Very Short Answer Questions (VSA) 1 Mark

Question 1.
Who are represented by the term ‘African American’?
Answer:
African-Americans or the Blacks is the name given to the descendants of Africans who were brought into America as slaves between 17^th century and early 19^th century.

Question 2.
Name the two athletes who protested at the Mexico Olympics in 1968.
Answer:
Tommie Smith, John Carlos.

Question 3.
What is a homogeneous society?
Answer:
Homogeneous Society: A society that has similar kinds of people, especially where there are no significant ethnic differences, for example: Germany and Sweden.

Question 4.
Define the term ‘migrant’.
Answer:
Anybody who shifts from one region or country to another region within a country or to another country, usually for work or other opportunities, is called migrant.

Question 5.
Explain the meaning of democracy.
Answer:
Democracy can be broadly defined as a form of government where rulers are elected by the people. The representatives are elected through free and fair elections.

Question 6.
What were the Afro- American athletes responding to?
Answer:
They were responding to social divisions and social inequalities prevailing in the American society.

Question 7.
What are the basis of social differences?
Answer:

1.    The social differences are mostly based on accident of birth

2.    Some of the social differences are based on our choices.

Question 8.
What does democracy involve?
Answer:
Democracy involves competition among various political parties.

Question 9.
What will happen if the political parties start competing in terms of some social divisions?
Answer:
If the political parties start competing in terms of some existing social divisions. It can make social divisions into political divisions and lead to conflict violence or even disintegration of a country.

Question 10.
Why has Northern Ireland been in news in recent years?
Answer:
The region of Northern Ireland of United Kingdom has been for many years a the site of a violent and bitter ethnopolitical conflict.

Question 11.
What was the demand of Nationalist parties in Northern Ireland?
Answer:
The Catholics in Northern Ireland were represented by Nationalist parties who demanded that Northern Ireland be unified with the. Republic of Ireland, a predominantly Catholic country.

Question 12.
Whom did the Unionists represent?
Answer:
The Unionists represented the Protestants who wanted to remain with the UK which is predominantly non – Catholic.

Question 13.
What was the result of ethnopolitical conflict in Northern Ireland?
Answer:
Hundreds of civilians, militants and security forces were killed in the fight in the fight between Unionists and nationalists and between the security forces of the UK and the Nationalists.

Question 14.
How do migrants create social divisions?
Answer:
Migrants bring with them their own culture and tend to form a different social community.

Question 15.
When did the UK government and the Nationalists reach a peace treaty? What was its results?
Answer:
In 1998, the UK government and the Nationalists reached a peace treaty after which the latter suspended their armed struggle.

Question 16.
What’s was the result of political competition along religious and ethnic lines in Yugoslavia?
Answer:
In Yugoslavia political competition along religious and ethnic lines led to the disintegration of the country into six independent countries.

Question 17.
“Social divisions affect voting in most countries” Explain.
Answer:

1.    It is a fact that social divisions affect voting in most countries. People from one community tend to prefer some party more than others.

2.    In many countries, there are parties that focus only on one community.

Question 18.
“Social diversity can take different forms in different societies”. Justify
Answer:
When Smith and Carlos clenched first upraised and heads bowed on the occasion of the medal ceremony of the 200-metre race in the 1968 Olympics held at Mexico city they were responding to social divisions and social inequalities prevailing in the American society.
2. The examples of Belgium and Sri Lanka show both regional and social divisions.
3. In the case of Belgium people who live in different regions speak different languages
4. In Sri Lanka we noted linguistic as well as religious differences. Thus “social diversity can take different forms in different societies “.

Question 19.
“Every social difference does not lead to social division” Elucidate.
Answer:

1. Every social difference divide similar people from one another, but they also unite very different people


2. People belonging to different social groups across the boundaries of their groups.


3. For example, Carlos and Smith were similar in one way (both are African-American) and thus different from Norman who was a white


4. But they were also all similar in other ways – they were all athletes who stood against racial discrimination.

Question 20.
“We have different identities in different contexts.” Explain.
Answer:

1. It is fairly common for people belonging to the same religion to feel that they do not belong to the same community, because their caste or sect is very different.


2. It is also possible to people from different religions to have the same caste and feel close to each other.


3. Rich and poor people from the same family often do not keep close relations with each other for they feel they are very different.


4. Thus we all have more than one identity and can belong to more than one social group. We have different identities in different contexts.

Question 21.
“The assertion of social diversities in a country need not be seen as a source of danger.” Explain.
Answer:

1.    The assertion of social diversities in a country need not be seen as a source of danger: In a democracy, political expression of social divisions is very normal and can be healthy.

2.    This allows various disadvantaged and marginal social groups to express their grievances and get the government to attend to these

3.    Expression of various kinds of social divisions in politics often results in their cancelling one another out and thus reducing their intensity

4.    This leads to strengthening of a democracy.

Question 22.
Do you think a positive attitude towards diversity and a willingness to accommodate it came about easily?
Answer:

1.    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.

2.    Such a fight often takes the democratic path, voicing their demands in a peaceful and constitutional manner and seeking a fair position through elections

3.    Sometimes social differences can take the form of unacceptable level of social inequality and injustice.

4.    The struggle against such inequalities sometimes fake the path of violence and defiance of state power.

Question 23.
Do you think a mix of social division and politics is always disastrous?
Answer:
1. Every expressions of social divisions in politics does not lead to such disasters Ireland, this region of United Kingdom has been for many years the site of a violent and bitter ethnopolitical conflict. Its population is divided into two major sects of Christianity: 53 per cent are Protestant, while 44 per cent are Roman Catholic. The Catholics were represented by Nationalist parties who demanded that Northern Ireland be unified with the Republic of Ireland, a predominantly Catholic country.

The Protestants were represented by Unionists who wanted to remain with the UK, which is predominantly non-Catholic. Hundreds of civilians, militants and security forces were killed in the fight between Unionists and Nationalists and between the security forces of the UK and the Nationalists.

It was only in 1998, that the UK government and the Nationalists reached a peace treaty after which the latter suspended their armed struggle In Yugoslavia, the story did not have a happy end.

Political competition along religious and ethnic lines led to the disintegration of Yugoslavia into six independent countries Such examples lead some people to conclude that:
1. Politics and social divisions must not be allowed to mix
2. They think that it would be best if there are no social divisions in any country
3. If social divisions do exist in a country, they must never be expressed in politics.

Short Answer Questions (SA)

Question 24.
What did the African-American athletes do in order to draw international attention to ‘black poverty’ in the Mexico Olympic?
Answer:

1.    At the Mexico Olympics in 1968, two African-American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos protested to draw international attention towards ‘black poverty’.

2.    They had won the bronze and gold medals respectively. They received their medals wearing black socks and no shoes to represent black poverty.

3.    They stood on the victory board with clenched fists upraised and bowed heads as a symbol of ‘black power’. Their motive was to draw international attention to racial discrimination in the United States.

Question 25.
How that is religious differences created social division in Northern Ireland and failed to do the same in Netherlands? Explain.
Answer:
Social division takes place when social difference overlaps with other differences. Both Northern Ireland and Netherlands are predominantly Christian but divided between Catholics and Protestants.

In Northern Ireland, class and religion overlap with each other. The Catholics there are less in number, poor and suffered a history of discrimination. Overlapping social differences created deep social division and tensions in Northern Ireland. As a result Catholic and Protestants have had conflict.

Whereas in the Netherlands, class and religion tend to cut across each other. Catholics and Protestants are about equally likely to be poor or rich. These cross-cutting social differences are easier to accommodate because it is difficult to pit one group of people against the other.

Question 26.
How were Carlos, Smith and Norman penalized for their action at 1968 Mexico Olympics?
Or
What consequences did Smith and Carlos have to face after their reaction to the social discrimination?
Answer:
Carlos, Smith and Norman won medals in the 200 metre race in the 1968 Olympics held at Mexico city. Carlos and Smith, the two African-Americans received their medals wearing black gloves, black socks and no shoes to represent Black poverty. They stood with clenched fists upraised and heads bowed, while the American national anthem was played to draw international attention to racial discrimination in the United States.

The silver medalist, white Australian athlete, Peter Norman, wore a human rights badge on his shirt during the ceremony to show his support to the two African-Americans.

1.    The International Olympic Association held Carlos and Smith guilty of violating the Olympic spirit by making a political statement. Their medals were taken back and they were subjected to a lot of criticism in America.

2.    Norman too suffered for his action and was not included in the Australian team for the next Olympics.

Question 27.
Explain three factors that determine the outcome of politics of social divisions.
Answer:
Three factors determining the outcome of politics of social divisions are:
(i) How people perceive their identities. If people see their identities in exclusive terms, it becomes 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 easier if identities are complementary with national identities. This helps to stay together. This is how most people in our country see their identity. They feel and think as Indian as well as belonging to a State or a language group or a social or religious group.

(ii) How political leaders raise 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.

(iii) How Government reacts to demands of different groups. If the rulers are willing to share power and accommodate the reasonable demands of minority community, as in Belgium, social divisions become less threatening for the country. But if the demand is suppressed in the name of national unity, as in Sri Lanka, the end result is quite opposite. Such attempts at forced integration sow the seeds of disintegration.

Question 28.
“Assertion of social diversities need not be seen as a source of danger”. Explain the statement with three arguments.
Answer:

1.    In a democracy, political expression of social divisions is very normal and can be healthy. This allows various disadvantaged and marginal social groups to express their grievances and get the government to attend to these.

2.    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.

3.    But a positive attitude towards diversity and a willingness to accommodate it do not come about easily. People who feel deprived have to fight against the injustices. Such a fight often takes the democratic path, voicing their demands in a peaceful and constitutional manner.

Question 29.
What are the three main factors that determine the outcome of social divisions in politics? Explain.
Answer:
Three factors determining the outcome of social divisions in politics are:
(i) How people perceive their identities. If people see their identities in exclusive terms, it becomes difficult to accommodate them. As long as people in Northern Ireland saw themselves as only Catholic or Protestant, their differences were difficult to reconcile. It is easier if identities are complementary with national identities. This helps to stay together. This is how most people in our country see their identity. They feel and think as Indian as well as belonging to a State or a language group or a social or religious group.

(ii) How political leaders raise 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.

(iii) How Government reacts to demands of different groups. If the rulers are willing to share power and accommodate the reasonable demands of minority community, as in Belgium, social divisions become less threatening for the country. But if the demand is suppressed in the name of national unity, as in Sri Lanka, the end result is quite opposite. Such attempts at forced integration sow the seeds of disintegration.

Question 30.
Why do some people think that it’s not correct to politicize social divisions? Give three reasons.
Answer:
Social divisions of one kind or another exist in most countries of the world and these divisions are reflected in politics and affect politics. Expression of social divisions in politics lead to disaster. If social divisions do exist in a country, they must never be expressed in politics, because the combination of politics and social divisions is very dangerous.

1.    Democracy involves competition among various political parties. Their competition tends to divide society.

2.    If they start competing in terms of some existing social division, it can make social divisions into political divisions and lead to conflict, violence or even disintegration of a country. In Yugoslavia, political competition along religious and ethnic lines led to disintegration of the country into six independent countries.

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

Question 31.
“In a democracy, political expression of social division is very normal and can be healthy”. Justify this statement with suitable arguments.
Answer:
In a democracy, political expression of social divisions is very normal and can be healthy. This allows various disadvantaged and marginal social groups to express their grievances and get the government to attend to these.

Taking 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. In fact it may prove healthy for a democracy.

Expressions of various kinds of social divisions in politics often results in their cancelling one another and thus reducing their intensity. This leads to strengthening of democracy.

As long as people in Northern Ireland saw themselves as only Catholic or Protestant, their differences were difficult to reconcile.

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.

Question 32.
Explain the two bases of Social differences with examples.
Answer: Origins of Social differences:

1.    Accident of birth. We don’t choose to belong to our community. We belong to it simply because we were born into it. We experience social differences based on accident of birth in our everyday lives

2.    Based on choices. Some of the differences are based on our choices. Some people are atheists. They don’t believe in God or any religion. Some people choose to follow a religion other than the one in which they were born. Most of us choose to study a subject of our interest and an occupation where we can excel. All these lead to formation of social groups that are based on our choices.

Question 33.
What penalty was imposed on ‘Carlos, Smith and Norman’ for their action at the 1967 Mexico Olympics?
Answer:

1.    The International Olympic Association held Carlos and Smith guilty of violating the Olympic spirit by making a political statement. Their medals were taken back.

2.    In America, they were subjected to a lot of criticism.

3.    Norman was excluded from the Australian team in the next Olympics.

Question 34.
What are the three main factors that determine the outcome of social divisions in politics? Explain.
Answer:
Three factors determining the outcome of social divisions in politics are:
(i) How people perceive their identities. If people see their identities in exclusive terms, it becomes difficult to accommodate them. As long as people in Northern Ireland saw themselves as only Catholic or Protestant, their differences were difficult to reconcile. It is easier if identities are complementary with national identities. This helps to stay together. This is how most people in our country see their identity. They feel and think as Indian as well as belonging to a State or a language group or a social or religious group.

(ii) How political leaders raise 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.

(iii) How Government reacts to demands of different groups. If the rulers are willing to share power and accommodate the reasonable demands of minority community, as in Belgium, social divisions become less threatening for the country. But if the demand is suppressed in the name of national unity, as in Sri Lanka, the end result is quite opposite. Such attempts at forced integration sow the seeds of disintegration.

Long Answer Questions (LA) 5 Marks

Question 35.
Distinguish between overlapping and cross-cutting of social differences.
Answer:
Difference between Overlapping and Cross-cutting of social

Overlapping	Cross-cutting
(i) Overlapping social differences create possi­bilities of deep social divisions and tensions.	(i) Cross-cutting social differences are easier to accommodate.
(ii) In overlapping one kind of social difference becomes more important than the other and the people start feeling that they belong to a different community. For example, in Nor­thern Ireland, class and religion overlap each other. If you are Catholic, you are likely to be poor, suffering a history of discrimination.	(ii) In cross-cutting, groups that share a common interest on one issue, are sometimes on different sides on different issues. For example, in Netherlands, class and religion tend to cut across each other. Catholics and Protestants are about equally likely to be poor or rich.
(iii) Catholics and Protestants have had conflicts in Northern Ireland.	(iii) There are no conflicts in the Netherlands.

Question 36.
Explain the origins of social differences.
Answer:
Origins of Social differences:

1.    Accident of birth. We don’t choose to belong to our community. We belong to it simply because we were born into it. We experience social differences based on accident of birth in our everyday lives.

2.    Based on choices. Some of the differences are based on our choices. Some people are atheists. They don’t believe in God or any religion. Some people choose to follow a religion other than the one in which they were born. Most of us choose to study a subject of our interest and an occupation where we can excel. All these lead to formation of social groups that are based on our choices.
For example, Nagaland, Uttrakhand and Jharkhand.

3.    Restricting of Centre-State relations. The constitutional arrangements for sharing power work depending on how the ruling parties and leaders follow these arrangements. For a long time, the. Same party ruled both at the Centre and in most of states. Post-1990 saw the rise of regional parties. Since no single party got a clear majority in the Lok Sabha, the national parties had to enter into an alliance which led to a new culture of power sharing and respect for autonomy of State Governments.