NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Social Democratic Politics Chapter 3 Democracy and Diversity

Question-1
Discuss three factors that determine the outcomes of politics of social divisions.
Solution:
Three factors are crucial in deciding the outcome of politics of social divisions. First of all the outcome depends on how people perceive their identities. If people see their identities in singular and exclusive terms, it becomes very difficult to accommodate. As long as people in northern Ireland saw themselves as only Catholic or Protestant, their differences were difficult to reconcile. It is much easier if the people see that their identities are multiple and are complementary with the national identity. A majority of Belgians now feel that they are as much Belgian as they are Dutch or German-speaking.
This helps them to stay together. This is how most people in our country see their identity: they think of themselves as Indian as well as belonging to a state or a language group or a social or religious community.
Second, it depends on how political leaders raise the demands of any community. It is easier to accommodate demands that are within the constitutional framework and are not at the cost of another community. The demand for ‘only Sinhala’ was at the cost of the interest and identity of the Tamil community in Sri Lanka. In Yugoslavia, the leaders of different ethnic communities presented their demands in such a way that these could not be accommodated within a single country.
Third, it depends on the how the government reacts to demands of different groups. As we saw in the examples of Belgium and Sri Lanka, if the rulers are willing to share power and accommodate the reasonable demands of minority community, social divisions become less threatening for the country. But if they try to suppress such a demand in the name of national unity, the end result is often quite the opposite. Such attempts at forced integration often sow the seeds of disintegration.
Question-2
When does a social difference become a social division?
Solution:
People who feel marginalised, deprived and discriminated have to fight against the injustices. Such a fight often takes the democratic path, voicing their demands in a peaceful and constitutional manner and seeking a fair position through elections.
Sometimes social differences can take the form of unacceptable level of social inequality and injustice. The struggle against such inequalities sometimes takes the path of violence and defiance of state power. However history shows that democracy is the best way to fight for recognition and also to accommodate diversity.

 

Question-3
How do social divisions affect politics? Give two examples.
Solution:
Expression of various kinds of social divisions in politics often results in their cancelling one another out and thus reducing their intensity. This leads to strengthening of a democracy. But a positive attitude towards diversity and a willingness to accommodate it do not come about easily. People who feel marginalised, deprived and discriminated have to fight against the injustices. Such a fight often takes the democratic path, voicing their demands in a peaceful and constitutional manner and seeking a fair position through elections. Sometimes social differences can take the form of unacceptable level of social inequality and injustice. The struggle against such inequalities sometimes takes the path of violence and defiance of state power. However history shows that democracy is the best way to fight for recognition and also to accommodate diversity.
Question-4
___________ social differences create possibilities of deep social divisions and tensions. ____________ social differences do not usually lead to conflicts.
Solution:
Overlapping social differences create possibilities of deep social divisions and tensions. Cross-cutting social differences do not usually lead to conflicts.
Question-5
In dealing with social divisions which one of the following statements is NOT correct about democracy?
(a) Due to political competition in a democracy, social divisions get reflected in politics.
(b) In a democracy it is possible for communities to voice their grievances in a peaceful manner.
(c) Democracy is the best way to accommodate social diversity.
(d) Democracy always leads to disintegration of society on the basis of social divisions.
Solution:
d
Question-6
Consider the following three statements.
A. Social divisions take place when social differences overlap.
B. It is possible that a person can have multiple identities.
C. Social divisions exist in only big countries like India.
Which of the statements is/are correct?
(a) A, B and C (b) A and B (c) B and C (d) Only C
Solution:
(b) A and B
Question-7
Among the following, which country suffered disintegration due to political fights on the basis of religious and ethnic identities?
(a) Belgium (b) India (c) Yugoslavia (d) Netherlands
Solution:
(c) Yugoslavia

Multiple Choice Questions

Previous Years’ Questions
1. Which of the following divisions is unique to India ? [CBSE (CCE) 2011]
(a) Gender division
(b) Caste division
(c) Economic division
(d) Religious division

NCERT Questions
2. In dealing with social divisions which one of the following statements is not correct about democracy ?
(a) Due to political competition in a democracy, social divisions get reflected in politics.
(b) In a democracy it is possible for communities to voice their grievances in a peaceful manner.
(c) Democracy is the best way to accommodate social diversity.
(d) Democracy always leads to disintegration of society on the basis df social divisions.

3. Consider the following three statements:
(i) Social divisions take place when social differences overlap.
(ii) It is possible that a person can have multiple identities.
(iii) Social divisions exist in only big countries like India which of the statement is/are correct.
(a) (i), (ii) and (iii)
(b) (i) and (ii)
(c) (ii) and (iii)
(d) only (iii)

4. Arrange the following statements in a logical sequence and select the right answers by using the code given below:
(i) But all political expression of social divisions need not be always dangerous.
(ii) Social divisions of one kind or the other exist in most of the countries.
(iii) Parties try to win political support by appealing to social divisions.
(iv) Some social differences may result in social divisions.
(a) (iv), (ii), (iii), (i)
(b) (iv), (ii), (i), (iii)
(c) (iv), (i), (iii), (ii)
(d) (i), (ii), (iii), (iv)

5. Among the following, which country suffered disintegration due to political fights on the basis of religious and ethnic identities ?
(a) Belgium
(b) India
(c) Yugoslavia
(d) Netherlands

Additional Questions
6. Consider the statement:
Which three elements show the basic unity in India ?
(i) Cultural unity
(ii) Discrimination
(iii) Unity in language
(iv) Religious equality
(a) (i), (iii) and (iv)
(b) (i), (ii) and (iv)
(c) (i) and (iii) only
(d) (i) and (iv) only

7. Which three countries faced the problem of social division ?
(a) United Kingdom, USA and India
(b) Belgium, Sri Lanka and United Kingdom
(c) Sri Lanka, Canada and India
(d) Belgium, Germany and USA.

8. List out the reasons for the growth of Civil Right Movement in America. Consider the statement:
(i) Prevalence of Poverty
(ii) Racial Discrimination
(iii) Civil Rights Movements
(iv) Religious Diversity
(a) (i), (iii) and (iv)
(b) (ii), (iii) and (iv)
(c) (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv)
(d) (i), (ii) and (iii)

9. Overlapping differences signifies :
(a) Religious and linguistic differences
(b) Cross-cut social differences
(c) Some social difference overlaps with other differences
(d) Cultural diferences

10. Democracy involves:
(a) Competition among various political parties
(b) Religious inequalities
(c) Cultural diversity
(d) Conflict, violence and disintegration

11. Social difference arise due to difference in
(a) Race
(b) Religion
(c) Language
(d) All the above

12. Society is fairly homogenous i.e., there are no significant ethnic difference in
(a) Germany
(b) Belgium
(c) Sri Lanka
(d) China

13. In Mexico Olympics, John Carlos received the winner’s medal without wearing shoes. This was done to represent
(a) Black people
(b) Black poverty
(c) Black pride
(d) White domination

14. To show his support to the protesting American athletes during the award ceremony of Mexico Olympics, Peter Norman
(a) wore no socks
(b) wore a human right badge
(c) wore a black scarf
(d) wore a string of beads

15. In the recent times a European country that has been worst affected by social differences is
(a) Sri Lanka
(b) Zimbabwe
(c) Yugoslavia
(d) France

16. A society that has similar Kinds of people, especially where there are no significant ethnic differences is called a
(a) Secular society
(b) Communal society
(c) Homogenous society
(d) Socially divided

17. Give one word for the following :
(a) A society that has similar kinds of people and where there is no significant ethnic differences ……………. (Homogenous, Heterogenous)
(b) Anybody who shifts from one region or country to another region within a country ……….. (Migrant, Nomad)
(c) It refers to as set of events and reforms move ………… (Reforms movement, Revolution movement)
(d) Social differences take place when some social difference overlap the other differences …………….. (Overlapping Social differences, Cross cutting Social differences)

18. State true and false :
(a) Social differences lead to social divisions. (True / False)
(b) Democracy fails to accommodate social diversity. (True / False)
(c) All people have multiple identities. (True / False)
(d) Attempts of forced integration in any country often sow the seeds of disintegration. (True / False)

19. Fill in the blanks :
(a) Social differences are based on the ……………. (Ethnic Complexity, Urbanisation)
(b) ………………… social difference is creating possibilities of deep social divisions and tensions. (Overlapping, Cross cutting)
(c) ………………. social differences are easier to accommodate and do not usually lead to conflicts.(Cross cutting, Multi cutting)
(d) People who feel marginalised, deprived and discriminated have to fight against the ………………. (Exploitation, Regionalism)

20. “Is it necessary for people belonging to the same religion to have same caste.” Justify by selecting best option.
(a) Yes, it is necessary because it is fairly common for people belonging to the same religion to have same caste.
(b) No, it is not necessary for people because their caste and sect is very different.
(c) The statement itself is not relevant
(d) It can be or it cannot be

21. Does every social difference lead to social division? Select the correct option
(a) No, every social difference does not lead to social division because people belonging to different social groups share difference and similarities. .
(b) Yes, every social difference leads to social division.
(c) There is a ‘mixed reaction on the social division and individual identity.
(d) The statement itself is irrelevant.

22. Multi-dimensional or multi-cultural nature of social division signifies;
(a) division of society under the influence of one dominant social group.
(b) division of society under the influence of majoritarian political culture.
(c) division of society under the influence of more than one culture.
(d) division of society under the influence of multiple identities of individual.

23. Do only big countries have social divisions ?
(a) Yes, only big countries have social divisions.
(b) There is a mixed reaction like it can be or it cannot be.
(c) No, not only big countries like ‘India’ have social division, but small countries like Belgium, Island, Sri Lanka also have social differences.
(d) All the above.

24. African – American is the term used for:
(a) Africans who were brought into America as slaves. .
(b) Black Americans of America.
(c) Martin Luther and his group.
(d) John Corlos and Smith.

25. What does the “Civil Rights Movement of USA” signify ?
(a) A movement against the discrimination
(b) A reform movement for the Civil Rights of the citizens
(c) A reform movement against the social discriminations of Afro-Americans
(d) None of the above.

26. Do you think that Carlos and Smith should have raised an internal matter of American society in an international forum.
(a) No, they didn’t raise internal matter but the practice of racism in the humanitarian issue.
(b) Yes, it was the internal matter of America.
(c) No, they should not have done that.
(d) Only statements b and c are correct.

ANSWERS

Multiple Choice Questions

17. (a) Homogenous
(b) Migrant
(c) Reforms movement
(d) Overlapping social differences
18. (a) True
(b) False. Democracy tries to accommodate social differences.
(c) False. It is not possible that all people have multiple identities they may have singular identity.
(d) True
19. (a) Ethnic complexity
(b) Overlapping
(c) Cross cutting
(d) Exploitation
20. Option – (b) is correct because cast and sect depend on the choice of the community like – Protestants and Catholics of Christianity.
21. (a)
22. Statement (c) is correct because multi-cultural nature of social division is related to the influence of more than one culture.
23. Option (c) is correct because social divisions is identical to social differenes and all these countries have social differences.
24. (a)
25. Statement (c) is correct. Actually Civil Rights Movement stated by Martin Luther against the practice of Aparthied.
26. (a)