Very Short Answer Questions (VSA)

Question 1.
Give an example of a Public Interest group.
Answer:
Backward and Minorities Community Employees Federation (BAMCEF).

Question 2.
What was the main aim of the movement in Nepal in 2006?
Answer:
The main aim of the movement in Nepal was to re-establish democracy in Nepal.

Question 3.
What are sectional interest groups? Give an example.
Answer:
Organizations that undertake activities to promote the interests of specific social sections such as lawyers, teachers, workers, employees are called sectional interest groups.

Question 4.
Name the ‘Third World’ country that has won democracy in 1990.
Answer:
Nepal

Question 5.
Give a special feature that distinguishes a pressure group from a political party?
Answer:
Pressure groups do not seek to get into power whereas political parties do.

Question 6.
Which special feature distinguishes a movement from an interest group?
Answer:
Movements are usually issue specific to achieve a single objective within a limited time frame.

Question 7.
What gave rise to the struggle in Bolivia in 2000?
Answer:
In the year 2000, there was a popular struggle in Bolivia against privatization and subsequent increase in the price of water.

Question 8.
What is a pressure group? Give an example.
Answer:
Pressure groups are organizations that attempt to influence government policies. They could do so by forming an organization and undertaking activities to promote their interest or their viewpoint. These organizations are formed when people with common occupation, interest, aspirations or opinions come together in order to achieve a common objective.

A few examples are: BAMCEF (Backward and Minorities Community Employees’ Federation), FEDECOR—a Bolivian organization, RWAs, AITUC.

Question 9.
Give two dissimilarities of popular struggles in Nepal and Bolivia?
Answer:

1.    The movement in Nepal was to establish democracy. The struggle in Bolivia involved claims on an elected, democratic government.

2.    The struggle in Nepal was about the foundation of the country’s politics. The struggle in Bolivia was about one specific policy.

Question 10.
Which financial agency pressurized the government of Bolivia to give an MNC, control over the water supply arrangements in the city of Cochabamba?
Answer:
Bank of Cochabamba.

Question 11.
Give one characteristic feature of a sectional interest group.
Answer:
Sectional interest groups are organisational that undertake activities to promote the interests of specific social sections such as workers, employees, teachers and lawyers change, etc.

Question 12.
With the help of an example each compare a single issue movement and a long-term movement?
Answer:

1.    Single issue movements are those which seek to achieve a single objective within a limited time period. Example, Narmada Bachao Andolan.

2.    Long term movements are those which seek to achieve a long goal in a very long term, e.g., environmental movements, etc.

Question 13.
With the help of an example each, compare sectional interest groups and public interest groups.
Answer:
Sectional interest group. They seek to promote the interest of a particular section or group of society. They promote selective good and are concerned only about the interest of their section of the society, their own members and not the society in general. For example, FEDECOR.

Public interest group. They seek to promote collective interests rather than selective good. They promote collective good and are concerned with welfare of the society and not just their own members. For example, BAMCEF.

Question 14.
Who dissolved the popularly elected parliament in February 2005 in Nepal?
Answer:
King Gyanendra, the new king dismissed the Prime Minister and dissolved the popularly elected Parliament.

Question 15.
What was the main role of ‘FEDECOR’ organisation in Bolivia?
Answer:
The main role of FEDECOR involved claims over an elected government to protest against its policy of water privatization.

Question 16.
What was the main aim of the popular movement of April 2006, in Nepal?
Answer:
Aim of popular movement of April 2006 in Nepal:

1.    Restoring democracy.

2.    Regaining popular control over the government from the King.

Question 17.
How are issue specific movements different from generic movements?
Answer:
Issue specific movements seek to achieve a single objective within limited time frame.
General generic movements seek to achieve a broad goal in the very long term.

Question 18.
Which organisation led the protest against water privatisation in Bolivia?
Answer:
The protest against water privatisation in Bolivia was led by FEDECOR.

Question 19.
Name any two sectional interest groups.
Answer:
Trade Unions and Professional bodies like lawyers, teachers, etc.

Question 20.
Distinguish between pressure groups and political parties by stating any one point of distinction. (2016)
Answer:
Pressure groups do not aim to directly control or share political power but political parties directly control and share political power.

Question 21.
Why did the Dutch-speaking people resent in Belgium?
Answer:
Because the minority French-speaking community of is Belgium was relatively rich and powerful.

Question 22.
Why was the conflict more acute in Brussels?
Answer:
The conflict between the two communities was more acute in Brussels because the Dutch-speaking people constituted a majority in the country, but a minority in the capital.

Question 23.
Who are the majority and minority social groups of Sri Lanka?
Answer:
Sinhla speaking people 74% Tamils 18% er ar Christians – 7%.

Question 24.
Define majoritarianism.
Answer:
A belief that the majority community should be able to rule a country in whichever way it wants, by disregarding the wishes and needs of the minority.

Question 25.
When was the demand for independent Tamil state raised?
Answer:
By 1980s several political organizations were formed demanding an independent Tamil Eelam in north-eastern Sri Lanka.

Question 26.
Why was Belgium Constitution amended four times?
Answer:
Between 1970 -1993, the constitution of Belgium was amended four times so as to work out an arrangement that would enable everyone to live together within the same country.

Question 27.
What do you mean by “Community government”?
Answer:

1.    The “Community government” in Belgium is elected by people belonging to one language community Dutch, French and German-speaking no matter where they live.

2.    This government has the power regarding cultural, educational and language-related issues.

Question 28.
What is civil war?
Answer:
A violent conflict between opposing groups within a country that becomes so intense that it appears like a war.

Question 29.
What is the main difference between prudential reasons and moral reasons?
Answer:
While prudential reasons stress its beneficial consequences, moral reasons emphasise the intrinsic worth of power-sharing.

Question 30.
Which government can be called legitimate?
Answer:
A legitimate government is one where groups through participation, acquire a stake in the system.

Question 31.
What do you mean by prudential?
Answer:
Prudential means based on prudence or on careful calculation contrasted with those decisions based purely on moral considerations.

Question 32.
Define ‘horizontal distribution of power’.
Answer:
When power is shared among different organs of government, such as legislature, executive and judiciary, this is called horizontal distribution of power because it allows different organs of government placed at the same level to exercise different powers.

Question 33.
What do you understand by federal government?
Answer:
When power is shared among governments at different levels, for example, a general government for the entire country and governments at the provincial, sub-national or regional level. Such a general government for the whole country is called federal government.

Question 34.
Describe ‘federal division of power’.
Answer:
In those countries where there are different levels of governments, the constitution clearly lays down the powers of different levels of governments. This is called federal division of power.

Question 35.
Explain ‘Vertical division of power’.
Answer:
The federal division of power can be extended to levels of government lower than he state government such as the municipality and panchayat. All such divisions involving higher and lower levels of government are called “vertical division of power”.

Question 36.
Why the provision of “reserved constituencies” have been made in our country?
Answer:
Arrangements such as provision of reserved constituencies in and the parliament of our country is meant to give space in the government and administration to diverse social groups who otherwise feel alienated from the government.

Question 37.
Describe the ethnic composition of Belgium.
Answer:
The ethnic composition of Belgium, a small country in Europe is very complex. Of the country’s total population, 59 per cent live in the Flemish region and speak Dutch language.

Another 40 per cent live in the Wallonia region and speak French. Remaining I per cent of the Belgians speak German. In the capital city Brussels, 80 per cent people speak French while 20 percent are Dutch-speaking.

Question 38.
What was the main reason of tension between the Dutch and the French-speaking people of Belgium?
Answer:

1.    The minority French-speaking community of Belgium was relatively rich and powerful,

2.    This was resented by the Dutch-speaking community who got the benefit of economic development and education much later.

3.    This led to tensions between the Dutch and the rrench speaking communities during the 1950s and 1960s.

Question 39.
How was the majoritarian dominance established in Sri Lanka?
Answer:

1.    Sri Lanka got independence in 1948. The leaders of Sinhla community wished to secure dominance over government by virtue of their majority.

2.    The democratically elected government adopted a series of majoritarian measures to establish Sinhala supremacy in Sri Lanka.

3.    In 1956, an Act was passed to recognize Sinhala as the only official language, thus disregarding Tamil

4.    The Sinhala speaking people were given preference in university position and government jobs.

Question 40.
Explain the outcomes of Belgian model of governance?
Answer:

The Belgian model is very complicated even for the Belgian people. But these arrangements have so far worked well, they helped avoid civic strife between the two major communities and a possible division of the country on linguistic lines.

When many countries of Europe came together to form the European Union, Brussels who chosen as its headquarters.

Question 41.
“Belgium and Sri Lanka both are democracies, yet they dealt with the question of power-sharing differently.” Justify.
Answer:

1.    Belgium and Sri Lanka, both are democratic Yet they dealt with the question of power-sharing differently

2.    In Belgium, the leaders have realized that the unity of the country is possible only by respecting the feelings and interests of different communities and regions.

3.    Such a realization resulted in mutually acceptable arrangements for sharing power.

4.    Sri Lanka shows us a contrasting example. It shows us that if a majority community wants to force its dominance over others and refuses to share power, it can undermine the unity of the country.

Question 42.
Write a short note on checks and balances.
Answer:
Power-sharing among different organs of government, such as the legislature, executive and judiciary allows different organs of government placed at the same level to exercise different power. Such a separation ensures that none of the organs can exercise unlimited power.

Each organ checks the others. This results in balance of power among various institutions. For example, even though the ministers and government officials exercise power, they are responsible to the parliament or state legislatures. Similarly, although the judges are appointed by the executive, but they can check the functioning of executive or laws made by legislatures. This arrangement is also called a system of checks and balances.

Question 43.
What do you mean by Pressure groups or interest groups?
Answer:
Pressure groups or interest groups are those organized groups which influence the government decisions. They demonstrate the demands of the industrialists, traders, farmers, working-class and other professional people.
They use various methods with a view to influencing public opinion.

They organize big demonstrations and rallies and get newspapers columns written by prominent people to arouse public opinion for or against a particular Bill or Law. Makenzie defined it as, “the organized groups possessing both formal structure and real common interests, in so far as they influence the decisions of public bodies.”

Question 44.
Analyse the results of majoritarian dominance in Sri Lanka.
Answer:

1.    In 1956, the Government of Sri Lanka passed an Act to recognize Sinhla as official language. The state declared to protect and foster Buddhism. The governments followed preferential policies that favoured Sinhla applicants for university positions and government jobs. All these, government measures, coming after one another, gradually increased the feeling of alienation among Sri Lankan Tamils.

2.    They felt that none of the major political parties led by the Buddhist Sinhalese were sensitive to their language and culture.

3.    They fell that the constitution and government policies denied them equal political rights, discriminated against them in getting jobs and other opportunities and ignored their interests,

4.    It resulted in strained relations between the Sinhalese and Tamil communities.

5.    The Sri Lankan Tamils launched parties and started struggling for the recognition of Tamil as an official language, for regional autonomy and equality of opportunity in securing education and jobs.

6.    Their demand for more autonomy to provinces with more Tamil populations was repeatedly denied. By 1980s, several political organizations were formed demanding an independent Tamil Eelam in north-eastern Sri Lanka.

Question 45.
How did the Belgian leaders solve the problems of regional differences and cultural diversities?
Answer:

1.    The Belgian leaders recognized the existence of regional differences and cultural diversities.

2.    They amended their constitution four times between 1970 to 1993, so as to work out an arrangement that would enable everyone to live together within the same country.

The arrangement is very innovative. Some important elements of the Belgian model is a follows:

(a) Constitution prescribes that the number of Dutch and French-speaking ministers shall be equal in the central government. Some special laws require the support of majority of members from each linguistic group. Thus, no single community can make decisions unilaterally.

(b) Many powers of the central government have been given to state governments for the two regions of the country. The state governments are not subordinate to the central goverment.

(c) Brussels has a separate government in which both the communities have equal representation. The French-speaking people accepted equal representation in Brussels because the Dutch-speaking community has accepted equal representation in the central government.

(d) Apart from the central and the state government there is a third kind of government. This ‘community government7 is elected by people belonging to one language community Dutch, French and German-speaking- no matter where they live. This government has the power regarding cultural, educational and language-related issues.

Question 46.
Why power sharing is desirable for democracy?
Answer:
(a) Prudential Reasons: Two different sets of reasons can be given in favour of power-sharing. Firstly power-sharing is good because it helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups. Since social conflict often leads to violence and political instability, power-sharing is a good way to ensure the stability of political order.

Imposing the will of majority community over others may look like an attractive option in the short run, but in the long run it undermines the unity of the nation. Tyranny of the majority is not just oppressive for the minority; it often brings rum to the majority as well.

(b) Moral Reasons: There is a second, deeper, reason why power sharing is good for democracies. Power-sharing is the very spirit of democracy, A democratic rule involves sharing power with those attected by its exercise, and who have to live with its effects.

People have a right to be consulted on how they are to be governed. A legitimate government is one where groups, through participation, acquire a stake in the system. While prudential reasons stress its beneficial consequences, moral reasons emphasise the intrinsic worth of power-sharing.

Question 47.
“The idea of power-sharing had emerged in opposition to the notions of undivided political power.” Justify.
Answer:

1.    The idea of power-sharing has emerged in opposition to the notions of undivided, political power.

2.    For a long time it was believed that all power of a government must reside in one person or group of persons located one place.

3.    It was felt that if power to decide is dispersed, it would not be possible to take quick decisions and to enforce them.

4.    But these notions have changed with the emergence of democracy. One basic principle of democracy is that people are the source of all political power.

5.    In a democracy, people rule themselves through institutions of self-governance.

6.    In a good democratic government, due respect is given to diverse groups and views that exist in a society and everyone has a voice in the shaping of public policies. Therefore it follows that in a democracy political power should be distributed among as many citizens as possible.

Question 48.
“Power can be shared among governments at different levels.” How?
Answer:

1.    Power can be shared among governments at different levels: for example, a general government for the entire country and governments at the provincial, sub-national or regional level. Such a general government for the entire country is usually called federal government.

2.    In India, we refer to it as the Central government. The governments at the provincial or regional level are called by different names in different countries. In India, we call them State governments.

3.    This system is not followed in all the countries. There are many countries where there are no provincial or state governments.

4.    But in those countries, where there are different levels of governments, the constitution clearly lays down the powers of different levels of government. This is what they did in Belgium, but was refused in Sri Lanka. This is called federal division of power.

5.    The same principle can be extended to levels of government lower than the State government, such as the municipality and panchayat. All such divisions of power involving higher and lower levels of government are called vertical division of power.

Question 49.
How can we share power among different social groups?
Answer:
Power can be shared among governments at different levels, such as the religious and groups. ‘Community government in Belgium is a good example of this arrangement. In some countries, there are constitutional and legal arrangements whereby socially weaker sections and women are represented in the legislatures and administration. There is a system of ‘reserved constituencies’ in assemblies and the parliament of our country.

This type of arrangements is meant to give space in the government and administration to diverse social groups who otherwise would feel alienated from the government. This method is used to give minority communities a fair share of power.

Short Answer Questions (SA)

Question 50.
Explain with examples the two types of political movements.
Answer:
The movement in Nepal and movement in Bolivia are examples of two types of political movements for democracy.
The movement in Nepal was to regain popular control over the government from the King. This was a struggle to restore democracy. The movement in Bolivia was against a specific policy of the elected democratic government. The people of Bolivia agitated and protested against the government’s decision of privatization of water.

Both these movements are instances of political conflicts that led to popular struggles. Even though in both cases public demonstration of mass support clinched the dispute, their level of impact was different.

Question 51.
What inspiration do we get from Bolivia’s popular struggle? Explain any three values that we can learn from it.
Answer:
We can identify the following values in Bolivia’s struggle:

1.    It was a conflict between the people and the government to fight for justice and fairness and to fight against the greed of the government.

2.    The Bolivian organization FEDECOR represented the common or general interest. The members of the organization did not necessarily benefit from the cause that the organization represented. They were fighting for collective social good.

3.    The political conflict that led to popular struggle in Bolivia involved mass mobilization. It showed the power of the common people.

Question 52.
Mention any three similarities between struggles of Nepal and Bolivia.
Answer:
The struggle in both these countries relates to establishing and restoring democracy. The success of peoples’ struggle is a reminder that popular struggles are integral to the working of democracy. The democratic struggle in Nepal and Bolivia share some elements:

1.    The popular struggle in the form of protest turned into indefinite strike.

2.    Struggle involved mass mobilization.

3.    Political conflict led to popular struggle.

4.    Political organization played a critical role.

Question 53.
Explain with examples, how movements are different from interest groups.
Answer:
Movements:

1.    Movements have a loose organization.

2.    Movements are issue specific and long-term involving more than one issue.

3.    Their decision-making is more informal and flexible.

4.    They depend much on spontaneous mass participation.
Example: Narmada Bachao Andolan under Medha Patkar.

Interest groups:

1.    Interest groups form organizations and undertake activities to promote their interests.

2.    Interests groups are both sectional and public. Sectional interest groups promote interest of particular section of society and promotional or public interest groups aim to help groups other than their own members.

3.    They promote collective good and are concerned with welfare of the society and not just their own members.
Example: BAMCEF (Backward and Minorities Community Employee Federation).

Question 54.
Describe the movement for democracy in Nepal.
Answer:
The Nepalese for democracy arose with the specific objective of reversing the king’s order that led to suspension of democracy. The popular struggle in Nepal involved many organizations other than political parties like the SPA or the Nepalese Communist Party. All the major labour unions and their federations joined the movement. Many other organizations of the indigenous people, teachers, lawyers and human rights groups extended support to the movement.

Question 55.
Differentiate between sectional interest groups and public interest groups with examples.
Answer:

Sectional interest groups	Public interest groups
(i) They seek to promote the interest of a particular section or group of society.	(i) They seek to promote collective interest rather than selective good.
(ii) They are sectional groups because they represent a section of society.	(ii) They are public groups because they represent the general people of the society.
(iii) They promote selective good and are concerned only about the interest of their section of the society, their own members and not the society in general.	(iii) They promote collective good and are concerned with welfare of the society and not just their own members.
(iv) For example, FEDECOR (Bolivian organization).	(iv) E.g., BAMCEF (Backward and Minorities Community Employee Federation).

Question 56.
Explain how the relationship between political parties and pressure groups can take different forms?
Answer:
The relationship between political parties and pressure groups can take different forms, some direct and others very indirect.
In some instances the pressure groups are either formed or led by the leaders of political parties or act as extended arms of political parties. For example, most trade unions and students’ organizations in India are either established by or affiliated to one or the other major political party.

Sometimes political parties grow out of movements. For example, the Assam Movement led by students against the ‘foreigners’ led to the formation of the Asom Gana Parishad. The roots of parties like the DMK and the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu can be traced to social reform movement during the 1930s and 1940s. When the relationship between parties and interest groups is not so direct they often take positions opposed to each other. Yet they are in dialogue and negotiation. New issues raised by movements have been taken up by political parties.

Question 57.
“The struggle of the Nepali people is a source of inspiration to democrats all over the world.” Support the statement.
Answer:

1.    The Nepalese movement for democracy arose with the specific objective of reversing the king’s order that led to suspension of democracy.

2.    The movement of 2006 was aimed at regaining popular control over the government from the king.

3.    The popular struggle in Nepal involved many organisations other than political parties like the SPA or the Nepalese Communist Party.

4.    All major political parties in the Parliament formed a Seven Party Alliance (SPA) and called a four day strike in Kathmandu. This strike turned into an indefinite strike in which the Maoists and other insurgent groups joined hands.

5.    All the major labour unions and their federations joined the movement. Many other organisations of the indigenous people, teachers, lawyers and human rights groups extended support to the movement.

6.    The movement put forward three demands:

1.    Restoration of Parliament

2.    Power to an all-party government

3.    A new Constituent Assembly.

7.    The number of protesters reached between three to five lakhs. They stuck to their demands and the king was forced to concede to all three demands. On 24th April, the SPA chose Girija Prasad Koirala as the new Prime Minister of the interim government.

Question 58.
What are sectional interest groups? Describe their functioning.
Answer:
Sectional interest groups are the groups that seek to promote the interests of a particular section or a group of society. For example, FEDECOR (Bolivian organisation).
Functioning:

1.    They perform a meaningful role in countering the undue influence of other groups.

2.    They create awareness about the needs and concerns of their own society.

Question 59.
What is the difference between pressure group and a political party?
Answer:

Pressure groups	Political parties
(i) Pressure groups are organisations that attempt to influence government policies.	(i) A political party is a group of people who come together to contest elections and hold powers in the government.
(ii) Unlike political parties, pressure groups do not aim to directly control or share political powers. The groups wield power without responsibility.	(ii) Political parties form and run governments. They play a decisive role in making laws, shaping public opinion.
(iii) Pressure groups are not accountable to the people.	(iii) Political parties have to face the people in elections. Parties have to be responsive to peoples’ need and demands. Otherwise people can reject them in next elections.

Question 60.
What are public interest pressure groups? Describe their functioning.
Answer:
Public Interest Groups are those that promote collective rather than selective interests. Their functioning is as follows:

1.    It aims to help groups other than their own members.

2.    They represent some common interest that needs to be defended.

3.    The members of the organization may not benefit from the cause that the organization represents. For example, a group fighting against bonded labour fights not for itself but for those who are suffering under such bondage. E.g., BAMCEF.

Question 61.
What was common to the democratic struggles in Poland, Nepal and Bolivia?
Answer:
The struggles in all the three countries relate to establishing and restoring democracy. The success of peoples’ struggle is a reminder that popular struggles are integral to the working of democracy.
The democratic struggle in Poland, Nepal and Bolivia share some elements:

·         The popular struggle in the form of protest turned into indefinite strike.

·         Struggle involved mass mobilisation.

·         Political conflict led to popular struggle.

·         Political organisations played a critical role.

Long Answer Questions (LA)

Question 62.
Explain how the activities of pressure groups are useful in the functioning of a democratic government.
Answer:
Pressure groups and movements have deepened democracy. A democracy must look after the interest of all, not just one section. Putting pressure on the government is a healthy activity in a democracy so long as everyone gets this opportunity. Public interest groups or pressure groups perform a useful role of countering the undue influence of the rich and powerful people on the government and reminding the government of the needs and concerns of ordinary citizens.

Where different groups function actively, no single group can achieve dominance over society. The government listens to what different sections of the population want. These activities of pressure groups lead to a rough balance of power and accommodation of conflicting interests in a democracy. In a democracy, conflict is resolved through mass mobilisation and it is these pressure groups who make spontaneous public participation effective.

Question 63.
The movement in Nepal and the struggle in Bolivia have some elements relevant to the study of democracy. Explain these elements.
Answer:
The movement in Nepal was to establish democracy, while the struggle in Bolivia involved claims on an elected democratic government. Despite the differences, both these struggles share some elements relevant to study of democracies.
(i) Both these are instances of political conflict that led to popular struggles. The Nepalese movement arose with the specific objective of reversing the King’s order that led to the dismissal of the Prime Minister and the dissolution of the popularly elected Parliament.
In Bolivia, the struggle was against the privatization and increase in prices of water after the government sold these rights to an MNC.

(ii) In both cases, the struggle involved mass mobilization. The popular struggle in the form of a protest turned into an indefinite strike. In Nepal, all major political parties in Parliament formed a Seven Party Alliance and called a four-day strike which turned into an indefinite strike in which the Maoists and insurgent groups joined hands.

In the Bolivian struggle against privatization of water, an alliance of labour human rights and community leaders organized a successful four-day general strike.

Question 64.
How do pressure groups and movements exert influence on politics? Explain with examples.
Or
“Pressure groups and movements exert influence on politics in different ways.” Support the statement with suitable examples.
Answer:
Interest groups and movements do not directly engage in party politics but they seek to exert influence on political parties. They have a political position on major issues and take political stance without being a party.
Pressure groups and movements exert influence on politics in the following ways:

1.    They try to gain public support and sympathy for their goals through campaigns, organising meetings, filing petitions and influencing the media for attention.

2.    They organise protest activities like strikes, in order to force the government to take note of their demand.

3.    Business groups employ professionals/lobbyists or sponsor expensive advertisements. Some members from pressure groups participate in official bodies that offer advice to the government.

4.    In some cases the pressure groups are either formed or led by the leaders of political parties or act as extended arms of political parties.
For example, most trade unions and students’ organisations such as NSUI, ABVP in India are either established or affiliated to one or the other major political party.

5.    Sometimes political parties grow out of movements.
For example, the roots of parties like the DMK and the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu can be traced to a long drawn social reform movement during the 1930s and 1940s.

Question 65.
“The democracy has been evolved through struggles and movements all over the world.” Support the statement with examples.
Answer:

1.    Democracy has evolved through struggles and movements all over the world. The struggles in Poland, Nepal and Bolivia all relate to establishing and restoring democracy. The struggled in these countries is a reminder that popular struggles are integral to the working of democracy.

2.    The role of popular struggle does not come to an end with the establishment of democracy. Democracy involves conflict of interests and viewpoints. These views are expressed in organised ways through which ordinary citizens can play a role in democracy.

3.    In a democracy, several different kinds of organisations work behind any big struggle. These organisations influence the decisions in a democracy either by creating parties, contesting elections and forming government. They promote the interest and viewpoints of citizens in a democracy through interest groups or pressure groups.

4.    Democracy evolves through popular struggle. Some major decisions may take place through consensus. But some decisions involve conflict between the groups who have exercised power and those who aspire to share power. Here the popular struggle helps in the expansion of democracy.

Question 66.
What is the difference between movements and interest groups?
Answer:
Difference between Movements and Interest groups

Movements	Interest groups
(i) Movements have a loose organisation.	(i) Interest groups form organisations and under-take activities to promote their interests.
(ii) Movements are: ·         issue specific ·         long-term involving more than one issue.	(ii) Interest groups are: ·         Sectional-promote interest of parti-cular section of society. ·         Promotional or public interest groups ·         which aim to help groups other than their own members.
(iii) Their decision-making is more informal and flexible.	(iii) Since they represent some common or general interest that needs to be defended, they influence the decisions of the government to get their demands.
(iv) They depend much on spontaneous mass participation. For example, Narmada Bachao Andolan, under Medha Patkar.	(iv) Since they promote both selective and collective goods, their principal concern is the betterment of their members and the society. Thus they represent an organised section of groups.

Question 67.
Describe the popular struggle ‘against privatization of water’ in Bolivia.
Or
Describe the popular struggle of Bolivia.
Answer:
Bolivia, a poor country in Latin America, witnessed popular struggle against privatization of water:

1.    The World Bank had pressurised the elected democratic government to give up its control of
municipal water supply. The government sold these rights for the city of Cochambamba to a multinational company (MNC).

2.    The MNC immediately increased the price of water by four times. This led to a spontaneous popular protest. The mass struggle was not led by any political party.

3.    A new alliance of labour human rights and community leaders organized a successful four-day general strike in the city in January 2000.

4.    Ultimately the government agreed to negotiate and the strike was called off. But yet nothing happened.

5.    Later on, an organization comprising local professionals, engineers, environmentalists, farmers, confederation of factory workers union, middle class students and street children formed the FEDECOR. They called another strike in April and the government imposed martial law.

6.    But the power of the people forced the officials of the MNC to free the city and made the government concede to the demands of the protesters.

7.    Lastly, the contract with the MNC was cancelled and water supply was restored to the municipality at old rates. This came to be known as ‘Bolivia’s Water War’.