tif wn c e ar v arh, es e ar hic of o-thir er ied b al Go . es inor e toithasbef . T Incaseof w v y otherState Go seeing theimplementa eme Cour h enjo w eas w e someunitsof es tothispo thetotalSta orLakshad er er hang T er tor po hese ter h of s of nment andtheSta y thele ds majority he P v eas y pla w ernment, hic pendent Sta tes e thisar der tocar y v aSta er them. po . h ar s, aise r ar .T an te g t mak ys animpor er theHighCour P w ritories donot liament cannot gisla o hese ar esponsibilities te y disputea er betw y littlepo ar e toosmallto g visions and tes w al andState Go . T . ov liament with w . T . ed withan esour e adecision. r ee tur theIndian ir ang er sharing . he Centr er r hen ithas st passed p orthe y onthe es of w nments eas v een the ement. te b ces b uctur ernment, er , bout w s in lik tion tant a er ut te ts al y e y e t . v ernment policiesor v ernments. Union cabinet? commerce inthe agriculture and ministers of wh state subjects, commerce are If agricultureand y doweha ve
17 Federalism l Pokharan, the place where India conducted its nuclear tests, lies in Rajasthan. Suppose the Government of Rajasthan was opposed to the Central Government’s nuclear policy, could it prevent the Government of India from conducting the nuclear tests? l Suppose the Government of Sikkim plans to introduce new textbooks in its schools. But the Union Government does not like the style and content of the new textbooks. In that case, does the state government need to take permission from the Union Government before these textbooks can be launched? l Suppose the Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Orissa have different policies on how their state police should respond to the naxalites. Can the Prime Minister of India intervene and pass an order that all the Chief Ministers will have to obey? olitics atic P Democr
18 Download all NCERT books PDFs from www.ncert.online 2019-20 Download all NCERT books PDFs from books www.ncert.online NCERT all Download How isfederalismpractised? major w countr together becamesharedidealsinour f that thespiritoffederalism,respect politics inourcountr first andamajortestfordemocratic The creationoflinguisticStateswasthe Linguistic States politics inourcountr attributed tothenatureofdemocratic success offederalisminIndiacanbe out constitutionalpr is notmerelybecauseoftheclearlylaid experiment hassucceededinIndia,it are notsufficient.Ifthefederal for thesuccessoffederalismbutthese Constitutional pr or di v y. er Letuslooka a ys inw sity anddesir hic o visions ar h thisha o y. visions y If . t someof
T e f y his ensur e necessar ou looka ppened. or li .
T he r ving the eal ed y t the e that of2017,youwillbesurprisedby its journeyasademocracyin1947and the politicalmapofIndiawhenitbegan old Sta the samelangua been changed. boundaries andnamesoftheStateshave States havebeencreated.Areas, States havevanishedandmanynew Sta or done toensur the basisof Na or g dif der tocr f te g er eo In 1947 aland, . xtent of SomeSta ences basedoncultur gra tes of 2019-20 ph Uttar ea , langua y.T theboundariesofseveral te ne Indiaw thec e tha tes w hese inc akhand andJhar g e li t peoplew w Sta g hang e b er v e cr ed inthesame er ut tor lude Sta e c tes es ea . e, Man . T . hang ted noton ethnicity ho spok eco his w l l l tes lik khand. ed in y old gnise bigger State have beencarved outof Identify anythree S changed later? States in1947thathavebeen Can youidentifynamesofthree Has yourvillage remained underthesameS earlier S what wasthenameof since Independence?Ifnot, as e e t ate? s. / town t ates which / city t ate
19 Federalism When the demand for the continues to be the official policy of formation of States on the basis of the Government of India. Promotion language was raised, some national does not mean that the Central leaders feared that it would lead to the Government can impose Hindi on disintegration of the country. The States where people speak a different Central Government resisted linguistic language. The flexibility shown by States for some time. But the Indian political leaders helped our experience has shown that the country avoid the kind of situation that formation of linguistic States has Sri Lanka finds itself in. actually made the country, more united. Centre-State relations It has also made administration easier. Restructuring the Centre-State Language policy relations is one more way in which A second test for Indian federation is federalism has been strengthened in the language policy. Our Constitution practice. How the constitutional did not give the status of national arrangements for sharing power work language to any one language. Hindi was in reality depends to a large extent on identified as the official language. But how the ruling parties and leaders Hindi is the mother tongue of only follow these arrangements. For a long Why Hindi? about 40 per cent of Indians. Therefore, time, the same party ruled both at the Why not there were many safeguards to protect Centre and in most of the States. This Bangla or other languages. Besides Hindi, there are meant that the State governments did Telugu? 21 other languages recognised as not exercise their rights as autonomous Scheduled Languages by the federal units. As and when the ruling Constitution. A candidate in an party at the State level was different, examination conducted for the Central the parties that ruled at the Centre tried Government positions may opt to take to undermine the power of the States. the examination in any of these In those days, the Central Government languages. States too have their own would often misuse the Constitution official languages. Much of the to dismiss the State governments that government work takes place in the were controlled by rival parties. This official language of the concerned State. undermined the spirit of federalism. Unlike Sri Lanka, the leaders of our All this changed significantly country adopted a very cautious after 1990. This period saw the rise attitude in spreading the use of Hindi. of regional political parties in many According to the Constitution, the use States of the country. This was also of English for official purposes was to the beginning of the era of stop in 1965. However, many non- COALITION GOVERNMENTS at the Hindi speaking States demanded that Centre. Since no single party got a the use of English continue. In Tamil clear majority in the Lok Sabha, the olitics Coalition government: major national parties had to enter A government formed Nadu, this movement took a violent by the coming together form. The Central Government into an alliance with many parties of at least two political responded by agreeing to continue the including several regional parties to atic P parties. Usually partners use of English along with Hindi for form a government at the Centre. in a coalition form a official purposes. Many critics think This led to a new culture of power political alliance and adopt a common that this solution favoured the English- sharing and respect for the autonomy programme. speaking elite. Promotion of Hindi of State Governments. This trend was Democr
20 Download all NCERT books PDFs from www.ncert.online 2019-20 Download all NCERT books PDFs from books www.ncert.online NCERT all Download The StatesPleadforMorePowers to dismisssta p St dif the Supr suppor Perils ofRunningaCoalitionGovernment Here aretwocartoonsshowing therelationshipbetweenCentreandS artners ofgovernmentsatisfied? ate gototheCentrewithabegging bowl?Howcantheleaderofacoalitionkeep f icult f ted b or theCentr eme Cour y amajorjudg te g ov er t tha al nments inan G ov t madeit ement of er nment arbitr than itw the Constitution cameintof po w er sharingismor ar 2019-20 y manner as intheear .T e ef t ates. Shouldthe l hus y f ecti ear , f v or e toda eder s after ce . al y
© Ajith Ninan - India Today Book of Cartoons y democr good forour regionalism is suggesting that Are y ou serious? ou acy? Are
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21 Federalism +Linguistic diversity of India How many languages do we have in l Make a bar or pie chart on India? The answer depends on how the basis of this information. one counts it. The latest l Prepare a map of linguistic information that we have is from diversity of India by shading the the Census of India held in 2011. region where each of these This census recorded more than languages is spoken on the map 1300 distinct languages which of India. people mentioned as their mother tongues. These languages were l Find out about any three grouped together under some major languages that are spoken in languages. For example languages India but are not included in this table. like Bhojpuri, Magadhi, Bundelkhandi, Chhattisgarhi, Rajasthani and many others were grouped together under ‘Hindi’. Scheduled Languages of India Even after this grouping, the Census found 121 major languages. Language Proportion of Of these 22 languages are now speakers (%) included in the Eighth Schedule of Assamese 1.26 the Indian Constitution and are Bengali 8.03 therefore called ‘Scheduled Bodo 0.12 Languages’. Others are called Dogri 0.21 ‘non-Scheduled Languages’. In Gujarati 4.58 terms of languages, India is Hindi 43.63 perhaps the most diverse country Kannada 3.61 in the world. Kashmiri 0.56 A look at the enclosed table Konkani 0.19 makes it clear that no one Maithili 1.12 language is the mother tongue of Malayalam 2.88 the majority of our population. Manipuri 0.15 The largest language, Hindi, is the Marathi 6.86 mother tongue of only about 44 Nepali 0.24 per cent Indians. If we add to that Odia 3.10 all those who knew Hindi as their second or third language, the total Punjabi 2.74 number was still less than 50 per Sanskrit N cent in 2011. As for English, only Santali 0.61
olitics 0.02 per cent Indians recorded it Sindhi 0.23 as their mother tongue. Another 11 Tamil 5.70 per cent knew it as a second or Telugu 6.70 third language. atic P Urdu 4.19 Read this table carefully, but you need not memorise it. Just do N — Stands for negligible. Source: http://www.censusindia.gov.in the following: Democr
22 Download all NCERT books PDFs from www.ncert.online 2019-20 Download all NCERT books PDFs from books www.ncert.online NCERT all Download ‘ T linguistic reorganisation. W the authorhere onthebasisofthat example. ak e theexampleofy 2006: R R amachandr ead thefollowingex our ownstateoran a Guha,thatappearedinthe rite ashort note fororagainstthe argument giv cerpts fromanarticleb 2019-20 y otherstatethatw Times ofIndia y notedhistorian, as affectedb
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23 Federalism Decentralisation in India
We noted above that federal villages and municipalities in urban governments have two or more tiers areas were set up in all the States. But of governments. We have so far these were directly under the control discussed the two-tiers of government of state governments. Elections to in our country. But a vast country like these local governments were not held India cannot be run only through these regularly. Local governments did not two-tiers. States in India are as large as have any powers or resources of their So, we are like a independent countries of Europe. In own. Thus, there was very little three-tier coach terms of population, Uttar Pradesh is decentralisation in effective terms. in a train! I bigger than Russia, Maharashtra is always prefer the A major step towards decentra- about as big as Germany. Many of lower berth! lisation was taken in 1992. The these States are internally very diverse. Constitution was amended to make the There is thus a need for power sharing third-tier of democracy more powerful within these States. Federal power and effective. sharing in India needs another tier of government, below that of the State l Now it is constitutionally governments. This is the rationale for mandatory to hold regular elections to decentralisation of power. Thus, local government bodies. resulted a third-tier of government, l Seats are reserved in the elected called local government. bodies and the executive heads of When power is taken away from these institutions for the Scheduled Central and State governments and given Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other to local government, it is called Backward Classes. decentralisation. The basic idea behind l At least one-third of all positions decentralisation is that there are a large are reserved for women. number of problems and issues which l An independent institution called are best settled at the local level. People the State Election Commission has have better knowledge of problems in been created in each State to conduct their localities. They also have better ideas panchayat and municipal elections. on where to spend money and how to manage things more efficiently. Besides, l The State governments are required at the local level it is possible for the to share some powers and revenue with people to directly participate in decision local government bodies. The nature of making. This helps to inculcate a habit sharing varies from State to State. of democratic participation. Local Rural local government is government is the best way to realise one popularly known by the name olitics important principle of democracy, panchayati raj. Each village, or a group namely local self-government. of villages in some States, has a gram The need for decentralisation was panchayat. This is a council consisting atic P recognised in our Constitution. Since of several ward members, often called then, there have been several attempts panch, and a president or sarpanch. to decentralise power to the level of They are directly elected by all the
Democr villages and towns. Panchayats in adult population living in that ward
24 Download all NCERT books PDFs from www.ncert.online 2019-20 Download all NCERT books PDFs from books www.ncert.online NCERT all Download bod member T to samitis ormandalsinadistrictto a panc fe panc g of the perf in ay It hastomeetatleasttwiceorthrice v panc super bod or villa What dothese newsp oes rightuptothedistrictle oter he member g w g theg ether tof y ar T y f ha ha ear toa s inthevilla vision of he localg ha r am panc ya ya ge. or theentir e electedb s intha r ya am panc t. t w or Itisthedecision-making t samitiorb ppr or mance of or s of theg m w t ar ks undertheo ov ov ha ha g thisr ea. e theann er ha e ar ya y allthepanc aper clippings have tosayabouteffort r ya
nment str am sa All thepanc t isusuall ts ar e villa t andtor loc e itsmember e theg k ormandal. pr bha. e g ual b esenta ge. T ge. r y called
ouped All the uctur g v e v udg ha ether el. vie er r hyat ti am yat A he all ve et w s. e other of and MLAsofthatdistrictsome elected. MembersoftheLokSabha Most membersofthezillaparishadare constitute thezilla(district)parishad. e Municipalities ar bodies ar cities ar of head ofthezillaparishad. parishad c b cor m re is thepoliticalheadof In am xist f y electedbodiesconsistingof unicipal cor pr f icer iscalledthema por Similar esenta a unicipal cor 2019-20 tions or urbanar e constitutedintom f icials of e alsoitsmember ti hair ly, v . es s ofdecentralisation inIndia? localg Bothm por . per Municipalc e setupinto a otherdistrictle son isthepolitical tions ar ov por them unicipalities and er y eas asw a or nment bodies tion suc e contr . hair unicipality wns people’ unicipal s. per Zilla olled h an . Big son ell. v el s . then, state. Logically Minister runsthe the country Prime Ministerruns district? administer the or Collector chairperson Wh run thedistrict. P arishad should y doestheD
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25 Federalism + An experiment in Brazil A city called Porto Alegre in Brazil has carried out an extraordinary experiment in combining decentralisation with participative democracy. The city has set up a parallel organisation operating alongside the municipal council, enabling local inhabitants to take real decisions for their city. The nearly 13 lakh people in this city get to participate in making the budget for their own city. The city is divided into many sectors or what we call wards. Each sector has a meeting, like that of the gram sabha, in which anyone living in that area can participate. There are some meetings to discuss issues that affect the entire city. Any citizen of the city can participate in those meetings. The budget of the city is discussed in these meetings. The proposals are put to the municipality that takes a final decision about it. About 20,000 people participate in this decision making exercise every year. This method has ensured that the money cannot be spent only for the benefit of the colonies where rich people live. Buses now run to the poor colonies and builders cannot evict slum-dwellers without resettling them. In our own country, a similar experiment has taken place in some areas in Kerala. Ordinary people have participated in making a plan for the development of their locality.
This new system of local increased women’s representation and government is the largest experiment voice in our democracy. At the same in democracy conducted anywhere in time, there are many difficulties. While the world. There are now about 36 lakh elections are held regularly and elected representatives in the enthusiastically, gram sabhas are not panchayats and municipalities etc., all held regularly. Most state governments over the country. This number is bigger have not transferred significant powers than the population of many countries to the local governments. Nor have in the world. Constitutional status for they given adequate resources. We are local government has helped to deepen thus still a long way from realising the democracy in our country. It has also ideal of self-government.
Find out about the local government in the village or town you live in.
olitics If you live in a village, find out the names of the following: your panch or ward member, your sarpanch, your panchayat samiti, the chairperson of your zilla parishad. Also find out when did the last meeting of the gram sabha take place and
atic P how many people took part in that. If you live in urban areas, find out the name of your municipal councillor, and the municipal chairperson or mayor. Also find out about the budget of your municipal corporation, municipality and the major items on which money was spent. Democr
26 Download all NCERT books PDFs from www.ncert.online 2019-20 Download all NCERT books PDFs from books www.ncert.online NCERT all Download 9. 4. 1. 2. 3. 5. 6. 8. 7. pro here. GroupthemundertheUnion,StateandConcurrent Listsas similar toandonefeaturethatisdifferentfromofBelgium. Manipur blank outlinepoliticalmapoftheworld. and aunitaryone?Explainwithanexample. after theConstitutionalamendmentin1992. feder are ______vis-à- ______t more powerthanothers.InIndia,the______go has morepowers. Giv A fewsubjectsinv What isthemaindifferencebetweenafeder Locate thefollowingStatesonablankoutlinepoliticalmapofIndia: Identify andshadethreefederalcountries(otherthanIndia)ona P State an Since theUnitedStatesisa______t Here arethreereactionstothelanguagepolicyfollowedinIndia. E. (d) A. ( ( Fill intheblanks: ( The distinguishingfeatureofafeder c) b) a) oint outonefeatureinthepr e anargumentandexampletosupport vided inthetablebelow Concurrent List State List Union List Banking; F Go Defence; B go judiciary Elected officialsex go P ev dominance ofEnglisho Harish National go Arman national unit Sangeeta ower isdistributedamongthelegislature,ex ation, alltheconstituentStatesha ery v v v ernment. ernments. ernmental powerisdividedbetweendifferentlev , Sikkim,ChhattisgarhandGoa. y twodifferencesbetweenthelocalgo one consciousoftheirlanguage. : Thispolicyhasonlyhelpedtoconsolidatethe : Language-basedStatesha . : Thepolicyofaccommodationhasstrengthened . F . P v ernment giv orests; G.Communications;H.T y. olice; C.Agriculture;D arious ListsoftheIndianConstitutionaregiv ercise supremepowerinthego v . vis thefeder ype offeder er allotherlanguages. es somepowerstothepro actice offeder al go v v e dividedusb al go ation andsomeStatesha . Education; e equalpowersandStates v 2019-20 ernment is: al formofgo alism inIndiathatis v ernment. ButIndiaisa v ernment beforeand y ofthesepositions. r ecutiv ade; I.Marriages v y making ype of ernment. vincial e and els of v v ernment ernment en ve Exercises
27 Federalism 10. Examine the following pairs that give the level of government in India and the powers of the government at that level to make laws on the subjects mentioned against each. Which of the following pairs is not correctly matched?
(a) State government State List (b) Central government Union List (c) Central and State governments Concurrent List (d) Local governments Residuary powers
11. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:
List I List II 1. Union of India A. Prime Minister 2. State B. Sarpanch 3. Municipal Corporation C. Governor 4. Gram Panchayat D. Mayor
1 2 3 4 (a) DAB C (b) B C DA (c) A C DB (d) C DAB
12. Consider the following two statements. A. In a federation the powers of the federal and provincial governments are clearly demarcated. B. India is a federation because the powers of the Union and State Governments are specified in the Constitution and they have exclusive jurisdiction on their respective subjects. C. Sri Lanka is a federation because the country is divided into
ercises provinces. D. India is no longer a federation because some powers of the States have been devolved to the local government bodies. Which of the statements given above are correct? (a) A, B and C (b) A, C and D (c) A and B only (d) B and C only olitics Ex atic P Democr
28 Download all NCERT books PDFs from www.ncert.online 2019-20 Download all NCERT books PDFs from books www.ncert.online NCERT all Download ar We alsoaskwhetherdifferentexpressionsbased on thesedifferences nature ofthisdivisioninIndiaandhowitgetsexpressedpolitics. based ongender form ofsocialdivisionsandinequalities.Thesearedifferences India. Welookatthreekindsofsocialdifferencesthatcantakethe this chapterweapplytheseideastothepracticeofdemocracyin is possibleandsometimesquitedesirableinademocraticsystem.In does notthr In thepreviouschapterwenotedthatexistenceofsocialdiversity Overview Caste Religion and Gender e healthyorotherwi eaten democr , r eligion andcaste.Ineachcasewelookatthe se inademocr acy . P olitical expr acy 2019-20 . , ession ofsocialdiffer ences
Chapter 4
39 Gender, Religion and Caste Gender and politics
Public/private division Boys and girls are brought up to believe that the main responsibility of women is housework and bringing up children. This is reflected in a SEXUAL DIVISION OF LABOUR in most families: women do all work inside the home such as cooking, cleaning, washing clothes, tailoring, looking after children, etc., and men do all the work outside the home. It is not that men cannot do housework; they simply think that it is for women to attend to these things. When these jobs are paid for, men are ready to take up © Zuban A poster from Bengal affirming women’s these works. Most tailors or cooks in strength. hotels are men. Similarly, it is not that women do not work outside their home. In villages, women fetch water, collect Let us begin with gender division. This fuel and work in the fields. In urban Sexual division of labour: is a form of hierarchical social division areas, poor women work as domestic A system in which all work seen everywhere, but is rarely recognised helper in middle class homes, while inside the home is either in the study of politics. The gender middle class women work in offices. In done by the women of the division tends to be understood as natural family, or organised by fact the majority of women do some them through the and unchangeable. However, it is not sort of paid work in addition to domestic helpers. based on biology but on social domestic labour. But their work is not expectations and stereotypes. valued and does not get recognition. The result of this division of labour is that although women constitute half of the humanity, their role in public life, especially politics, is minimal in most societies. Earlier, only men were allowed to participate in public affairs, vote and contest for public offices. Gradually the gender issue was raised in politics.
olitics Why not? If Why are we Women in different parts of the world politics is about discussing things organised and agitated for equal rights. power, then like household There were agitations in different surely male atic P work in this countries for the extension of voting dominance in the textbook on rights to women. These agitations household should Political Science? demanded enhancing the political and be considered Is this politics? legal status of women and improving political. Democr
40 Download all NCERT books PDFs from www.ncert.online 2019-20 Download all NCERT books PDFs from books www.ncert.online NCERT all Download © Zuban agree withany ofthese?Ifnot,whatisyour imageofanidealwoman? Discuss allthese perceptionsofanidealwoman thatprevailinoursociety division andpoliticalmobili ar and familylifeaswell.Thesemovements movements aimedatequalityinpersonal oppor their educ e called P olitical e tunities FEMINIST . ational andcareer Mor xpr mo ession of e r v adical w ements sation onthis g . omen ender ’s p considered suitableforwomen.Insome university teacherswhichwereearliernot lawyers, managersandcollege working asscientists,doctors,engineers, r question helpe ole inpub arts oftheworld,forexamplein 2019-20 lic lif d toimpr e.W e no w f ov . Doyou ind w e w omen omen ’s women andmen. and opportunities for believes inequalrights or amanwho Feminist: Awoman
41 Gender, Religion and Caste Scandinavian countries such as Sweden, dominated, PATRIARCHAL society. Women Norway and Finland, the participation face disadvantage, discrimination and of women in public life is very high. oppression in various ways: In our country, women still lag much l The literacy rate among women is behind men despite some improvement only 54 per cent compared with 76 per since Independence. Ours is still a male- cent among men. Similarly, a smaller
+A ‘time use survey’ was conducted in six states of our country. It shows that an average woman works every day for a little over seven and half hours while an average man works for six and a half hours. Yet the work done by men is more visible because most of their work leads to generation of income. Women also do a lot of direct income generating work, but the bulk of their work is household related. This work remains unpaid and invisible.
Daily time use (hours: minutes)
Activities Men Women Income generating work 6:00 2:40 Household and related work 0:30 5:00 Talking, Gossip 1:25 1:20 No work/ Leisure 3:40 3:50 Sleep, self-care, reading etc. 12:25 11:10
Source: Government of India, Time Use Survey, 1998-99.
You can conduct a similar time use survey in your own household. Observe all the adult male and female members of your family for one week. Every day note down the number of hours each of them spends on the following activities: income generating olitics Patriarchy: Literally, activity (working at the office or shop or factory or field, etc.), rule by father, this household related activity (cooking, cleaning, washing, fetching concept is used to refer water, looking after children or elders, etc.), reading and atic P to a system that values recreation, talking/gossiping, self-care, taking rest or sleeping. If men more and gives necessary make new categories. Add up the time taken on each them power over activity for a week and calculate the daily average for each activity women. for each member. Do women work more in your family as well? Democr
42 Download all NCERT books PDFs from www.ncert.online 2019-20 Download all NCERT books PDFs from books www.ncert.online NCERT all Download and thereforeoftennotvalued. da hour morethananaveragemanevery average anIndianwomanworksone valued jobsisstillverysmall.Onan women amongthehighlypaidand l studies proportion ofgirlstudentsgoforhigher daughter than spendingequallyontheirsonsand resources fortheirboys’educationrather because parentsprefertospendtheir gir Source: UNFPA, Missing... Mapping the Adverse Child Sex Ratio in India, 2005, p.3. better insomeplaces Map not toscale y.Y ls perf No wondertheproportionof DELHI et m . W . s. or hen w uc m asw h of e looka herw ell asbo . Butthe t sc or k isnotpaid hool r y dr ys , if op out esults not , country tomerely919.Asthemap girl childrenperthousandboys)inthe a declineinchild born. Suchsex-selectiveabortionledto have thegirlchildabortedbeforesheis prefer tohavesonsandfindways l do exactlythesamework. are paidlessthanmen,evenwhenboth cinema, tofactoriesandfields,women all areasofwork,fromsportsand paid toequalwork.Howeverinalmost provides thatequalwagesshouldbe l same issue? page. Howdothetwoofthemtellusabout Compare thismapwiththeposteronnext child sexratiobelow850. Identify theStateswheremostdistrictshave different fromotherswithacolour? What isthechildsexratioinit?Howit Can youidentifyyourdistrictonthismap? In manypartsofIndiaparents The EqualRemunerationAct,1976 2019-20 CHILD SEXRA (2011 Census) NA TIONAL DA 950 ANDAB 900-949 850-899 800-849 B ELOW 800 TA NOT sexratio(numberof A VERAGE 919 AV OVE TIO AILABLE else iswork? not work,what what shedoesis all thetime.If working non-stop But Iseeher am ahousewife. “I don’twork.I says tooutsiders: Mummy always ”
43 Gender, Religion and Caste They are not safe even within their own home from beating, harassment and other forms of domestic violence. Women’s political representation All this is well known. Yet issues related to women’s well being or otherwise are not given adequate attention. This has led many feminists and women’s movements to the conclusion that unless women control power, their problems will not get adequate attention. One way to ensure this is to have more women as elected representatives. In India, the proportion of women in legislature has been very low. For
© Oxfam GB example, the percentage of elected women members in Lok Sabha has shows, this ratio has fallen below 850 or touched 12 per cent of its total strength even 800 in some places. for the first time in 2014. Their share in There are reports of various kinds the state assemblies is less than 5 per cent. of harassment, exploitation and violence In this respect, India is among the bottom against women. Urban areas have group of nations in the world (see the become particularly unsafe for women. graph below). India is behind the
Women in national parliaments in different regions of the world (in%)
World 45 Average 40 42.3 35 24 30
25 29.5 26.4 20 23.7
Could you think of some 15 19.8 olitics 18.6 reasons why women’s 10 15.6 representation is so low 11.8 in India? Do you think 5 Americas and Europe 0
atic P Nordic Americas Europe Sub- Asia Arab Pacific India have achieved a countries Saharan Africa States satisfactory level of women’s representation? Region Note: Figures are for the per cent of women in the directly elected houses of parliament as on 1 October 2018. Source: http://archive.ipu.org/wmn-e/world.htm Democr
44 Download all NCERT books PDFs from www.ncert.online 2019-20 Download all NCERT books PDFs from books www.ncert.online NCERT all Download local governmentbodies has doneinIndia.One-thirdofseats activists havebeendemandingasimilar bodies proportion ofwomenintheelected make itlegallybindingtohaveafair Minister orthePrime even whenawomanbecomestheChief government, cabinetsarelargelyall-male of AfricaandLatinAmerica.Inthe averages forseveraldevelopingcountries and m in r 10 lakhelectedwomenrepresentatives for women.Nowtherearemorethan Parliament. Do youagreewiththisreading? This cartoonoffers anunderstandingofwhy theWomen’sReservationBill hasnotbeenpassedinthe ur One waytosolvethisproblemis © Surender - The Hindu W al andurbanlocalbodies omen unicipalities . T . his isw ’ s or ha t theP g – anisa ar e no – anc in panchayats tions and w r ha . . eser ya ti R v ed aj some f been passed. all thepoliticalpar there isnoconsensusoverthisamong Parliament formorethanadecade.But proposal hasbeenpendingbeforethe Assemblies forwomen.Abillwiththis seats intheLokSabhaandState r be e in thepoliticaldomain? their unequaltreatmentwasnotraised have madethegainswenotedaboveif issue. Doyouthinkthatwomencould when socialdivisionsbecomeapolitical that disadvantagedgroupsdobenefit eser Gender divisionisanexamplethat xpr va or essed inpolitics 2019-20 tion of m of socialdi a t leastone-thir ties . T . . . T vision needsto he billhasnot his alsosho d of ws gender? religion or any lines–caste, the societyon those whodivide we opposeall thing? Whydon’t feminism agood bad, whatmakes communalism are If casteismand
45 Gender, Religion and Caste Religion, communalism and politics
Let us now turn to a very different kind particular religion like Hinduism or Islam of social division, the division based on but moral values that inform all religions. religious differences. This division is not He believed that politics must be guided as universal as gender, but religious by ethics drawn from religion. diversity is fairly widespread in the world l Human rights groups in our country today. Many countries including India have argued that most of the victims of have in their population, followers of communal riots in our country are different religions. As we noticed in the people from religious minorities. They case of Northern Ireland, even when have demanded that the government most of the people belong to the same take special steps to protect religious religion, there can be serious differences minorities. about the way people practice that l Women’s movement has argued olitics religion. Unlike gender differences, the that FAMILY LAWS of all religions religious differences are often expressed discriminate against women. So they I am not religious. in the field of politics. have demanded that government should atic P Why should I Consider the following: change these laws to make them more bother about l Gandhiji used to say that religion can equitable. communalism and never be separated from politics. What All these instances involve a secularism?
Democr he meant by religion was not any relationship between religion and politics.
46 Download all NCERT books PDFs from www.ncert.online 2019-20 Download all NCERT books PDFs from books www.ncert.online NCERT all Download perha drawn fromdifferentreligionscanand in politicse more acutewhenreligionisexpressed nationalism. Theproblembecomes the dangersofsuchanapproachto of NorthernIrelandinChapter3shows as thebasisofnation.Theexample The problembeginswhenreligionisseen Communalism dang But theydonotseemverywrongor r lines involves thinkingalongthefollowing as amemberof politics theirneeds,interestsanddemands People shouldbeabletoexpressin different religions cannotbelongtothe It alsofollows thatpeoplewhofollow irrelevant ortrivialforcommunity life. Any differencethattheymay haveis Their fundamentalinterestsare thesame. pitted a when onereligionanditsfollowersare gr when thedemandsofonereligious superior tothoseofotherreligions, beliefs ofonereligionarepresentedas social comm idea thatreligionistheprincipalbasisof politics using religioninpoliticsiscommunal group overtherest.Thismannerof to establishdominationofonereligious another andwhenstatepowerisused the political actsarenotwrongaslong discrimination andoppression.These practice ofreligionsoastoprevent sometimes beabletoregulatethe Those whoholdpoliticalpowershould eligion m oup ar y tr Communal politicsisbasedonthe . T . er ps shouldpla ea . g ous ainst another he f t e e f ust belongtoonecomm v . Ideas er ollo or xc y r unity lusi med inoppositionto ar eligion equall w v , er eligious comm idealsandv e andpar y ar . T . . s of Comm his ha ole inpolitics apar ppens w tisan ter y. unalism ticular unity alues unity hen ms . . , . same socialcomm l l quest f l comm it, evenwhenwebelieveinit. is socommonthatweoftenfailtonotice lines isanother fr of communities andbeliefinthesuperiority prejudices, stereotypesofreligious These routinelyinvolvereligious f within tha religion isboundtosuppressmanyvoices religion togetherincontextotherthan any attempttobringallfollowersofone voices havearighttobeheard.Therefore e be differentandinvolveaconflict.Inits immaterial. Theirinterestsareboundto commonalities thesearesuperficialand of differentreligionhavesome v positions andidentities context. Everyonehasseveralotherroles, same interestsandaspirationsinevery People ofonereligiondonothavethe f has todominatetherestortheyhave within onenation.Either,ofthem religions cannotliveasequalcitizens belief thatpeoplebelongingtodifferent o belonging tomajoritycomm political unit. dominance tak minority comm f or or or xtr oices insidee wn r one’ m dif ms inpolitics: m of es thef eme f Communalism cantakevarious This beliefisfundamentallyflawed. P A communalmindoftenleadstoa The mostcommonexpressionof olitical mobilisa eligious comm unalism isine s r or politicaldominanceof 2019-20 f eligion o adesir or er t comm ent na . m comm F v or or thosebelongingtothe er m of unity v y comm e tof tions unity unity er otherr unalism leadstothe equent f , tion onr . unity . itcantak . . T . v or majoritarian If er unity her m ase thef y eligions . da F e ar unity . . y beliefs or those All these ollo or eligious e man par one’ m of e the . T . , w this a er his te y s s . of laws applyto followers countr inheritance, etc.Inour divorce, adoption, such asmarriage, family relatedmatters laws thatdealwith Family laws: communal? that makeme religion. Does people fromone jokes about I oftencrack dif f er y, dif ent r f er eligions ent f Those amil . y
47 Gender, Religion and Caste We remain strangers Even after so many meetings Blood stains remain Even after so many rains ‘Faiz’
communalism. This involves the use of Secular state sacred symbols, religious leaders, Communalism was and continues to emotional appeal and plain fear in order be one of the major challenges to to bring the followers of one religion democracy in our country. The makers together in the political arena. In electoral of our Constitution were aware of this politics this often involves special appeal challenge. That is why they chose the to the interests or emotions of voters model of a secular state. This choice was of one religion in preference to others.
olitics reflected in several constitutional l Sometimes communalism takes its provisions that we studied last year: most ugly form of communal violence, l There is no official religion for the
atic P riots and massacre. India and Pakistan Indian state. Unlike the status of suffered some of the worst communal Buddhism in Sri Lanka, that of Islam in riots at the time of the Partition. The Pakistan and that of Christianity in post-Independence period has also seen England, our Constitution does not give
Democr large scale communal violence. a special status to any religion.
48 Download all NCERT books PDFs from www.ncert.online 2019-20 Download all NCERT books PDFs from books www.ncert.online NCERT all Download equality withinr matters ofreligioninordertoensure prejudices andpropagandaneedtobe combat communalism.Communal ours isnecessarybutnotsufficientto combated. AsecularConstitutionlike why communalismneedstobe threatens theveryideaofIndia.Thatis threat tosomepeopleinIndia.It Communalism shouldnotbeseenasa the f or per F is notjustanideolo Caste andpolitics allo l discrimination ongroundsofreligion. l r profess, practiceandpropagateany individuals andcommunitiesfreedomto l of has bothpositi final case,thatofcasteandpolitics, other largelynegative.Letusturntoour of politics,onelargelypositiveandthe expression ofsocialdivisionsinthearena g occupations arepassedon fromone e different from othersocietiesisthatin kind of is specialtoIndia.Allsocieties havesome Unlike genderandreligion,castedivision Caste inequalities W eligion, xtr ener or e e ha di ws thesta Understood inthissense,secularism eme f At thesametime,Constitution The Constitutionprohibits The Constitutionprovidestoall vision of xample a ounda sons tion toanother v socialinequalityandsomef e seentw ornottof or . T . , m of itbansuntouc tions of his ideaconstitutesoneof v la e andthene te tointer bour eligious comm this o instancesof ollo g . . y of Castesystemisan Inmostsocieties . W . w an ourcountr somepar ga ha v ha ene inthe y. ti t mak v bility e aspects unities . the or es it ties m y. . , . ‘outcaste’ of anddiscriminationagainst the fr group anddidnoteatwithmembers occupation, marriedwithinthecaste that practicedthesameorsimilar di this system,hereditaryoccupational r IX. Thatiswhypoliticalleaders andsocial about whichyouhavestudied inClass to theinhumanpracticeofuntouchability B supposed tof Members ofthesamecastegroupwere counter based mobilisationneedstobe countered ineverydaylifeandreligion- ef .R. om othercasteg vision w or Caste systemwasbasedonexclusion
Ambedkar mer 2019-20 ed inthear s lik g r as sanctionedb oups e J or andP otiba Phule m asocialcomm .T r ena of oups he eriy y w . ar R politics er e subjected , Gandhiji, amas y rituals . w unity ami . © Ajith Ninan - The Times of India
49 Gender, Religion and Caste Social and Religious Diversity of India The Census of India records the religion of each and every Indian after every ten years. The person who fills the Census form visits every household and records the religion of each member of that household exactly the way each person describes it. If someone says she has ‘no religion’ or that he is an ‘atheist’, this is exactly how it is recorded. Thus we have reliable information on the proportion of different religious communities in the country and how it has changed over the years. The pie chart below presents the population proportion of six major religious communities in the country. Since Independence, the total population of each community has increased substantially but their proportion in the country’s population has not changed much. In percentage terms, the population of the Hindus, Jains and Christians has declined marginally since 1961. The proportion of Muslim, Sikh and Buddhist population has increased slightly. There is a common but mistaken impression that the proportion of the Muslims in the country’s population is going to overtake other religious communities. Expert estimates done for the Prime Minister’s High Level Committee (popularly known as Sachar Committee) show that the proportion of the Muslims is expected to go up a little, by about 3 to 4 per cent, in the next 50 years. It proves that in overall terms, the population balance of different religious communities is not likely to change in a big way. The same is true of the major caste groups. The Census of India counts two social groups: the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes. Both these broad groups include hundreds of castes or tribes whose names are listed in an official Schedule. Hence the prefix ‘Scheduled’ in their name. The Scheduled Castes, commonly known as Dalits, include those that were previously regarded as ‘outcaste’ in the Hindu social order and were subjected to exclusion and untouchability. The Scheduled Tribes, often referred to as Adivasis, include those communities that led a secluded life usually in hills and forests and did not interact much with the rest of society. In 2011, the Scheduled Castes were 16.6 per cent and the Scheduled Tribes were 8.6 per cent of the country’s population. Population of different religious The Census does not yet count the communities in India, 2011 Other Backward Classes, the group we discussed in class IX. Hence there Hindu 79.8 are some differences about their proportion in the country’s population. The National Sample Survey of In % Muslim 2004-05 estimates their population to 14.2 olitics be around 41 per cent. Thus the SC, ST and the OBC together account for about two-thirds of the country’s Others 2% Christian 2.3 atic P population and about three-fourths of Others include Buddhist 0.7% Jain 0.4% Other Religions and Persuasions 0.7% the Hindu population. Sikh 1.7 Religion not stated 0.2% Source: Census of India, 2011 Democr
50 Download all NCERT books PDFs from www.ncert.online 2019-20 Download all NCERT books PDFs from books www.ncert.online NCERT all Download of landlords inthevillages,oldnotions the weakeningofposition the countr at thechangethathascomeaboutin to India,shewouldbegreatlysurprised who livedacenturyagoweretoreturn injustices ofthecastesystem.Ifaperson foundations ofpoliciestoreversethe caste-based discriminationandlaidthe Constitution ofIndiaprohibitedany the nexttableinarestaurant.The along nexttousonastreetoreatingat it doesnotmattermuchwhoiswalking la prohibited fromacquiringithave naturally not haveaccesstoeducation orwere education aswell.Thosegroups thatdid done verywellinacquiringmodern education undertheoldsystemhave The castegroupsthathadaccessto disad centuries ofadvantagesand constitutional prohibition.Effectsof not endedcompletel own casteortribe.Untouchabilityhas now mostpeoplemarrywithintheir aspects ofcastehavepersisted.Even contemporary India.Someoftheolder economic development,largescale URBANISATION ha castes andcastesysteminmodernIndia due toothersocio-economicchanges, inequalities areabsent. establish asocietyinwhichcaste Naicker advocatedandworkedto c ‘upper caste’ among theurbanmiddle disproportionately largepresence of No educa lasses inourcountr gg v CASTE w, e under Y Partly duetotheireffortsandpartly ed behind. v et castehasnotdisa mostof tion, anta
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MOBILITY h y, y ther despite elt toda es ed fr . W . ues to e isa and om eas ith y. tribes findaplace init. that representatives ofdifferentcastesand f to winelections castes soastomusternecessary support nominate candidatesfrom different composition oftheelectorate and elections, theykeepinmindthecaste sole basisof is rootedinthebeliefthatcaste As inthecaseofcommunalism,casteism Caste inpolitics l Caste cantak or themostimportantaspect. experience butitisnottheonlyrelevant experience. Casteisoneaspectofour such abeliefisnotborneoutbyour As wesawinthecaseofcommunalism, not sharewithanyonefromanothercaste. have thesameinterestswhichtheydo belong toanaturalsocialcommunityand people belongingtothesamecaste According tothiswayofthinking, be c (See PlusBoxonPage52.) or med, caste? talking about casteism by not promoting textbook? Arewe all thisinthe are wediscussing my casteis.Why I don’tcarewhat When partieschoosecandidatesin losel 2019-20 politicalpar y link e v . W . ed toeconomicsta arious f socialcomm hen g ties usuall or ov ms inpolitics: er nments ar y tak unity e car tus e e . . about it? if wekeepmum Will castedisappear in PoliticalScience? we shoulddiscussit there isdomination, me thatwherever it! Didn’tyoutell Now youdon’tlike ‘lo the ‘highest’to the groups areplacedfrom which allthecaste lad Caste hierarchy: ancestor those practicedbytheir occupations otherthan new generationtakesup another, usuallywhena one occupationto mobility: Occupational ar population fromrural Urbanisation: eas tourbanar w der lik est’ castes s. e f Shift from or . ma Shiftof eas tion in A .
51 Gender, Religion and Caste Caste inequality today Caste is an important source of economic inequality because it regulates access to resources of various kinds. For example, in the past, the so-called ‘untouchable’ castes were denied the right to own land, while only the so-called ‘twice born’ castes had the right to education. Although this kind of explicit and formalised inequality based on caste is now outlawed, the effects of centuries of accumulated advantages and disadvantages continue to be felt. Moreover, new kinds of inequalities have also developed. The relationship between caste and economic status has certainly changed a lot. Today, it is possible to find very rich and very poor people in every caste, whether ‘low’ or ‘high’. This was not true even twenty or thirty years ago – it was very rare indeed to find rich people among the ‘lowest’ castes. However, as this evidence from the National Sample Survey shows, caste continues to be very strongly linked to economic status in many important ways: l The average economic status (measured by criteria like monthly consumption expenditure) of caste groups still follows the old hierarchy – the ‘upper’ castes are best off, the Dalits and Adivasis are worst off, and the backward classes are in between. l Although every caste has some poor members, the proportion living in extreme poverty (below the official ‘poverty line’) is much higher for the lowest castes and much lower for the upper castes, with the backward classes once again in between. l Although every caste has some members who are rich, the upper castes are heavily over-represented among the rich while the lower castes are severely under-represented. Percentage of poulation living below the poverty line, 1999-2000 Caste and Community groups Rural Urban Scheduled Tribes 45.8 35.6 Scheduled Castes 35.9 38.3 Other Backward Classes 27.0 29.5 Muslim Upper Castes 26.8 34.2 Hindu Upper Castes 11.7 9.9 Christian Upper Castes 9.6 5.4 olitics Sikh Upper Castes 0.0 4.9 Other Upper Castes 16.0 2.7
atic P All Groups 27.0 23.4 Note: ‘Upper Caste’ here means those who are not from SC, ST, or OBC. Below the poverty line means those who spent Rs 327 or less per person per month in rural and Rs 454 or less per person per month in urban areas. Source: National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO), Government of India, 55th Round, 1999-2000 Democr
52 Download all NCERT books PDFs from www.ncert.online 2019-20 Download all NCERT books PDFs from books www.ncert.online NCERT all Download ar are knowntofavoursomecastesand to mustersupport.Somepoliticalparties elections makeappealstocastesentiment these: else. Thatisfarfromtrue.Justconsider elections areallaboutcasteandnothing sometimes giveanimpressionthat inf castes thatwerehithertotreatedas consciousness amongthepeopleof political support.Italsobroughtnew to thetaskofmobilisingandsecuring compelled politicalleaderstogearup principle ofone-person-one-vote countr or MLAfrequentlyloseelections inour l caste. voters havenocandidatefromtheir candidate fromtheircastewhilemany Some votershavemorethanone electorate inaparticularconstituency). caste isbelievedtodominatethe candidates fromthesamecaste(ifthat l v l sing the countryhasaclearmajorityofone l l l elections than onecasteandcommunitytowin needs towintheconfidenceofmore v proportion ofthevotersfromthatcaste of people saythatacasteis‘votebank’ fr if allcastes and communitieswere oter ote f oz e seenastheirr onepar erior andlo le caste The focusoncasteinpoliticscan en intheirpolitical pr Universal adultfranchiseandthe P The rulingpartyandthesitting MP Many politicalpartiesmayputup No partywinsthevotesofall No parliamentaryconstituencyin s of olitical par or tha y.T . acasteorcomm ha ty . So t par , itusuall t couldnotha , w. e v ty ties andcandida e er pr . y candida esenta y meanstha ef ti v unity er v e ha te andpar es ences . ppened . W . t alar tes in . hen ge ty in elections the leadersmatterandareoftendecisive government andthepopularityratingof assessment of their casteorcomm often strongerthantheirattachmentto attachment topoliticalpartieswhichis to acasteas‘vote banks’? Do youthinkthat politicalleadersareright totreatpeoplebelonging W Politics incaste often v men andwomenfromthesamecaste economic condition.Richandpooror different interestsdependingontheir the samecasteorcommunityhave f electoral politics,sodomanyother and politics is onlyaone-wayrelationbetweencaste to politics bringing themintothepoliticalarena. caste systemandidentitiesby actor e ha Clear v e sof s. T 2019-20 ote v . Butitdoesnotmeantha ly, . . ar look he v P w er olitics tooinf theperf hile castema y dif oter ed a unity f er s ha t w or entl . P mance of ha eople within v luences the y. t castedoes e str P tter eople’ t ther ong s in the e s
© Ajith Ninan - India Today Book of Cartoons
53 Gender, Religion and Caste Thus, it is not politics that gets caste- ridden, it is the caste that gets politicised. This takes several forms: l Each caste group tries to become bigger by incorporating within it neighbouring castes or sub-castes which were earlier excluded from it. l Various caste groups are required to enter into a coalition with other castes or communities and thus enter into a dialogue and negotiation. l New kinds of caste groups have come up in the political arena like ‘backward’ and ‘forward’ caste groups. Thus, caste plays different kinds of roles in politics. In some situations, expression of caste differences in politics gives many disadvantaged communities the space to demand their share of power. In this sense-caste politics has helped people from Dalits and OBC castes to gain better access to decision making. Several political and non-political organisations have been demanding and agitating for an end to discrimination against particular castes, for more dignity and more access to land, resources and opportunities. At the same time exclusive attention to caste can produce negative results as well. As in the case of religion, politics based on caste identity alone is not very healthy in a democracy. It can divert attention from other pressing issues like poverty, development and corruption. In some cases caste division leads to olitics tensions, conflict and even violence. atic P Democr
54 Download all NCERT books PDFs from www.ncert.online 2019-20 Download all NCERT books PDFs from books www.ncert.online NCERT all Download 1. 4. 3. 2. 5. 6. 7. 9. 8. 10. 11. or disadvantagedinIndia. election resultsinIndia. bodies? secular state. C. B. A. politics. Communalpoliticsisbasedonthebeliefthat: Consider thefollowingstatementsonmeaningofcommunal (d) (c) (b) (a) In Indiaseatsarereservedforwomenin (d) (c) (b) (a) ( D. (d) (c) (b) (a) is wrong?It Mention differentaspectsoflifeinwhichwomenarediscriminated State tworeasonstosaythatcastealonecannotdetermine State howcasteinequalitiesarestillcontinuinginIndia. State differentformsofcommunalpoliticswithoneexampleeach. What isthestatusofwomen’srepresentationinIndia’slegislative Mention anytwoconstitutionalprovisionsthatmakeIndiaa When wespeakofgenderdivisions,usuallyreferto: Which amongthefollowingstatementsaboutIndia’s Constitution Social divisionsbasedon ______arepeculiartoIndia. a) A,B,C,andD F as equalcitizens. People belongingtodifferentreligionscanlivetogetherhappily One religionissuperiortothatofothers. Panchayati Rajbodies Cabinets State legislativeassemblies Lok Sabha Absence ofvotingrightsforwomenindemocracies Unequal childsexratio Unequal rolesassignedbythesocietytomenandwomen Biological differencebetweenmenandwomen Which ofthestatementsis/arecorrect? one religiousgroupoverothers. State powercannotbeusedtoestablishthedominationof ensures equalityofcitizens withinreligiouscommunities. provides toallindividualsfreedomprofessany religion. gives officialstatustoonereligion. prohibits discriminationongroundsofreligion. ollowers ofaparticularreligionconstituteonecommunit (b)A,B,andD(c)AC(d)B 2019-20 y. Exercises
55 Gender, Religion and Caste 12. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists:
List I List II
1. A person who believes in equal rights and opportunities for women and men A. Communalist 2. A person who says that religion is the principal basis of community B. Feminist 3. A person who thinks that caste is the principal basis of community C. Secularist 4. A person who does not discriminate others on the basis of religious beliefs D. Castiest
1 2 3 4 (a) B C A D (b) B A D C (c) D C A B (d) C A B D ercises olitics Ex atic P Democr
56 Download all NCERT books PDFs from www.ncert.online 2019-20 Download all NCERT books PDFs from books www.ncert.online NCERT all Download and pr chapter withadiscussionofhowstrugglesaroundconflictingdemands to balancetheseconflictingdemandsandpressures.Webeginthis often expressedinorganisedways.Thosewhoarepowerrequired involves conflictofinterestsandviewpoints.Thesedifferencesare influence andpressureexertedonthem.Democracyalmostinvariably further andseehowthosewhoexercisepowerareconstrainedbythe political powerintheformofparties. This leadsusinthenextchaptertodirect ways ofcontrolling of influencingpolitics,throughpressuregroups andmovements. social gr in ademocracyandhowdifferenttiersofgovernmentvarious In theearlierchapterswediscussedwhypowersharingisimportant Overview Mo Struggles and P play ar different waysandorganisationsthroughwhich ordinary citizencan opular essur ole indemocr oups s es s har hape democr e power v acy . Inthi ement . Inthi acy s chapter s chapterwewillcarrythi . Thi 2019-20 s leadstoananaly , welookattheindir s di si s ofthe s ect way scu ssion s Chapter 5
57 Popular Struggles and Movements Popular struggles in Nepal and Bolivia
Do you remember the story of the king formally remained the head of the triumph of democracy in Poland? We state, the real power was exercised by studied it last year in the first chapter popularly elected representatives. King of class IX. The story reminded us Birendra, who has accepted this transition about the role played by the people from absolute monarchy to constitutional in the making of democracy. Let us monarchy, was killed in a mysterious read two recent stories of that kind massacre of the royal family in 2001. and see how power is exercised in King Gyanendra, the new king of Nepal, democracy. was not prepared to accept democratic rule. He took advantage of the weakness Movement for democracy in and unpopularity of the democratically Nepal elected government. In February 2005, Nepal witnessed an extraordinary the king dismissed the then Prime Minister popular movement in April 2006. The and dissolved the popularly elected movement was aimed at restoring Parliament. The movement of April democracy. Nepal, you might recall, was 2006 was aimed at regaining popular one of the ‘third wave’ countries that had control over the government from won democracy in 1990. Although the the king. olitics atic P Democr
58 Download all NCERT books PDFs from www.ncert.online 2019-20 Download all NCERT books PDFs from books www.ncert.online NCERT all Download and pr chapter withadiscussionofhowstrugglesaroundconflictingdemands to balancetheseconflictingdemandsandpressures.Webeginthis often expressedinorganisedways.Thosewhoarepowerrequired involves conflictofinterestsandviewpoints.Thesedifferencesare influence andpressureexertedonthem.Democracyalmostinvariably further andseehowthosewhoexercisepowerareconstrainedbythe political powerintheformofparties. This leadsusinthenextchaptertodirect ways ofcontrolling of influencingpolitics,throughpressuregroups andmovements. social gr in ademocracyandhowdifferenttiersofgovernmentvarious In theearlierchapterswediscussedwhypowersharingisimportant Overview Mo Struggles and P play ar different waysandorganisationsthroughwhich ordinary citizencan opular essur ole indemocr oups s es s har hape democr e power v acy . Inthi ement . Inthi acy s chapter s chapterwewillcarrythi . Thi 2019-20 s leadstoananaly , welookattheindir s di si s ofthe s ect way scu ssion s Chapter 5
57 Popular Struggles and Movements Popular struggles in Nepal and Bolivia
Do you remember the story of the king formally remained the head of the triumph of democracy in Poland? We state, the real power was exercised by studied it last year in the first chapter popularly elected representatives. King of class IX. The story reminded us Birendra, who has accepted this transition about the role played by the people from absolute monarchy to constitutional in the making of democracy. Let us monarchy, was killed in a mysterious read two recent stories of that kind massacre of the royal family in 2001. and see how power is exercised in King Gyanendra, the new king of Nepal, democracy. was not prepared to accept democratic rule. He took advantage of the weakness Movement for democracy in and unpopularity of the democratically Nepal elected government. In February 2005, Nepal witnessed an extraordinary the king dismissed the then Prime Minister popular movement in April 2006. The and dissolved the popularly elected movement was aimed at restoring Parliament. The movement of April democracy. Nepal, you might recall, was 2006 was aimed at regaining popular one of the ‘third wave’ countries that had control over the government from won democracy in 1990. Although the the king. olitics atic P Democr
58 Download all NCERT books PDFs from www.ncert.online 2019-20 Download all NCERT books PDFs from books www.ncert.online NCERT all Download © Min Bajarachya r gathered almosteverydaytodemand to takeonmorethanalakhpeoplewho security forcesfoundthemselvesunable or insurgents andvariousother par hear of themovementrejected thehalf- strik curf Alliance (SP fiv of protestersreachedbetween threeand indefinite strikeinwhich This protestsoonturnedintoan They stuck to t an ultima Political partiesandpeopleofNepalinarallydemandingrestorationdemocracytheircountry estor g e lakhson21 anisa liament f All themaj e inK e ted concessions madeb w andtooktothestr a tion of tions joinedhands a tum totheking thmandu, A) andcalledf democr or or politicalpartiesinthe A med aSe heir demands for pril andthe thecountr ac y.T . P . T . or af eople def v he n y theking he leader eets en P y’ y ser M s ca our umber AOIST . . T pital. ar -da v ied he ed ty y s . to democrats all overtheworld. Nepali people isasourceofinspiration a ne democratic republic.In2015, itadopted abolished andNepalbecame afederal elected. In2008,themonarchy was Con understanding abouthowthenew king taking awaymostofthepowers restored parliamentme Minister oftheinterimgovernment.The Girija PrasadKoiralaasthenewPrime all thethr ultimatum, thekingwasforcedtoconcede constituent assemb an all-partygovernmentandanew restoration ofparliament,powerto . . T On 24April2006,thelastdayof w constitution. stituent Assemblywasgoingtobe he SP 2019-20 ee demands A andtheMaoistscametoan ly. T he str . T t andpassedlaws he SP ug g le of A c hose the peasants andworkers. establish therule ofthe revolution soasto through anarmed overthrow thegovernment Revolution. Theyseekto leader oftheChinese in theideolo communists whobelieve Maoists: Those g y of Mao , the
59 Popular Struggles and Movements Bolivia’s Water War Democracy and popular The story of Poland and that of Nepal struggles apply to the struggle for establishing or These two stories are from very different restoring democracy. But the role of contexts. The movement in Nepal was popular struggles does not come to an to establish democracy, while the struggle end with the establishment of democracy. in Bolivia involved claims on an elected, People’s successful struggle against democratic government. The popular struggle in Bolivia was about one specific privatisation of water in Bolivia reminds policy, while the struggle in Nepal was us that popular struggles are integral to about the foundations of the country’s the working of democracy. politics. Both these struggles were Bolivia is a poor country in Latin successful but their impact was at America. The World Bank pressurised the different levels. government to give up its control of Despite these differences, both the municipal water supply. The government stories share some elements which are sold these rights for the city of relevant to the study of the past and Cochabamba to a multi-national future of democracies. Both these are company (MNC). The company instances of political conflict that led to immediately increased the price of water popular struggles. In both cases the by four times. Many people received struggle involved mass mobilisation. monthly water bill of Rs 1000 in a Public demonstration of mass support country where average income is around clinched the dispute. Finally, both Rs 5000 a month. This led to a instances involved critical role of political spontaneous popular protest. organisations. If you recall the first chapter of Class IX textbook, this is how In January 2000, a new alliance of democracy has evolved all over the labour, human rights and community world. We can, therefore, draw a few leaders organised a successful four-day conclusions from these examples: general strike in the city. The government l Democracy evolves through agreed to negotiate and the strike was popular struggles. It is possible that some called off. Yet nothing happened. The significant decisions may take place police resorted to brutal repression when through consensus and may not involve the agitation was started again in February. any conflict at all. But that would be an Another strike followed in April and the exception. Defining moments of government imposed martial law. But the democracy usually involve conflict power of the people forced the officials between those groups who have
olitics of the MNC to flee the city and made exercised power and those who aspire Are you the government concede to all the for a share in power. These moments suggesting that demands of the protesters. The contract come when the country is going through strike, dharna,
atic P transition to democracy, expansion of bandh and with the MNC was cancelled and water demonstration supply was restored to the municipality democracy or deepening of democracy. are good for at old rates. This came to be known as l Democratic conflict is resolved democracy? Bolivia’s water war. through mass mobilisation. Sometimes Democr
60 Download all NCERT books PDFs from www.ncert.online 2019-20 Download all NCERT books PDFs from books www.ncert.online NCERT all Download l str look attheorganisationsthatmadethese Let usgobac Mobilisation andorganisations par by usingtheexistinginstitutionslike it ispossiblethat from outside,thepe dispute. Theresolutionhastocome institutions themselvesgetinvolvedinthe there isadeepdispute,veryoftenthese SP call forindefinitestrikewasgivenbythe belie Communist Party(Maoist)which didnot The protestwasjoinedbythe Nepalese organisation behindthismass upsurge. P that hadsomemembers inthe This allianceincludedsomebigparties ar for makingpaperpulp.In1987,amovementcalled However thecompanybegantoplanteucalyptustreesonthisland,whichcouldbeused years. Muchofthislandwasusedbylocalfarmersasgrazingfortheircattle. Limited. About30,000hectaresoflandwasgivenvirtuallyfreetothiscompanyfor40 forw planted saplingsoftreesthatwereusefultothepeople. plant) startedanon-violentprotest,wherepeoplepluckedtheeucalyptusplantsand official workinginthiscompan A ortheSe ug liament. liament orthejudiciar These conflictsandmobilisationsare v g e inpar Suppose youbelongtoanyofthefollowinggroups,whatargumentswouldput les successful. In 1984,theKarnatakagovernmentsetupacompanycalledPulpwood ard todefendy ButtheSP liamenta v k toourtwoexamplesand en P theconflictisresolved ar ty W r A w y democr Alliance inNe e notedtha our side:alocalfarmer as nottheonl ople. y. Butw ac y.T t the hen pal. his y orjustaconsumerofpaper y base of Nepal. established itscontroloverlargeparts against theNepaligovernmentandhad or becomes effectivewiththehelpof spontaneous publicparticipation or ag Tr pa in allsuc and m include politicalparties,pressuregroups extended support tothemovement. lawyers a of theindigenouspeople, teachers, other organisationsliketheorganisation federations joinedthismovement. Many All themajorlabourunions andtheir g g encies of r ue anisa ty w anised politics T d onne , ther he str ov as in 2019-20 tions otherthanpoliticalpar , anen ement g h historicmoments e isanelementof nd humanrightsgroups v or olv w politicalor ug g ed inanar g anised politics vironmental activist,ago r le in oups .T Kittiko-Hachchiko her . v e canbeman olv med str spontaneity g . anisa ed man . Butthe . T . tions ug hese ties g le y y . . (meaning,pluckand v democracy? is Right’ina saying that‘Might wants? Arewe with whateverit crowd getsaway mobilise abigger manages to whichever side Does itmeanthat ernment
61 Popular Struggles and Movements The protest against water their role in two ways. One obvious way privatisation in Bolivia was not led by of influencing the decisions in a any political party. It was led by an democracy is direct participation in organisation called FEDECOR. This competitive politics. This is done by organisation comprised local creating parties, contesting elections and professionals, including engineers and forming governments. But every citizen environmentalists. They were supported does not participate so directly. They by a federation of farmers who relied may not have the desire, the need or I don’t like this on irrigation, the confederation of the skills to take part in direct political word factory workers’ unions, middle class activity other than voting. ‘mobilisation’. students from the the University of Makes it feel as if There are many indirect ways in people are like Cochabamba and the city’s growing which people can get governments to sheep. population of homeless street children. listen to their demands or their points The movement was supported by the of view. They could do so by forming Socialist Party. In 2006, this party came an organisation and undertaking activities to power in Bolivia. to promote their interests or their From both these examples, we can viewpoints. These are called interest see that in a democracy several different groups or pressure groups. Sometimes kinds of organisations work behind any people decide to act together without big struggle. These organisations play forming organisations. olitics The Hindu atic P © Keshav - Governments initiate schemes and programmes to alleviate the suffering of the poor and meet their basic needs. But poverty remains in the country. What could be the reasons for such a situation? Democr
62 Download all NCERT books PDFs from www.ncert.online 2019-20 Download all NCERT books PDFs from books www.ncert.online NCERT all Download policies attempt toinfluencegovernment Pressure groups contr pressure groupsdonotaimtodirectly or not quiteanor above wecameacrossentities thatare in ordertoachieveacommon objective. aspirations oropinionscometogether with commonoccupation,interest, democr in Nepalwas calledamovement Pressure groupsandmovements g anisa In thecourseofdiscussion ol orshar . ac Butunlik tions ar y.W g e oftenhear the w e politicalpo anisa e f are organisationsthat or e politicalpar med w tion. T hen people he str w er . T . ug hese ties or for g le d , f to Inf Bachao Andolan,MovementforRight W people’ Mo making ismor loose organisation.Their decision interest groups,movements havea electoral competition.Butunlikethe politics ratherthandirectlytakepartin movement alsoattemptstoinfluence inter spontaneous mass participationthanan They dependmuch more on or omen ms of v est g ement. or s mo 2019-20 ma ’ s Mo r collecti oup tion, Lik v ement todescribeman v . e inf ement,
Anti-liquor Mo e aninter v e action: or mal andf En vir est g Nar onmental v r le ement, oup mada xib , le a y . making? What demandarethey clippings givenhere? functioning inthenews pressure groups Can youidentifythe
63 Popular Struggles and Movements Sectional interest groups and public interest groups Usually interest groups seek to promote the interests of a particular section or group of society. Trade unions, business associations and professional (lawyers, doctors, teachers, etc.) bodies are some examples of this type. They are sectional because they represent a section of society: workers, employees, business- persons, industrialists, followers of a religion, caste group, etc. Their principal concern is the betterment and well-being of their members, not society in general. Sometimes these organisations are not about representing the interest of one section of society. They represent some common or general interest that needs to be defended. The members of the organisation may not benefit from the cause that the organisation represents. The Bolivian organisation, FEDECOR is an example of that kind of an organisation. In the context of Nepal, we noted the participation of human rights organisations. We read about these organisations in Class IX. These second type of groups are called promotional groups or public interest groups. They promote collective rather than selective good. They aim to help groups other than their own members. For example, a group fighting against bonded labour fights not for itself but for those who are suffering under such bondage. In some instances the
olitics members of a public interest group may undertake activity that benefits them as well as others too. For example, © wikipedia.com BAMCEF (Backward and Minority atic P Land rights protest: farmers of West Java, Indonesia. In June 2004, about 15,000 landless farmers from West Java, travelled to Jakarta, Communities Employees Federation) is the capital city. They came with their families to demand land reform, to an organisation largely made up of insist on the return of their farms. Demonstrators chanted, “No land, No vote” declaring that they would boycott Indonesia’s first direct government employees that campaigns presidential election if no candidate backed land reform. Democr against caste discrimination. It addresses
64 Download all NCERT books PDFs from www.ncert.online 2019-20 Download all NCERT books PDFs from books www.ncert.online NCERT all Download inc groups involvedwithmovementsalso As inthecaseofinterestgroups, Movement groups f is withsocialjusticeandequality discrimination. Butitsprincipalconcern the problemsofitsmemberswhosuffer tha India, g movements thatseektoachieveabroad Others aremoregeneralorgeneric objective withinalimitedtimeframe. movements thatseektoachieveasingle the movementsareissue-specific indicate asimpledistinction.Mostof examples mentionedabovealready objecti democracy arosewiththespecific movement. Themovementstartedwith good exampleofthiskind or theentir oal inthev lude av t ledtosuspensionof The Nepalesemovementfor Nar v e of er mada Bac e society er r y widev ev y longter er sing theking’ . ariety hao m. democr Andolan isa .T he v s or ac arious der y . In s dam ontheNar by thecreationofSardarSarovar the specificissueofpeopledisplaced de such bigdamsandthemodelof wider movementthatquestionedall constructed. Graduallyitbecamea was tostopthedamfrombeing long ter be contrastedwithmovementsthatare But theiractivelifeisusuallyshort. clear leadershipandsomeorganisation. Movements ofthiskindtendtohavea the w issue. Theenvironmentalmovementand of mo organisation thatcontrolsorguidessuch organisations, independent mo organisations andissue-specific is alabelforlargenumberof and oftendifferentviewsonpolicy v suc v v elopment tha These single-issuemovementscan ements ements omen h mo 2019-20 m andin . ’ v . s mo En ements All of mada ri vir v t r v ement ar onmental mo olv theseha equir . T e mor her v er ed suc . e isnosing Itsobjecti e v
e thanone leadership e se xamples h dams v par ement a ve te le . them. here showssomeof many ways.Thecollage mobilise citizensin pressure groupstryto Social movementsand
65 Popular Struggles and Movements National Alliance for Peoples’ Movements (NAPM) is an organisation of organisations. Various movement groups struggling on specific issues are constituents of this loose organisation which coordinates the activities of a large number of peoples’ movements in our country. How do they influence politics? Pressure groups and movements exert The Hindu influence on politics in a variety of ways: l They try to gain public support and sympathy for their goals and their © Surendra - activities by carrying out information Many democratic related matters. Yet all of these share a campaigns, organising meetings, filing governments provide broad objective and have a similar petitions, etc. Most of these groups try the Right to Information to influence the media into giving more (RTI) to the citizens. approach. That is why they are called a The RTI Act, 2005 is a movement. Sometimes these broad attention to these issues. landmark legislation passed by our movements have a loose umbrella l They often organise protest activity Parliament. Under this organisation as well. For example, the like strikes or disrupting government Act, citizens can seek information from government offices pertaining to different activities. Do you think the cartoon exaggerates the obstructionist role of bureaucracy in the implementation of the Act? olitics atic P
What are the social movements listed in these news clippings? What efforts are they making? Which sections are they trying to mobilise? Democr
66 Download all NCERT books PDFs from www.ncert.online 2019-20 Download all NCERT books PDFs from books www.ncert.online NCERT all Download position onmajorissues gr between politicalpartiesandpressure T direct andothersveryindirect: to tak tactics inordertoforcethegovernment movement groupsoftenresorttothese employees’ associationsandmostofthe tak usuall leaders ofsuchpressuregroupsare par they seektoexertinfluenceonpolitical do notdirectlyengageinpartypolitics, government. and committeesthatofferadvicetothe groups mayparticipateinofficialbodies from pressuregroupsormovement l e professional lobbyistsorsponsor l pr gr other majorpoliticalpar esta organisations inIndiaareeither example, mosttradeunionsandstudents’ e leaders ofpoliticalpartiesoractas xpensi xtended ar he newspaper ifyoudon’t have TVathome. tr television news?Which sections orinterestsgetmentionedtheleast? Y oups cantak oups ar ogr to pressuregroupsormovements representingthefollowingsectorsor sections:farmers, e apoliticalstancewithoutbeingpar ties b aders, labour y ha While interestgroupsandmovements Business groupsoftenemploy In someinstances,thepressure lished b e noteof y acti ammes . Mostof v Follow thenewsonany newsTVchannelforoneweek.Makeanoteof newsrelated v e ad e politicalideolo e eitherf vists andleader ms of v y, . W . er oraf theirdemands e dif tisements themo or politicalpar , industry or k f f ilia er er med orledb s’ ent f . T . ted tooneorthe or v ty . g Someper he r ement g y andpolitical s of . Mostof g or anisa ela , en ms . par ties tionship , some r tions ty vironment andwomen. Which ofthesearementionedmoston y the oups . sons F . the or ty . , up b raised newissuesthathavebeentaken negotiation. Movementgroupshave section toha for gro It mayinitiallyappearthatitisnothealthy Is theirinf eac often takepositionsthatareopposedto movement groupsisnotsodirect.They between partiesandinterestor l of l the f the ‘foreigners’cametoanend,itled Assam movementledbystudentsagainst fr leadership ofpoliticalpartiescomes without r seem thatthesegroupswieldpower of democracy mustlookaftertheinterests DMK andthe Parishad. Therootsofpartieslikethe not gettheirfundsandsupport Pressure groupsandmovementsmay groups arenotaccountabletothepeople. to facethepeopleinelections,butthese 1940s r can betracedtoalong-drawnsocial ef om inter all, mo or h other In mostcasestherelationship Sometimes politicalpartiesgrowout y politicalpar m mo . or notjustonesection. v ups thatpromoteinterestofone ements 2019-20 ma esponsibility est ormo . Y . v tion of v ement duringthe1930sand luence health et the e inf AIADMK in . F luence indemocr or e ties y ar v . the P ement g . xample Mostof olitical par e indialo Asom Gana
Also T , r amil Nadu y? w oups thene gue and ties ha hen the , itma ac . y.A ve w y ou ma y followa
67 Popular Struggles and Movements The Green Belt Movement has planted 30 million trees across Kenya. Its leader Wangari Maathai is very disappointed with the response of government officials and politicians: “In the 1970s and 1980s, as I was encouraging farmers to plant trees on their land, I also discovered that corrupt government agents were responsible for much of the deforestation by illegally selling off land and trees to well-connected developers. In the early 1990’s, the livelihoods, the rights and even the lives of many Kenyans in the Rift Valley were lost when elements of President Daniel Arap Moi’s government encouraged ethnic communities to attack one another over land. Supporters of the ruling party got the land, while those in the pro-democracy movement were displaced. This was one of the government’s ways of retaining power; if communities were kept busy fighting over land, they would have less opportunity to demand democracy.” In the above passage what relationship do you see between democracy and social movements? How should this movement respond to the government?
from the people. Sometimes, pressure the government of the needs and groups with small public support but lots concerns of ordinary citizens. of money can hijack public discussion in Even the sectional interest groups favour of their narrow agenda. play a valuable role. Where different On balance, however, pressure groups function actively, no one single groups and movements have deepened group can achieve dominance over democracy. Putting pressure on the rulers society. If one group brings pressure on is not an unhealthy activity in a democracy Alen Lauzan Falcon - Cagle Cartoons Inc. government to make policies in its © as long as everyone gets this opportunity. favour, another will bring counter Governments can often come under pressure not to make policies in the way undue pressure from a small group of the first group desires. The government rich and powerful people. Public gets to hear about what different sections interest groups and movements of the population want. This leads to a olitics perform a useful role of countering rough balance of power and this undue influence and reminding accommodation of conflicting interests. atic P
This cartoon is called ‘News and No News’. Who is most often visible in the media? Whom are we most likely to hear about in newspapers? Democr
68 Download all NCERT books PDFs from www.ncert.online 2019-20 Download all NCERT books PDFs from books www.ncert.online NCERT all Download 1. 2. 3. 5. 4. 6. 8. 7. on politics? political parties? functioning ofademocraticgovernment. political party? and lawyersarecalled______groups. of specificsocialsectionssuchasworkers,employees,teachers, the correctanswerusingcodesgivenbelowlists: (d) (c) (b) (a) distinguishes apressuregroupfrompoliticalparty? In whatwaysdopressuregroupsandmovementsexertinfluence Describe theformsofrelationshipbetweenpressuregroupsand Explain howtheactivitiesofpressuregroupsareusefulin What isthedifferencebetweenapressuregroupand What isapressuregroup?Givefewexamples. Organisations thatundertakeactivitiestopromotetheinterests Match ListI(organisationsandstruggles)withIIselect Which amongthefollowingisspecialfeaturethat 4. 3. 2. 1. (c) (d) (a) (b) Pr parties do. Pressure groupsdonotseektogetintopower involve largernumberofpeople. Pressure groupsareconfinedtoafewpeople,whileparties bother aboutpoliticalissues. Parties takepoliticalstances,whilepressuregroupsdonot essure groupsdonotseektomobilisepeople,whilepartiesdo. with aviewtowinpoliticalpower Organisations thatmobilisepeople an organisationalstructure of asocialproblemwithorwithout Struggles launchedfortheresolution common interest Organisations thatseektopromote or group the interestsofaparticularsection Organisations thatseektopromote List I D C C B 4 3 2 1 C C D D D A B B A A A B 2019-20 groups D. Publicinterest groups C. Sectionalinterest B. Politicalparties A. Movement List II , whilepolitical Exercises
69 Popular Struggles and Movements 9. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: List I List II
1. Pressure group A. Narmada Bachao Andolan 2. Long-term movement B. Asom Gana Parishad 3. Single issue movement C. Women’s movement 4. Political party D. Fertilizer dealers’ association
1 2 3 4 (a) D C A B (b) B A D C (c) C D B A (d) B D C A
10. Consider the following statements about pressure groups and parties. A. Pressure groups are the organised expression of the interests and views of specific social sections. B. Pressure groups take positions on political issues. C. All pressure groups are political parties. Which of the statements given above are correct? (a) A, B, and C (b) A and B (c) B and C (d) A and C 11. Mewat is one of the most backward areas in Haryana. It used to be a part of two districts, Gurgaon and Faridabad. The people of Mewat felt that the area will get better attention if it were to become a separate district. But political parties were indifferent to this sentiment. The demand for a separate district was raised by Mewat Educational and Social Organisation and Mewat Saksharta Samiti in 1996. Later, Mewat Vikas Sabha was founded in 2000 and carried out a series of public awareness campaigns. ercises This forced both the major parties, Congress and the Indian National Lok Dal, to announe their support for the new district before the assembly elections held in February 2005. The new district came into existence in July 2005. In this example what is the relationship that you observe among movement, political parties and the government? Can you think of an olitics example that shows a relationship different from this one? Ex atic P Democr
70 Download all NCERT books PDFs from www.ncert.online 2019-20 Download all NCERT books PDFs from books www.ncert.online NCERT all Download As webegintowindupourtourofdemocr Overview question beyond ourdiscussionofspecificthemesandaskageneralset fr well-being, inequality of democracyinvariousrespects:qualitygovernment,economic this subject,weproceedtolookattheexpectedandactualoutcomes and finalchapter leads ustothinkaboutthechallengesdemocracy inthenext the outcomesofdemocr expectations inreallife?Webeginbythinkingabouthowtoassess reasonably expectofdemocracy?Also,doesdemocracyfulfilthese Democr Outcomes of eedom anddignity s: Whatdoesdemocr . . Ourfinalv , socialdiffer acy . Aftersomeclarityonhowtothink acy do?Or er dict –positiv 2019-20 ences andconflictfinally , whatoutcomescanwe acy acy , iti e butqualified– s timetomo ve
Chapter 7
89 Outcomes of Democracy How do we assess democracy’s outcomes?
Do you remember how students in in principle, but felt to be not so good in Madam Lyngdoh’s class argued about its practice. This dilemma invites us to democracy? This was in Chapter 2 of think hard about the outcomes of Class IX textbook. It emerged from that democracy. Do we prefer democracy conversation that democracy is a better only for moral reasons? Or are there form of government when compared some prudential reasons to support with dictatorship or any other alternative. democracy too? Did we reach We felt that democracy was better Over a hundred countries of the these because it: world today claim and practice some conclusions in l Promotes equality among citizens; kind of democratic politics: they have Madam Lyngdoh’s l Enhances the dignity of the formal constitutions, they hold elections, class? I loved individual; they have parties and they guarantee rights that class l Improves the quality of decision- of citizens. While these features are because making; students were common to most of them, these l Provides a method to resolve not being democracies are very much different conflicts; and dictated any from each other in terms of their social l Allows room to correct mistakes. conclusions. situations, their economic achievements Are these expectations realised under and their cultures. Clearly, what may be democracies? When we talk to people achieved or not achieved under each of around us, most of them support these democracies will be very different. democracy against other alternatives, But is there something that we can expect such as rule by a monarch or military or from every democracy, just because it is religious leaders. But not so many of democracy? them would be satisfied with the Our interest in and fascination for democracy in practice. So we face a democracy often pushes us into taking a dilemma: democracy is seen to be good position that democracy can address all socio-economic and political problems. If some of our expectations are not met, we start blaming the idea of democracy. Or, we start doubting if we are living in a democracy. The first step towards thinking carefully about the outcomes of democracy is to recognise that democracy is just a form of government. It can only create conditions for achieving something. The citizens have to take Brushing up the years olitics advantage of those conditions and achieve those goals. Let us examine some
atic P of the things we can reasonably expect from democracy and examine the record © RK Laxman - Is democracy all about coping with multiple pressures and of democracy.
Democr accommodating diverse demands?
90
Download all NCERT books PDFs from www.ncert.online 2019-20 Download all NCERT books PDFs from books www.ncert.online NCERT all Download m There aresomethingsthatdemocracy Accountable, responsiveandlegitimategovernment So worry aboutmajoritiesandpublicopinion. bother aboutdeliberationinassembliesor non-democratic rulersdonothaveto government. Itis,ofcourse,truethat democracy produceslesseffective effective? Somepeoplethinkthat democratic governmentefficient?Isit face anothercommonquestion:Isthe of responsive totheneedsandexpectations accountable tothecitizens,and it producesagovernmentthatis outcome ofdemocracyshouldbethat them all.Therefore,themostbasic participate indecisionmaking,thataffects the r rulers andpeoplewillhavecontrolover people willhavetherighttochoosetheir most concernedwithensuringthat necessar democratic governmentinefficient? is boundtotakeplace.Doesthatmake deliber Democracy isbasedontheideaof decision makingandimplementation. people andma decisions thatarenotacceptedbythe decisions veryfast.Butitmaytake Imagine agovernmentthatmaytake ef acceptable tothepeople andmore its decisionsmaybeboth more But becauseithasfollowed procedures, procedures beforearrivingatadecision. will takemoretimetofollow In contrast,thedemocraticgovernment democracy pays isperhapsworthit. ust pr f , thecitiz the ecti Before wegointothisquestion, Let usthinkinter uler a y canbev ve. tion andne o y, vide So s.W citiz ens , . . y ther thecostof Inademocr hene er ens shouldbea g y quic otia ef v or tion. er possib k andef e f ms of So ace pr ac timetha , somedela y, f ob icient in w costs le and b e ar lems le to e y t . . Governmental Secrecy Governmental kno democr trying tofindouttheoutcomesof government. Therefore,whenweare often missingfromanon-democratic will bebasedonnor democracy ensuresthatdecisionmaking accounta that followsproceduresandis democracy toproduceagovernment pr right andthemeanstoexamine procedures canfindthisout.Shehasthe decision wastakenthroughthecorrect So public debate onmajorpoliciesand regular, freeandfairelections; open the followingpracticesand institutions: expected outcome,youwould lookfor democracies onthebasis ofthis decision makingwhenevertheythinkfit. mechanisms forcitizenstotakepartin the governmentaccountableand develops mechanismsforcitizenstohold expect thatthedemocraticgovernment ocess of , acitiz wn astr Now lookattheotherside If youwantedtomeasure 2019-20 ac b en w le tothepeople y, decisionmaking anspar itisrighttoe ho w enc ms andpr ants tokno y.T .We canalso his f ocedur . T . actor is w if xpect his is es a – . government? about the of informationforyou What arethesources voter identitycards)? ration cardsand family (forexample about youandyour government knows and howthe Can youthinkofwhat
© Mike Keefe - Cagle Cartoons Inc.
91 Outcomes of Democracy legislations; and citizens’ right to population. The routine tales of So, the best information about the government and corruption are enough to convince us that outcome of democracy is its functioning. The actual performance democracy is not free of this evil. At the that it is a of democracies shows a mixed record same time, there is nothing to show that democracy! That on this. Democracies have had greater non-democracies are less corrupt or is what we have success in setting up regular and free more sensitive to the people. discovered after elections and in setting up conditions for There is one respect in which all this mental open public debate. But most democratic government is certainly gymnastics? democracies fall short of elections that better than its alternatives: democratic provide a fair chance to everyone and in government is legitimate government. subjecting every decision to public debate. It may be slow, less efficient, not always Democratic governments do not have a very responsive or clean. But a very good record when it comes to democratic government is people’s own sharing information with citizens. All one government. That is why there is an can say in favour of democratic regimes overwhelming support for the idea of is that they are much better than any democracy all over the world. As the non-democratic regime in these respects. accompanying evidence from South In substantive terms it may be Asia shows, the support exists in reasonable to expect from democracy a countries with democratic regimes as government that is attentive to the needs well as countries without democratic and demands of the people and is largely regimes. People wish to be ruled by free of corruption. The record of representatives elected by them. They democracies is not impressive on these also believe that democracy is suitable two counts. Democracies often frustrate for their country. Democracy’s ability the needs of the people and often ignore to generate its own support is itself an the demands of a majority of its outcome that cannot be ignored.
Democracy is preferred Very few doubt the suitability of democracy over dictatorship for their own country How suitable is democracy for your country? 28 South Asia everywhere except Pakistan Very suitable Suitable South Asia 88 Those who agree with one of Bangladesh 93 10 the statements 62 Sri Lanka 92 62 India 92 Pakistan 84 Nepal 79 0 50 100 Bangladesh India Nepal Pakistan Sri Lanka Overwhelming support for democracy Those who agree with the rule of leaders elected by the people Democracy is Strongly agree Agree preferable 69 70 62 37 71 South Asia 94 olitics Sometimes dictatorship Sri Lanka 98 Bangladesh 96 is better 6 9 10 14 11 India 95
atic P Doesn’t Nepal 94 matter to me 25 21 28 49 18 Pakistan 81 0 50 100
Source: SDSA Team, State of Democracy in South Asia, Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2007 Democr
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© RJ Matson - Cagle Cartoons Inc. The RichGetBuff population siz de in economics,economicdevelopment democr this alonecannotbereasontoreject economic de inability ofdemocracytoachievehigher higher rateofeconomicgrowth. 1950 and2000,dictatorshipshaveslightly all dictatorshipsforthefiftyyearsbetween this expectation. practice manydemocraciesdidnotfulfil development? Evidenceshowsthatin expect thattheywouldalsoproduce good governments,thenisitnotfairto If democraciesaree Economic growthanddevelopment pends onse If youconsideralldemocraciesand ac y. As y v elopment w v ou ha er e, globalsituation, al f xpected toproduce v actor e alr or ead s: ries us countr y studied The . But y’ s other positi to preferdemocracyasithasseveral dicta growth betweencountriesunder difference intheratesofeconomic dictatorships inthisrespect. democracy nottolagbehind development. Butwecanexpect democracy isaguaranteeofeconomic negligible. Overall,wecannotsaythat dictatorships anddemocraciesis between lessdevelopedcountrieswith the ratesofeconomicdevelopment countr economic prioritiesadoptedbythe cooperation fromothercountries, When wefindsuchsignificant tor 2019-20 y, ship anddemocr etc v . Ho e outcomes wev er , thedif . ac y, itisbetter f er ence in in theworld’swealth? receive agreatershare poor countriesdoto nation? Whatcanthe for abettersharein can thepoorgetavoice evenly distributed?How of economicgrowthbe poor. Shouldthegains between therichand us aboutthedisparities and nextthreepagestell Cartoon onthispage
93 Outcomes of Democracy Economic outcomes of democracy Arguments about democracy tend to Poor Kids be very passionate. This is how it should be, for democracy appeals to some of our deep values. These debates cannot be resolved in a simple manner. But some debates about democracy can and should be resolved by referring to some facts and figures. The debate about the economic outcomes of democracy is one such debate. Over the years many students of democracy have gathered careful evidence to see what the relationship of democracy
with economic growth and economic © Jimmy Margulies - Cagle Cartoons Inc. inequalities is. The tables and the cartoon here present some of the evidences: l Table 1 shows that on an average dictatorial regimes have had a slightly better record of economic growth. But when we compare their record only in poor countries, there is virtually no difference. l Table 2 shows that within democracies there can be very high degree of inequalities. In democratic countries like South Africa and Brazil, the top 20 per cent people take away more than 60 per cent of the national income, leaving less than 3 per cent for the bottom 20 per cent population. Countries like Denmark and Hungary are much better in this respect. l You can see in the cartoon, there is often inequality of opportunities available to the poorer sections. What would be your verdict on democracy if you had to base it purely on economic performance of democratic regimes in terms of growth and equal distribution?
Table 2 Inequality of income in selected countries Table 1 Name of the % share of national Rates of economic growth for different countries, Countries income 1950-2000 Top 20 % Bottom 20 % Type of regimes and countries Growth Rate South Africa 64.8 2.9 All democratic regimes 3.95
olitics Brazil 63.0 2.6 All dictatorial regimes 4.42 Russia 53.7 4.4 Poor countries under dictatorship 4.34 USA 50.0 4.0 atic P Poor countries under democracy 4.28 United Kingdom 45.0 6.0 Source: A Przeworski, M E Alvarez, J A Cheibub and F Limongi, Democracy and Denmark 34.5 9.6 Development: Political Institutions and Well-Being in the World, 1950-1990. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2000. Hungary 34.4 10.0 Democr
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© Ares - Best of Latin America, Cagle Cartoons Inc. distribution ofgoodsandopportunities? Or dodemocraciesleadtoajust increased inequalitiesamongthepeople? growth indemocraciesaccompaniedby share andleadabetterlife?Iseconomic all citizensofthecountrywillhavea wealth bedistributedinsuchawaythat a countryachieveseconomicgrowth,will r reasonable toexpectdemocracies Perhaps morethandevelopment,itis Reduction ofinequalityandpoverty Voice ofthePoor educe economicdisparities . Ev en w hen equality T society haveverylittletodependupon. in electingr incomes disproportionate shareofwealthand small numberofultra-richenjoyahighly incr total incomeofthecountryhasbeen economic inequalities appear tobeverysuccessfulinreducing clothing, house,educationandhealth. their basicneedsoflife,suchasfood, Sometimes theyfinditdifficulttomeet f political arenaonanequalfooting,we process ofbringingindividualsintothe Economics textbook,youhavealready ind g heir incomesha studied aboutpovertyinIndia.The Democracies arebasedonpolitical In actuallife,democraciesdonot easing poor constitutealargeproportion ro 2019-20 . of ourvotersandnopartywill All indi . wing economicinequalities Notonl lik . T . e democratically elected e tolosetheirv pr hose a e poverty asyouwould address thequestionof appear tobeaskeen governments donot some othercountries situation ismuchworsein Bangladesh, morethan supplies countries evenforfood now dependentontherich several poorcountriesare in po half ofitspopulationlives esenta xpect themto viduals ha y tha v t thebottomof v e beendec ti . t, er v theirshar es ty . v InClassIX . P e equalw . P ar allel tothe eople in otes e inthe .T lining . . Y eight the . In . A he et . case? this notbethe poor be aruleofthe democracy must majorit poor arein majorit rule ofthe Democracy isa . Howcan y y . So . The
95 Outcomes of Democracy World’s Wealth Owned by a Few Cagle Cartoons Inc. The Phillippines, © Manny Francisco -
Accommodation of social diversity
Do democracies lead to peaceful and social differences. Ability to handle social harmonious life among citizens? It will differences, divisions and conflicts is thus be a fair expectation that democracy a definite plus point of democratic should produce a harmonious social life. regimes. But the example of Sri Lanka All you are saying We have seen in the earlier chapters how reminds us that a democracy must fulfil is that two conditions in order to achieve this democracy democracies accommodate various social outcome: ensures that divisions. We saw in the first chapter how people do not Belgium has successfully negotiated l It is necessary to understand that break each differences among ethnic populations. democracy is not simply rule by majority other’s head. Democracies usually develop a procedure opinion. The majority always needs to This is not to conduct their competition. This reduces work with the minority so that harmony. Should the possibility of these tensions becoming governments function to represent the we be happy explosive or violent. general view. Majority and minority about it? No society can fully and permanently opinions are not permanent. resolve conflicts among different groups. l It is also necessary that rule by olitics But we can certainly learn to respect these majority does not become rule by differences and we can also evolve majority community in terms of religion
atic P mechanisms to negotiate the differences. or race or linguistic group, etc. Rule by Democracy is best suited to produce this majority means that in case of every outcome. Non-democratic regimes often decision or in case of every election,
Democr turn a blind eye to or suppress internal different persons and groups may and
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Download all NCERT books PDFs from www.ncert.online 2019-20 Download all NCERT books PDFs from books www.ncert.online NCERT all Download Dignity andfreedomofthe citizens can f other f Democracy standsmuchsuperiortoany r individual. Everyindividualwantsto promoting dignityandfreedomofthe point oftime.Ifsomeoneisbarred has achanceofbeinginmajorityatsome democracy onlyaslongeverycitizen democr respect andfreedomarethe basisof treated withduerespect.The passionfor because somefeelthatthey arenot Often conflictsariseamongindividuals world haverecognised this,atleastin ecei or v e r m amajority ac or y. espect fr of democraticpoliticsinbothsituations. and writeaparagrapheachontheoutcome divisions. T effects democraticpoliticscanhaveonsocial The twoimagesdepictdifferentkindsof Democr m of Enemies . g Democr om f acies thr ake oneexampleforeachimage ov ello er oughout the nment in ac w beings y r emains . Long str F historicall Most societiesacrossthe world were some sensitivity todaythatrespecttoand v principle. Thishasbeenachievedin or g to beaccommodativeforthatperson birth, thenthedemocraticruleceases from beinginmajorityonthebasisof recognize thatallindividualsareequal. domination, itisnotasimplematterto long onthebasisofsubordinationand arious de or societiesw T r oup ak 2019-20 e thecaseof ug . y maledomina gr g ees inv les b hic Greeting y w h ha arious democr omen ha dignityof v e beenb ted societies v e cr w uilt f omen. ea acies ted or . .
© Ares - Best of Latin America, Cagle Cartoons Inc.
97 Outcomes of Democracy equal treatment of women are necessary distinctive about democracy is that its I am anxious ingredients of a democratic society. That examination never gets over. As about my board does not mean that women are actually democracy passes one test, it produces exams. But always treated with respect. But once the another test. As people get some benefits democracy has principle is recognised, it becomes easier of democracy, they ask for more and so many exams. for women to wage a struggle against want to make democracy even better. And millions of what is now unacceptable legally and That is why, when we ask people about examiners! morally. In a non-democratic set up, this the way democracy functions, they will unacceptability would not have legal basis always come up with more expectations, because the principle of individual and many complaints. The fact that freedom and dignity would not have the people are complaining is itself a legal and moral force there. The same is testimony to the success of democracy: true of caste inequalities. Democracy in it shows that people have developed India has strengthened the claims of the awareness and the ability to expect and disadvantaged and discriminated castes to look critically at power holders and for equal status and equal opportunity. the high and the mighty. A public There are instances still of caste-based expression of dissatisfaction with inequalities and atrocities, but these lack democracy shows the success of the the moral and legal foundations. Perhaps democratic project: it transforms people it is the recognition that makes ordinary from the status of a subject into that of citizens value their democratic rights. a citizen. Most individuals today believe Expectations from democracy also that their vote makes a difference to the function as the criteria for judging any way the government is run and to their democratic country. What is most own self-interest.
Rosa Parks Still Inspires
Belief in the efficacy of vote is placed above the calculus of utility Those who say that their vote makes a difference...
South Asia 65
Bangladesh 66 India 67 Nepal 75 Pakistan 50 olitics Sri Lanka 65
0 80 atic P © Pat Bagley - Cagle Cartoons Inc. Source: SDSA Team, State of Democracy in South The above cartoon and graph illustrate a point made in this section Asia, Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2007. (Dignity and freedom of the citizens). Underline the sentences from this section which connect to the cartoon or graph. Democr
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Download all NCERT books PDFs from www.ncert.online 2019-20 Download all NCERT books PDFs from books www.ncert.online NCERT all Download 1. 5. 4. 2. 6. 3. 7. l l l l l l l legitimate government? correct –democracieshavesuccessfullyeliminated: in thegivensituations: Also suggestpolicy/institutionalmechanismtodeependemocracy Give argumentstosupportoropposethefollowingassertions: social diversities? is oddoneout.Democraciesneedtoensure: How doesdemocracyproduceanaccountable,responsiveand In thecontextofdemocracies,whichfollowingideasis Identify thechallengestodemocracyinfollowingdescriptions. What aretheconditionsunderwhichdemocraciesaccommodate In thecontextofassessingdemocracywhichamong thefollowing Studies onpoliticalandsocialinequalitiesindemocracy showthat D. C. B. D. C. B. A. D. C. B. A. A. been ordered. fake encounterbyJammuandKashmirpolice,anenquiryhas Following allegationofkillingthreeciviliansinGandwaraa states ofIndia. A largenumberoffarmersarecommittingsuicideindifferent separate entrydoorsfor Following aHighCourtdirectivetempleinOrissathathad there isabsenceofanydominationandconflict. In democracyallcitizenshaveonevote,whichmeansthat infrastructure. reduction, health,educationandspendmoreonindustries Government inpoorcountriesshouldspendlessonpoverty different citizens. Democracy can’treduceinequalityofincomesbetween need dictatorshiptobecomerich. Industrialised countriescanafforddemocracybutthepoor for allfromthesamedoor dictatorship isbetterthan democr inequalities donotexist underdictatorship. inequalities existindemocracies . the ideaofpoliticalinequality are tobetreated differences ofopinionabouthowmarginalisedsections economic inequalitiesamongpeople conflicts amongpeople equal treatmentbeforelaw majority rule dignity oftheindividual free andfairelections democr acy anddev elopment gotogether dalits . andnon- 2019-20 acy . dalits . allowedentry Exercises
99 Outcomes of Democracy 8. Read the passage below: Nannu is a daily wage earner. He lives in Welcome Mazdoor Colony, a slum habitation in East Delhi. He lost his ration card and applied for a duplicate one in January 2004. He made several rounds to the local Food & Civil Supplies office for the next three months. But the clerks and officials would not even look at him, leave alone do his job or bother to tell him the status of his application. Ultimately, he filed an application under the Right to Information Act asking for the daily progress made on his application, names of the officials, who were supposed to act on his application and what action would be taken against these officials for their inaction. Within a week of filing application under the Right to Information Act, he was visited by an inspector from the Food Department, who informed him that the card had been made and he could collect it from the office. When Nannu went to collect his card next day, he was given a very warm treatment by the Food & Supply Officer (FSO), who is the head of a Circle. The FSO offered him tea and requested him to withdraw his application under the Right to Information, since his work had already been done. What does Nannu’s example show? What impact did Nannu’s action have on officials? Ask your parents their experiences when they approach government officials to attend to their problems. ercises Ex olitics atic P Democr
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Download all NCERT books PDFs from www.ncert.online 2019-20 Download all NCERT books PDFs from books www.ncert.online NCERT all Download definition ofdemocr the challenges,yourrecipeofhowtoovercometheseandown you tothinkonyourownandcomeupwithreadingof we canapproachthequestionsofchallengesandreforms.Itinvites questions. Itonlymakessomesuggestionsaboutthewayinwhich practice andoutcomes?Thischapterdoesnotanswerthese politics? Howcanourdemocracybecomemoredemocraticinits in ourcountryandelsewhere?Whatcanbedonetoreformdemocratic democratic politics last twoyearssoastoaddressthefundamentalquestionsof This concludingchapterdrawsuponallthatyouhavelearntinthe Overview Democr Challenges to
: Whatarethechallengesthatdemocracyfaces acy . 2019-20 acy
Chapter 8 101 Challenges to Democracy Thinking about challenges
Do you remember the chapters of your Political and then instituting democratic government. This Science textbook of Class IX? There we tracked the involves bringing down the existing non-democratic expansion of democracy all over the world . Our regime, keeping military away from controlling reading thereafter has confirmed our initial government and establishing a sovereign and impression: democracy is the dominant form of functional state. government in the contemporary world. It does Most of the established democracies face the not face a serious challenger or rival. Yet our exploration challenge of expansion. This involves applying the of the various dimensions of democratic politics has basic principle of democratic government across all shown us something else as well. The promise of the regions, different social groups and various democracy is far from realised anywhere in the world. institutions. Ensuring greater power to local Democracy does not have a challenger, but that does governments, extension of federal principle to all the not mean that it does not face any challenges. units of the federation, inclusion of women and At different points in this tour of democracy, minority groups, etc., falls under this challenge. This we have noted the serious challenges that also means that less and less decisions should remain democracy faces all over the world. A challenge is outside the arena of democratic control. Most not just any problem. We usually call only those countries including India and other democracies like difficulties a ‘challenge’ which are significant and the US face this challenge. which can be overcome. A challenge is a difficulty The third challenge of deepening of democracy that carries within it an opportunity for progress. is faced by every democracy in one form or another. Once we overcome a challenge we go up to a higher This involves strengthening of the institutions and level than before. practices of democracy. This should happen in such a Different countries face different kinds of way that people can realise their expectations of challenges. At least one fourth of the globe is still democracy. But ordinary people have different not under democratic government. The challenge expectations from democracy in different societies. for democracy in these parts of the world is very Therefore, this challenge takes different meanings and stark. These countries face the foundational paths in different parts of the world. In general challenge of making the transition to democracy terms, it usually means strengthening those institutions that help people’s participation and control. This requires an attempt to bring down the control and influence of the rich and powerful people in making governmental decision. We have noted or hinted at these challenges in all the various examples and stories that we studied in our textbook of Class IX and in the earlier chapters of olitics this book. Let us go back to all the major stops in our tour of democracy, refresh
atic P our memory and note down the challenges that democracy faces in each of these. Democr
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© Tab - The Calgary Sun, Cagle Cartoons Inc. © Patrick Chappatte - Cagle Cartoons Inc. Eac Different contexts in oneofthethreecategoriesmentionedfirstsection. Liberal GenderEquality Mubarak Re-elected h of thesecar toons r e pr esents ac , differentchallenges halleng e todemocr 2019-20 ac Seeing thedemocracy Campaign Money y. Pleasedescribew ha t tha t c halleng e is
© Ares - Best Latin America, Cagle Cartoons Inc. . Also placeit
© Ares - Cagle Cartoons Inc. 103 Challenges to Democracy Case and context Your description of the challenges for democracy in that situation
Mexico: Second free election after the defeat of PRI in 2000; defeated candidate alleges rigging
China: Communist Party adopts economic reforms but maintains monopoly over political power
Pakistan: General Musharraf held referendum, allegations of fraud in voters’ list
Iraq: Widespread sectarian violence as the new government fails to establish its authority
South Africa: Mandela retired from active politics, pressure on his successors to withdraw some concessions given to White minority
US, Guantanamo Bay: UN Secretary General called this a violation of international law, US refused to respond
Saudi Arabia: Women not allowed to take part in all public activities, no freedom of religion for minorities
Yugoslavia: Ethnic tension between Serbs and Albanians on the rise olitics in the province of Kosovo. Yugoslavia disintergrated atic P Democr
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Download all NCERT books PDFs from www.ncert.online 2019-20 Download all NCERT books PDFs from books www.ncert.online NCERT all Download the country MNCs threatentoleave becomes PrimeMinister s Bolivia: constitution adopted anew Constituent Assembly was abolished;the Nepal: yet todevelop Catholics and civil warhasendedbut Northern Ireland: educated andmarginalised are stillpoor have wonequalrights,but US, CivilRights: begins different communities reconciliation between the processof came toanendin2009; Sri Lanka: they wantmoreautonomy speakers notsatisfied; taken place,buttheDutch constitutional change Belgium: Case andcontext upporter ofwaterstruggle, The monarchy Morales, a Oneroundof The civilwar , less trust Protestants Blacks The , situation Your descriptionofthechallengesfordemocracyinthat 2019-20 105 Challenges to Democracy Different types of challenges
Now that you have noted down all these challenges, let us group these together into some broad categories. Given below are some spheres or sites of democratic politics. You may place against each of these the specific challenges that you noted for one or more countries or cartoons in the previous section. In addition to that write one item for India for each of these spheres. In case you find that some challenges do not fit into any of the categories given below, you can create new categories and put some items under that.
Constitutional design
Democratic rights
Working of institutions
Elections
Federalism, decentralisation
Accommodation of diversity
Political organisations
Any other category olitics atic P Any other category Democr
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Download all NCERT books PDFs from www.ncert.online 2019-20 Download all NCERT books PDFs from books www.ncert.online NCERT all Download section. Let usg those f Now letusthinkonlyaboutIndia.ThinkofallthechallengesthatdemocracyfacesincontemporaryList c find mostimportantorpressingshouldbementionedatnumber1,andsoon.Giveoneexampleofthat 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. Priority halleng deepening Challenge of expansion Challenge of challenge Foundational iv r F e andy oup thesea e tha or eac Challenges to democracy t shouldbead our r h of g easons f theseca ain, thistimeb dr or assigningitthepriority te essed f g ories Example y thena , ir f st of ind a tur all. t leastonee e of T he listingshouldbeinor 2019-20 thesec . xample fr halleng es asperthec om Indiaasw Reasons forpreference der of lassif ell. priority ica tion sug , i.e , thec g ested inthef halleng e y ir ou st 107 Challenges to Democracy Thinking about political reforms
Each of these challenges is linked to the possibility political activists, parties, movements and politically of reforms. As mentioned above, we discuss conscious citizens. challenges only because we think these can be l Any legal change must carefully look at what results overcome. Generally all the suggestions or proposals it will have on politics. Sometimes the results may be about overcoming various challenges to democracy counter-productive. For example, many states have are called ‘democracy reform’ or ‘political reform’. banned people who have more than two children We are not going to give here a list of desirable from contesting panchayat elections. This has resulted political reforms, for there cannot be any such list. If in denial of democratic opportunity to many poor all the countries do not have the same challenges, it and women, which was not intended. Generally, laws follows that everyone cannot follow the same recipe that seek to ban something are not very successful in of political reforms. We cannot prescribe a procedure politics. Laws that give political actors incentives to do for car repair without knowing which model the car good things have more chances of working. The best is, what the defect is and what tools are available, laws are those which empower people to carry out where the car has broken down, etc. democratic reforms. The Right to Information Act is Can we at least have a list of such reforms for our a good example of a law that empowers the people country in today’s context? We can develop some to find out what is happening in government and act proposals for reforms at the national level. But the as watchdogs of democracy. Such a law helps to real challenge of reforms may not lie at the national control corruption and supplements the existing laws level. Some of the crucial questions need to be thought that banned corruption and imposed strict penalties. at the State or local level. Besides, such a list may l Democratic reforms are to be brought about become irrelevant after some time. So, instead of that principally through political practice. Therefore, the let us think of some broad guidelines that can be kept main focus of political reforms should be on ways to in mind while devising ways and means for political strengthen democratic practice. As we discussed in the reforms in India: chapter on political parties, the most important concern l It is very tempting to think of legal ways of should be to increase and improve the quality of reforming politics, to think of new laws to ban political participation by ordinary citizens. undesirable things. But this temptation needs to be l Any proposal for political reforms should think not resisted. No doubt, law has an important role to play only about what is a good solution but also about who in political reform. Carefully devised changes in law can help to discourage wrong political practices and will implement it and how. It is not very wise to think encourage good ones. But legal-constitutional changes that the legislatures will pass legislations that go against by themselves cannot overcome challenges to the interest of all the political parties and MPs. But democracy. This is like the rules of cricket. A change measures that rely on democratic movements, citizens’ in rules for LBW decisions helped to reduce negative organisations and the media are likely to succeed. batting tactics. But no one would ever think that the Let us keep these general guidelines in mind and quality of cricket could be improved mainly through look at some specific instances of challenges to
olitics changes in the rules. This is to be done mainly by the democracy that require some measure of reform. Let players, coaches and administrators. Similarly, us try to come up with some concrete proposals of
atic P democratic reforms are to be carried out mainly by reform. Democr
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Download all NCERT books PDFs from www.ncert.online 2019-20 Download all NCERT books PDFs from books www.ncert.online NCERT all Download that isnotofferedhere.Butyoumustgiveyoursolutionindetailandofferreasonsforchoice. Her of options of R Challenge: Any otherproblemofyourchoice l l l f high f month. Villagershavetotraveltownsandpayvery where theyarepostedonlyonceortwiceintheentire in atown,carryoutprivatepracticeandvisitthevillage P found outthatmostofthedoctorspostedinrural R Uttar Pr Challenge: Doctors’ absenteeism be administer Pradesh issplitintoseveralsmallerstateswhichcan l be r write theannualreportofdoctorwhichshould l doctor out surpriseraidstochecktheattendanceof l posted, for thedoctorstoliveinvillagewheretheyare l er ef rimary ef e ar ed her or or ead outintheGr Problems likethiscanbesolvedonlyifUttar Village panchayatshouldbegiventhepowerto District administrationandpoliceshouldcarry The governmentshouldmakeitcompulsory m pr e somec ee topri m pr s. otherwisetheirser H adesh g f e is er oposals: ealth oposals: ed her ‘right’ va ed mor halleng C te doctor ov entre e andgi or er nment g am Sa e ef s es tha ‘wr aresimplynotthere.Theylive s e f ong’. icientl vice shouldbeter v v bha meeting en f t r e y ot asur equir Y or commonailments our pr y. ou canoptf e politicalr ve ef . er y doneand r ed solutionwithr mina or amixof ef 2019-20 ted. or . ms . Discussthesec tax. Such donationsshouldbeexemptfromincome e should bemadepublic.Theseaccounts l dona l l government tomeettheirelectionexpenditure. Parties shouldbegivensomemoneybythe f people orthosewiththeirsupportcanaffordto than Rsonecrore.Thereisafearthatonlywealthy last LokSabhaelectionsownedapropertyofmore On anaverage,everycandidatewhocontestedthe Challenge: Political funding de R democr reduce whateverlittlevoicethepoorhaveinour The worryisthattheroleofmoneyinpoliticswill mor ight elections xamined b ef pendent onmone or The financialaccountsofeverypoliticalparty Citizens shouldbeencouragedtogivemore T e thanoneoptions tions topar her m pr easons ac e shouldbesta y. oposals: y g . R ov . Mostof halleng emember tha er ties andtopoliticalw nment auditor y gi es indetail. v , orcomeupwithsomething en b thepoliticalpar te fundingof y bigb t noneof s. Stud usiness houses y ther theoptions elections ties ar or k ef er or s. e . . m 109 Challenges to Democracy Reforming Rose managed to catch Madam Lyngdoh outside the politics classroom, something she had been planning to do for some time. “Ma’am! I really liked that Canadian cartoon”. Rose needed something to open the conversation. “Which one?” Madam Lyngdoh could not recall. “Ma’am, the one which says 98% Canadians want all the politicians to be locked in the trunk of a car and thrown into Niagara falls. I was thinking of our politicians. We would need a bigger vehicle and a river as mighty as Brahmaputra!” Lyngdoh Ma’am smiled at Rose. Like most Indians, she is also very much unhappy with the way politicians of the country have been behaving and running the parties and governments. But she wanted Rose to appreciate the complexity of the problem: “Do you think our problems will be solved if we get rid of our politicians?,” she asked. “Yes, Ma’am. Aren’t these mean politicians responsible for all the problems in our country? I mean corruption, defection, casteism, communal violence, criminality… everything.” Lyngdoh Madam: “So, all we need is to get rid of the current lot. Are you sure that those who replace them will not do these things?” Rose: “Well, I had not thought of it, but may be not. May be we will get leaders of better character”. Lyngdoh Madam: “I agree with you that the situation will change if people show more care and alertness to reject corrupt and bad politicians and elect the right ones. And, maybe, all politicians are not corrupt…” “How can you say that Ma’am” interrupted Rose. Lyngdoh Madam: “I did not say that politicians are not corrupt. Maybe when you think of politicians, you think of these big people whose photos appear in newspapers. I think of political leaders that I have known. I don’t think that the political leaders I know are more corrupt than my own colleagues, government officials, contractors or other middle class professionals that I know. The corruption of the politician is more visible and we get the impression that all politicians are corrupt. Some of them are and some of them are not.” Rose did not give up. “Ma’am, what I meant is that there should be strict laws to curb corruption and wrong practices like appeals to caste and community.” olitics Lyngdoh Madam: “I am not sure, Rose. For one thing there is already a law banning any appeal to caste and religion in politics. Politicians find a way to bypass that. Laws can
atic P have little impact unless people resist attempts to mislead and divide people in the name of caste and religion. You cannot have democracy in a real sense unless people and politicians overcome the barriers of caste and religion.” Democr
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Download all NCERT books PDFs from www.ncert.online 2019-20 Download all NCERT books PDFs from books www.ncert.online NCERT all Download some qualifications: many casesandexpandedthedefinitionslightlytoadd minimal def a democr governments andsocialgroupsisnecessaryin democracy anddiscussedhowpowersharingbetween y that? ThisiswhatChapter2ofyourtextbooksaidlast necessar of majorityandhowarespect forminorityvoiceis the r definition: government andpolitics,wehavegonebeyondthat discussions ofvariousaspectsdemocratic major decisions; l W Redefining democracy l l l and citiz government limitedbybasicrulesoftheconstitution l all thepeopleonanequalbasis;and l to thepeoplechangecurrentrulers; l democr did notrefertoanyhighidealsthatweassociatewith democr started withaminimalistbutcleardefinitionof democr discussed somesocialandeconomicrightsthata betw stand inelectionsandf that theserightsarenotlimitedtotherightvote, ear e be Y Y the rulerselectedbypeoplemusttakeall W W W the exerciseofthischoicemustleadtoa this choiceandopportunityshouldbeavailableto elections mustofferachoiceandfairopportunity : uler democr een democr ou ma ou ma e discusseddemocr e sa e ha g ac ac ac an thistourof ens’ s ar y f ac w ho y shouldof y. y. v or democr Butinoper y ha Itallo y. e electedb e tak rights y ha inition of ac w democr v y isaf v en uppo e f a e noticedtha . tic andnon-democr w elt disa ed ustomak f ac democr er toitscitiz y thepeople or or a y. democr tional ter m politicalor m of a ac w ppointed tha tic rightsa y cannotbethebr er sharingasthespiritof g ac t inthecour ov y. ac e ac Doy ms ens . . W er y last t lengthandnoted nment inw , e thenlook . w lear distinction a g t thedef tic r anisa ou r e deliber ear witha e emember se of gimes tions ute r inition ed a a hic . . We our 2019-20 tel . ule h y t tha discussion wemovedtothesetofdesirableconditions Y not takeplaceinademocracyifitisgooddemocracy? have tobecalledagooddemocracy?Andwhatmust its features?Whicharethefeaturesademocracymust g the definitionofdemocracytodescriptiona ha definition ofwhatistheminimumacountrymust l the g l Reading betweentheLines g eliminating discriminationbasedoncaste,religionand of outcomes tha ender isimpor ood democr ou decidetha v democr t ademocr e tobecalledademocr How dowedefineagooddemocracy?Whatare In doingso Finall Our discussionofdemocracyhasgonebeyond ov er nment anditsacti y, ac w y of e ha ac t onecane ac , t. w tant inademocr y. y shouldha f e ha v er e hadsomediscussiona ed lasty v e notg xpect fr ac ear ve.W vities one a y. . W . Inthecour ac om ademocr .W e ha e be g y. ainst thedef e discussedho v g e mo an thenwitha bout some se of v ed fr ac inition y. our om © Ares - Best Latin America, Cagle Cartoons Inc. w 111 Challenges to Democracy Here is your space for writing your own definition of good democracy.
(Write your name here) ______’s definition of good democracy (not more than 50 words):
Features (use only as many points as you want. Try to compress it in as few points as possible)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
How did you like this exercise? Was it enjoyable? Very demanding? A little frustrating? And a little scary? Are olitics you a little resentful that the textbook did not help you in this crucial task? Are you worried that your definition may not be ‘correct’? atic P Here then is your last lesson in thinking about democracy: there is no fixed definition of good democracy. A good democracy is what we think it is and what we wish to make it. This may sound strange. Yet, think of it: is it democratic for someone to dictate to us what a good democracy is? Democr
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