question_answer

How do social divisions affect politics? Give two examples.

Answer:

"Social divisions" affect politics in both

- Negative ways and

- Positive ways.

Negative Impact If we observe social division and politics together at first sight

(i) It would appear that the combination of politics and social divisions is very dangerous and explosive.

(ii) Democracy involves competition among various political units/parties. Their competition tends to divide the society.

(iii) If they start competing in terms of some existing social divisions it can make social division into political divisions and lead to conflict, violence or even disintegration of a country. This has happened in many countries like India, Belgium etc.

(iv) In Northern Ireland there has been a violent and better ethno political conflict for many years.

(v) In the same way Political Competition along religious and ethnic lines led to the disintegration of Yugoslavia into six independent countries.

                             (Any Two)  

Positive Impact

(i) At the same time every expression of social divisions in politics does not lead to such disasters because wherever social divisions exist, they are reflected in politics.

(ii) In democracy it is only natural that political parties.

would talk about these divisions.

make different promises to different communities.

look after due representation of various communities.

make policies to redress the grievances of the disadvantage communities.

(iii) Social divisions also affect voting in most countries. People from one community tend to prefer some party more than others.

(iv) In many countries there are parties that focus only on one community, e.g., DMK, AIADMK, BSP in India.

           (Any Two) Hence, all this does not lead to disintegration of the country.