Democratic Politics Ii Chapter 5 Popular Struggles And Movements

They exert influences in followings ways :
(i) by carrying out information campaign, organising meetings, filing petitions and etc.
(ii) Workers and Employees' association resort to organising protest activities like strikes or disrupting goverment programmes.
(iii)Business groups often employ professional lobbyist or sponsor expensive advertisements.

The relationship are as:
(i)Sometimes pressure groups are formed or led by the leaders of political parties or act as extended arms of political parties. 

(ii)Some political parties have grown out of movements. For example AGP in Assam and DMK & AIADMK in Tamil Nadu.

(iii)Most of the new leadership of political parties come from interest or movemernts groups.

They exert influence on politics of a democratic country in a variety of ways :

(i)They try to gain public support and sympathy for their goals and activities by carrying out information, campaigns, organising meetings, file petitions etc. Most of these groups try to influence the media into giving more attention to these issues.

(ii) They often organise protest like, strikes to disrupt government programmes. Workers’ organisations form pressure groups or movement groups and these may also participate in official bodies and committees that offer recommendation to the government.

(iii) Pressure groups and most of their movements, generally, have deepened democracy. Putting pressure on the rulers is not an unhealthy activity in a democracy if it is in good for all.

Pressure groups are organisations that attempt to influence goverment policies.
Examples:
1. Farmers’ Organizations: Bhartiya Kisan Union, etc.
2. Trade Unions: All India Trade Union Congress, Indian National Trade Union Congress and Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh, etc.
3. Business Groups: FICCI, ASSOCHAM, CII, etc.

The differences are:
(i) A pressure group attempts to influence goverment policies while political parties directly take part in electoral competition.
(ii) Pressure groups have domain confined to departments, association, union etc., but a political party has ideology that influences a state and even the entire country.
(iii) The tenure of activities of a political party can continue for several years but the activities of some of the pressure groups ended with the end of their movements.

Interest

C.

B.

Potentials of few district felt sectional interest groups (Mewat Educational and Social Organisation and Mewat Saksharta Samiti) formed—consolidated in public interest group (Mewat Vikas Sabha). Public awareness campaigns (through media, demonstration, sloganeering, procession etc.)—political parties/Congress and (NLD)— New district formed.

Yes. In other movements like Narmada Bachao Andolan, different organisations were against the policy of the government regarding construction of big dams. In such a movement, the government is not a party to the movement.

A.

B.

C.

C.

D.

April 2006

B.

C.

C.

C.

Nepal

B.

Bolivia's water war

C.

A.

Latin America

D.

C.

B.

B.

B.

A.

C.

C.

B.

It is a process which ensures government of people through universal adult suffrage according to the tenure and terms enshrined in the Constitution of India.

The confidential voting in which the preference is known only to the voters is known as secret ballot.
Secret ballot system enables a person to cast his or her vote fearlessly.

Right to vote after attaining specific age without any discrimination based on gender, colour, caste, region or religion is known Universal Adult Franchise.

(i)Both the stories share some elements which are relevant to the study of the past and future of democracies. Both these were instances of political conflicts that led to the popular struggles.

(iii) Both cases involved mass mobilisation.

(iii)Both instances involved critical role of political organisations.

This was an organisation which comprised local professionals, including engineers and environmentalists. They were suport by federation of farmers who relied on irrigation, the confederation of factory workers’ unions, middle class students from the University of Cochabamba and the city's growing population of homeless street children.
FEDECOR was supported by the socialist party and this party came to power in 2006 in Bolivia.

Candidates contesting an election are classified in two groups:
(i) Independents and (ii) Party candidates.

Bolivia, a poor country in Latin America, had to face pressure from World Bank to sell—its municipal rights in Cochabamba, a city in this country—to a MNC. The MNC immediately increased the price of water by four times. Many people received monthly water bill of Rs 1000 in a country where average income is around Rs 5000 a month. This led to spontaneous popular support.
An alliance of labour, human rights and community leaders organised a successful four day general strike. The goverment agreed to negotiate and the strike was called off. The police resorted to brutal repression when other strike was organised. With the passage of time goverment conceded to all the demands of protesters.
With this contract with MNC was cancelled and water supply was restored to Municipality at old rates. This came to known as Bolivia's water war.

The interest groups in India adopted the following two methods to put pressure on the government:
1. To influence the Legislative Committees: The interest groups established necessary contacts and maintain relations with the members of the different legislative committees and present their views in favour of their interests and influence. They also get the necessary amendments done in the bills which are still to become the laws.
2. To help people at the time of natural calamity: The interest groups help the people at the time of natural calamities, like floods, earthquakes, etc. In this way on the one hand they earn the goodwill of the people and on the other hand, they influence the government. In fact, they spend the large sums of money to manipulate the mass attitudes. Ultimately the public opinion comes to their favour.

Single issue movement is a movement of specific nature that seeks to achieve a single objective within a limited time frame. It is also known as short term movement.

Single issue movement can be contrasted with long-term movement which is more general or generic movement that seeks to achieve a broad goal in the very long term.

For example environmental movement is a label for a large number of organisations and issue-specific movement.

(i) In a democracy people express their grievances and opinion through struggles or by expressing their opinion using different means of expression and platforms.
(ii) Struggles keep the ruling party alert for making policies and programmes for the general interests of the people. 

A written statement published by a political party in which they state their aims and policies including objectives and programmes.

The second movement started in April, 2006 when king Gyanendra dismissed the then Prime Minister and dissolved the popularly elected parliament. This movement was aimed at regaining popular control over the goverment from the king.

All the major political parties in the parliament formed a Seven Party Alliance (SPA) and called for a four-day strike in Kathmandu, the country’s capital. This protest soon turned into an indefinite strike in which the Maoist insurgents and various other organisations joined hands. People defined curfew to take to the streets. The security forces found themselves unable to take on more than a lakh people who gathered almost every day to demand restoration of democracy. The number of protesters reached between 3 to 5 lakhs on 21 April and they served an ultimatum to the king. The leaders of the movement rejected the half-hearted concessions made by the king. They stuck to their demand for restoration of parliament, power to all party government and a new constituent assembly.
On 24 April, 2006, the last day of the ultimatum, the king was forced to concede all the three demands. The SPA chose Girija Prasad Koirala as the new Prime Minister of the interim government. The restored parliament met and passed laws taking away most of the powers of the king. The SPA and the Maoists came to an understanding about how the new constituent assembly was going to be elected. This struggle came to be known as Nepal’s second movement for democracy. The struggle of the Nepali people is a source of inspiration for democrats all over the world.

The following conclusions can be drawn from the two struggles in Nepal and Bolivia:

(i) Democracy evolves through popular struggles: Sometimes, decisions that are taken in a democracy may result in conflicts between those groups who are in power and those who aspire for a share in power. Such instances occur during transition to democracy, expansion of democracy or deepening of democracy.

(ii) Democratic conflict is resolved through mass mobilisation: Sometimes it is possible that the conflicts is resolved by using the existing institutions like the Parliament oe the Judiciary. But where there is deep disputes, very often these institution themselves got involved in this dispute. In such cases, the resolution has to come from outside, from the people. 

(iii) Conflicts and mobilisations are based on new political organisations: There is spontaneous public participation which can become effective only through organised politics. The agencies for organised politics are political parties, pressure groups and movement groups.

1.Restoration of democracy

4.The water contract with the MNC was cancelled and water supply was restored to the municipality at old rates.

3.The movement in Bolivia was a claim on an elected  goverment whereas in Nepal it was to establish democracy.

(a)SPA- Seven Party Alliance
(b)MNC-Multi National Company
(c)BAMCEF-Backward and Minorities Employees Federation
(d)NAPM- National Alliance for Peoples' Movement

2.The King

4.All of these 

2.Public interest groups

Political Party

Public Interest Groups

They are:
1. Narmada Bachao Andolan.
2. Movement for Right to Information.
3. Anti Liquor Movement.

King Gyanendra dissolved the popularly elected parliament in February 2005, in Nepal. 

FEDICOR fought against water privatisation in Bolivia.

Nepal witnessed an extraordinary popular movement in April 2006, which aimed at restoring democracy. This struggle is a source of inspiration to democrats all over the world. All major political parties in the Parliament formed a Seven Party Alliance (SPA) called for a four day strike in Kathmandu, the country’s capital. This protest soon turned into an indefinite strike in which Maoist insurgents and various organisation joined hands. People were determined and defied curfew and took to the streets. They demanded restoration of parliament, power to an all-party government and a new constituent assembly resisting all the restrictions that were imposed on them. As a result, on 24 April 2006, that is, the last day of the ultimatum, the king was forced to concede all the demands of people and democracy was restored. 

B.

Their principal concern is betterment and well-being of their members, not society in general.

People’s successful struggle against privatization of water in Bolivia reminds us that popular struggles integral to the working of democracy.

Bolivia is a poor country in Latin America. The World Bank pressurized the government to give up its control of municipal water supply. The company immediately increased the price of water by four times. This led to spontaneous popular protests as the water cost began to make a dent in the household budget of the people. An alliance of labour, human rights and community leaders organised a four day strike which was called off after the government agreed to negotiate. It was due to such protests by the people that the MNC contract was cancelled and the municipal water supply was restored to old rates.

Nepal witnessed an extraordinary popular movement in April 2006. The movement was aimed at restoring democracy. This struggle for democracy became source of inspiration to all democrats all over the world.

 (i) Nepal won democracy in the year 1990 though the king remained the head of the State. The real power was exercised by popularly elected representatives. King Birendra accepted this transition from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy.

 (ii) King Birendra was killed in a mysterious massacre of the royal family in 2001. King Gyanendra, the new king of Nepal was not prepared to accept democratic rule. As a result, in February 2005, the king dismissed the then Prime Minister and dissolved the popularly elected Parliament.

 (iii) The movement of 2006 was aimed at regaining popular control over the government from the king. All the major political parties in Parliament (Seven Party Alliance of Nepal) called for a 4 day strike and this protest soon turned into indefinite strike in which many other organisations joined hands.

 (iv) People defied curfews and took to the streets. Even the security forces found themselves unable to take on more than 1 lakh people who gathered almost every day to demand the restoration of democracy. They stuck to their demands of restoring the parliament, power to an all–party government and a new constituent assembly.

(v) On the last day of this protest movement, the king was forced to meet all the demands of the people. As a result, SPA chose Girija Prasad Koirala as the Prime Minister and the restored parliament passed various laws taking away most of the powers from the king.

C.

To restore democracy

Nepal witnessed an extraordinary popular movement in April 2006. The movement was aimed at restoring democracy. This struggle for democracy became source of inspiration to all democrats all over the world.

(i) Nepal won democracy in the year 1990 though the king remained the head of the State. The real power was exercised by popularly elected representatives. King Birendra accepted this transition from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy.

(ii) King Birendra was killed in a mysterious massacre of the royal family in 2001. King Gyanendra, the new king of Nepal was not prepared to accept democratic rule. As a result, in February 2005, the king dismissed the then Prime Minister and dissolved the popularly elected Parliament.

(iii) The movement of 2006 was aimed at regaining popular control over the government from the king. All the major political parties in Parliament (Seven Party Alliance of Nepal) called for a 4 day strike and this protest soon turned into indefinite strike in which many other organisations joined hands.

(iv) People defied curfews and took to the streets. Even the security forces found themselves unable to take on more than 1 lakh people who gathered almost every day to demand the restoration of democracy. They stuck to their demands of restoring the parliament, power to an all–party government and a new constituent assembly.

(v) On the last day of this protest movement, the king was forced to meet all the demands of the people. As a result, SPA chose Girija Prasad Koirala as the Prime Minister and the restored parliament passed various laws taking away most of the powers from the king.

D. Nepal

D. FEDECOR

The movement for democracy in Nepal:

(i) The movement of 2006 was aimed at regaining popular control over the government from the king. All the major political parties in Parliament (Seven Party Alliance of Nepal) called for a 4 day strike and this protest soon turned into indefinite strike in which many other organisations joined hands.

(ii) People defied curfews and took to the streets. Even the security forces found themselves unable to take on more than 1 lakh people who gathered almost every day to demand the restoration of democracy. They stuck to their demands of restoring the parliament, power to an all–party government and a new constituent assembly.

(iii) On the last day of this protest movement, the king was forced to meet all the demands of the people. As a result, SPA chose Girija Prasad Koirala as the Prime Minister and the restored parliament passed various laws taking away most of the powers from the king.

B. To re-establish democracy in Nepal

The ways pressure groups exert influence on politics are:

(i) They try to gain public support and sympathy for their goals and activities by carrying out information campaigns, organising meetings, etc.

(ii)They organise protest activity like strikes or disrupt government programmes.

(iii) Persons from pressure groups may participate in official bodies and committees that offer advice to the government.

Two sectional interest groups are trade unions and business associations.

Public interest pressure groups are groups which seek to promote the interest of the people in general and look after common objectives for their betterment. They are also known as promotional groups because they promote collective rather than selective good.
i. They aim to help people and take up issues relating to them.
ii. They even take up issues which may not benefit the members of the group.
iii. They fight for social justice and social equality. Example: BAMCEF (Backward and Minority Communities Employees Federation)

Democracy evolved through struggles and movements. It is possible that some significant decision may take place through consensus and may not involves any conflict at all. But that would be an exception. Defining moments of democracy usually involve conflicts between those groups who have exercised power and those who aspire for a share in power. The moment comes when the country is going through the transition to democracy, expansion to democracy or deepening of democracy.
The movement in Nepal was to establish democracy, while the struggle in Bolivia involved claims on an elected, democratic government. Both these are instances of political conflict that led to popular struggles. In both cases, the struggle involved mass mobilisation.

The reasons:

(i) Popular movements deepen democracy as they ensure greater participation of people through meetings and processions, making people more aware and vigilant.

(ii) They help in the due representation and accommodation of diverse interests.

(ii) They put pressure on the government, making it more accountable and responsive to the needs of the people.

(iv) They raise the democratic consciousness of the people to fight in the spirit of democracy.

For example, the movement in Nepal was to establish democracy, while the struggle in Bolivia involved claims on an elected, democratic goverment. Both these are instances of political conflict that led to popular struggles. In both cases the struggle involved mass mobilisation.

A.

an organisation of organisations.

D.

a public interest group.

B.

due to increase in price of water.

A.

Foundational challenge

The movement in Nepal and the struggle in Bolivia are the two political movements.

i. Movement in Nepal-Nepal witnessed a popular movement in April 2006. The movement aimed at restoring democracy and was about the foundational of the country’s politics.

ii. Movement in Bolivia-The popular struggle in Bolivia involved claims on an elected, democratic government. People of Bolivia were against the privatisation of the water.

C.

The Socialist Party

People’s sucessful struggle against privatisation of water in Bolivia reminds us that popular struggles integral to the working of democracy. Bolivia is a poor country in latin America. The World Bank pressurised the goverment to give up its control of municipal water supply. The company immediately increased the price of water by four times. This led to spontaneous popular protests as the water cost began to make a dent in the household budget of the people. An alliance of labour, human rights and community leaders organised a four day strike which was called off after the government agreed to negotiate. It was due to such protests by the people that the MNC contract was cancelled and the municipal water supply was restored to old rates.

The values-

(i) Democracy evolves through popular struggle.

(ii) Democratic conflicts is resolved through mass mobilisation.

(iii) These conflicts and mobilisation are based on new political organisation.

Q18 :How is democratic government known as responsive government? Explain with examples.

The movement in Nepal was to restore democracy while in Bolivia the struggle involved claims on the elected government. In Bolivia struggle was about one specific policy, while struggle in Nepal was about the foundations of the country’s politics.

Despite the differences, both the stories share some elements which are relevant to the study of the past and future of democracies.

(i) In both cases the political conflict that led to the popular struggles.

(ii) Both the cases involved mass mobilization.

(iii) Both instances involved critical role of political parties.

The popular movement for democracy in Nepal:

(i) The movement of 2006 was aimed at regaining popular control over the government from the king. All the major political parties in Parliament (Seven Party Alliance of Nepal) called for a 4 day strike and this protest soon turned into indefinite strike in which many other organisations joined hands.

(ii) People defied curfews and took to the streets. Even the security forces found themselves unable to take on more than 1 lakh people who gathered almost every day to demand the restoration of democracy. They stuck to their demands of restoring the parliament, power to an all–party government and a new constituent assembly.

(iii) On the last day of this protest movement, the king was forced to meet all the demands of the people. As a result, SPA chose Girija Prasad Koirala as the Prime Minister and the restored parliament passed various laws taking away most of the powers from the king.

The ways pressure groups and movement exert influence on politics are-

(i) They try to gain public support and sympathy for their goals and activities by carrying out information campaigns, organising meetings, etc.

(ii) They organise protest activity like strikes or disrupt government programmes.

(iii) Persons from pressure groups may participate in official bodies and committees that offer advice to the government.

Pressure groups are formed when people with common occupation, interest, aspirations, or opinions come together in order to achieve a common objective, at times forcing government to fulfil their wishes.

The difference between popular struggles in Nepal and Bolivia

1. The movement in Nepal was to establish democracy, while the struggle in Bolivia involved claims on an elected democratic govt.
2. The popular struggle in Bolivia was about one specific policy 1e privatisation of water while the struggle in Nepal was about the foundation of the country's politics.

Pressure groups and movements exert pressure on government policies in the following ways :

1. They conduct meetings and rallies to draw the attention of the media and government.

2. They organise strikes and dharanas to stop the normal functioning of the government.

3. Some times it is also noted that pressure groups are either formed or led by political parties.

Great economic hardships were experienced in Europe.

• The ratio of the rise of population was larger than that of employment generation.
•  Migration of rural population to cities led to overcrowded slums.
• Small producers in towns (especially textile producing industries) were often ousted by the import of cheap machine-made goods from England.

• Widespread food shortages and widespread unemployment experienced in Paris.
• Barricades were made and Louis Philippe was forced to flee.
• National Assembly proclaimed a Republic.
• Suffrage to all males above 21 was granted.

• Weavers revolted against contractors for the drastic reduction in their payments.
• This revolution received scorns and threats alternately and resulted in the death of eleven weavers. 

OR

The problems faced by the French in the education sphere in Vietnam were:
a. The elites were highly influenced by the Chinese culture.
b. The French in order to establish their power had to demolish Chinese influence.

e. Few people could take admission in schools and few could pass the school leaving exams.

French Revolution led to a change in politics and constitution of France. The features of post-revolutionary France in the backdrop of nationalism include:
a. The idea of the fatherland and citizen was created to put stress on  a community which enjoyed equal rights under the constitution.
b. The royalty was replaced with a new French flag; the tricolor.
c. The Estates General was elected by the body of active citizens and given the name of  the National Assembly.
d. In the name of nation; new hymns and songs were composed and oaths were taken.
e. Martyrs were honoured.

SThere are many reasons that forced America to withdraw from the Vietnam war :

• America had failed to achieve its objectives in Vietnam.
• The people in Vietnam were very united and did not give any interest to US. Moreover, US were not able to crush the people of Vietnam.
• Many US soldiers and civilians died in large numbers.
• This became the first war to be telecasted on television where battles scenes were shown.
• Many US soldiers were drafted to war which angered the people in US.
• Moreover, a peace treaty was signed in 1973 in Paris where the war ended.

In 1861, Victor Emmanuel II was proclaimed king of united Italy.

OR

The Scholars Revolt in 1868 was led by officials at the imperial court angered by the spread of Catholicism and French power.

FEDECOR and Indian Trade Union

A pressure group uses extra constitutional measures to influence and coerce the government, whereas, a political party is a group of people who come together to contest elections and to acquire political power.

The decade of 1830s was one of great economic hardship. This was so because:

• The ratio of the rise of population was larger than that of employment generation.
• Migration of rural population to cities led to overcrowded slums.

Peasants still suffered under the burden of feudal dues and obligations in some regions of Europe.

 OR

Ho chi minh trail is a long network of roads and footpaths. It was built by the Vietnamese to serve as the link between north and south Vietnam. It also proved to immensely important an asset for the Vietnamese in the fight against the USA in the following ways:

• Transported men and materials from north to south Vietnam.
• Proved to be the backbone of food and supplies for south Vietnam. Porters carried almost twenty five kilos of supplies on their back.
• With the establishment of hospitals and support bases on the trail, movement of people and goods became less cumbersome. 

Napoleon had brought an end to the democracy that had been achieved in France after the long-drawn French revolution. His constant attacks on other countries too had earned him the image of an oppressor and an aggressive conqueror. However, his administrative reforms introduced were very effective and well -crafted. Few of these policies are as follows:

• Established equality before law. 
• Abolished all privileges based on birth. 
• Granted the right to property to French citizens. 
• Simplified administrative divisions. 
• Abolished feudal system and freed peasants from serfdom.

OR
 

The Geneva negotiation on one hand did lead to the division of Vietnam and on the other pushed Vietnam to wards an era of conquests. The French had long attempted to over power the forces of NLF with the help of Bao dai. However, they were defeated. The Vietnamese on the other hand had to accept the division of the country into two halves, Ho Chi Minh taking control of the communist bloc in the North and  Bao   Dai taking control of South. This division , proved to be disastrous for the Vietnam, as it resulted into  a political turmoil bringing about conflict in the region , leading to loss of life and property. The  Bao Dai regime was soon overthrown by a coup led by Ngo Dinh Diem. Diem built a repressive and authoritarian government and did not tolerate any opposition. Diem retained a French law that permitted Christianity but outlawed Buddhism. National Liberation Front (NLF) with the support of Ho chi Minh fought for the unification of country. The US also feared the spread of communism and so got involved in the war. The following war is one of the most criticised war ever fought in history of mankind.

 (a) – Economic Hardship

The following are three important reasons why the decade of 1830s is known as great

economic hardship in Europe:

i. During the 1830s, there was large-scale unemployment in Europe. In most of the

European countries, employment opportunities were low in number, whereas job

seekers were many.

ii. Cities had come to be extremely overcrowded. As a result, slums had started coming

up as more people migrated from the rural areas to the urban areas.

iii. Small producers in towns were often faced with stiff competition from imports of cheap machine-made goods from England where industrialisation was more advanced, especially in textile production.

c) Officials of Imperial Court

The main objective of the Tonkin Free School was to provide Western style education.

i. The education imparted in this institution included Science, Hygiene and French.

ii. It was not enough to acquire knowledge in Science and Western ideas. It was also

important to learn how to look ‘modern’ in the Western sense of the term. Both these

factors displayed the colonial mentality of the French rulers towards the natives.

iii. The French wanted to consolidate their control over Vietnam through the control of

education. There was a definite attempt to change the values, norms and perceptions

of people to accept the superiority of French culture and civilisation.