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Democracy and Diversity
Question
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'Democracy stands much superior in promoting dignity and freedom of the citizens'. Justify the statement. 

Answer

Democracy today has emerged as the most popular form of government. Democratic form of government has been questioned on various fronts that it leads to instability, it is about competition and power, etc. It has done so by the following measures:-

  • By extending legal and political equality to women, to the weaker sections of society and to the marginalized.
  • By guaranteeing fundamental rights to all.
  • Giving adequate representation to the minorities and protection through various safeguards.
  • This will give political voice to the marginalized and will increase their democratic consciousness.
  • This will enable women, lower casts and other disadvantaged groups to wage their struggle for justice, fairness with a legal backing.

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Some More Questions From Democracy and Diversity Chapter

When does a social difference become a social division?

How do social divisions affect politics? Give two examples. 

___________ social differences create possibilities of deep social divisions and tensions. 
___________ social differences do not usually lead to conflicts.
 

In dealing with social divisions which one of the following statements is not correct about democracy?

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 countries like India.
Which of the statements is/are correct?

Arrange the following statements in a logical sequence and select the right answers by using the code given below.
A. But all political expression of social division need not be always dangerous.
B. Social divisions of one kind or the other exist in most countries.
C. Parties try to win political support by appealing to social divisions.
D. Some social differences may result in social divisions.

Among the following, which country suffered disintegration due to political fights on the basis of religious and ethnic identities?

Read the following passage from a famous speech by Martin Luther King Jr. in 1963. Which social division is he talking about? What are his aspirations and anxieties? Do you see a relationship between this speech and the incident in Mexico Olympics mentioned in this chapter?
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character. Let freedom ring. And when this happens, and when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children-blackmen and whitemen, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics-will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:‘ Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!’ I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.’

Which of the following statements about social differences in the Netherlands and Northern Ireland are correct?
A. Both Northern Ireland and the Netherlands are pre-dominantly Christian but divided between Catholics and Protestants.
B. In Northern Ireland class and religion overlap each other.
C. Overlapping social differences do not create possibilities of deep social divisions and tensions.
D. In the Netherlands, class and religion tend to cut across each other.

Which of the following statements reflect how social divisions affect politics?
A. Combination of politics and social division is dangerous.
B. Democracy involves competition among various political parties due to which social divisions get reflected in politics.
C. All expressions of social divisions in politics lead to disaster.
D. Social divisions affect voting in most countries.
E. In a democracy, political parties do not necessarily make policies to redress the grievances of the disadvantaged community.
F. Political competition along religions and ethnic lines led to disintegration of Yugoslavia into six independent countries.