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Democracy And Diversity

Question
CBSEENSS10018341

‘Democracies do not appear to be very successful in reducing economic inequalities’. Examine the statement with examples. 

Solution

It is seen that on an average, dictatorial regimes have had a slightly better record of economic growth, i.e. 4.34%. However, if this record is compared with that in the poor countries, there is almost no difference. It is 4.28%. Within democracies, there can be very high levels of economic inequality. In countries such as South Africa and Brazil, the top 20% people appropriate more than 60% of the national income, whereas less than 3% remains for the bottom 20%. However, as research shows, economic development and economic equality often depend on several factors such as country’s size, global situation, cooperation from other countries and economic priorities. While countries such as Sweden and Norway have achieved greater levels of economic equality, countries with more complex problems like India have so far been slow in achieving this goal.

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.