POPULAR STRUGGLES AND MOVEMENTS
NCERT TEXTBOOK
QUESTIONS
Q.1. In what ways do pressure groups and movements exert influence on politics?
Ans.
The pressure groups and movements influence politics in various ways.
They conduct
information
campaigns to make the public aware of certain public issues. They hold meetings,
use the media to
draw the attention to their issue. Their main aim is to get public support,
mobilise public
opinion in their favour. They organise strikes, dharnas and obstruct government
from functioning
normally. They show their anger and dissatisfaction with the government
policies in this
way. Business groups often employ professionals to promote their interests.
They sponsor
expensive advertisements. They sometimes become members of official bodies
and committees
and tender advice to the government.
Q.2. Describe the forms of relationship between pressure groups and political
parties.
Ans.
Pressure groups do not participate directly in party politics. They
can have the same ideology
as a political
party and can take a political position on important issues and can support a
political party
without standing for elections, etc. The relationship between political parties
and
pressure groups
is both direct and indirect.
Examples :
(i) In Assam, a
movement was led by students against ‘foreigners’ (Non-Assamese people).
When the Assam
movement ended, a new political party was formed called ‘Asom Gana
Parishad’. In
Tamil Nadu, DMK and AIADMK were formed in this way.
(ii) Trade
unions and students organisations in India are affiliated or established by one
or
another major
political party. The leaders of pressure groups are usually leaders of these
parties and
party activists (direct relationship).
Q.3. Explain how the activities of pressure groups are useful in the functioning
of a
democratic government.
Ans.
Pressure groups help in the deepening of democracy. As long as
everyone gets the opportunity,
putting pressure
on the rulers is not an unhealthy activity in a democracy. Governments can
often come under
undue pressure from a small group of rich and powerful people. Pressure
groups perform a
useful role of countering this undue influence of reminding the government
of the needs and concerns of
ordinary citizens.
Q.4. What is a pressure group? Give a few examples.
OR
Mention three main features of pressure groups.
Ans.
Pressure groups are organisations that attempt to influence
government policies. They do not
aim to share
power, they only promote their interests within a society. These organisations
are
formed by people
of common interests, occupations or work. They work for a common
objective.
Examples :
Narmada Bachao Andolan, Movements for the Right to Information,
Anti-liquor
movements, etc.
Q.5. What is the difference between a pressure group and a political party?
OR
State any three distinctions between pressure groups and political parties.
Ans.
A pressure group is an organised or an unorganised body that
tries to promote its interests.
These groups are
formed, when people who follow the same profession or occupation, have
the same
interests, share same opinions on issues and have same objectives. They fight
and try
to achieve a
common objective. They do not have any aim or desire to share political power.
Political parties
contest elections because their aim is to achieve political power.
They have
more than one
interests, they have their own ideology. They represent various interests and
have their own
way of achieving their aims.
Q.6. Organisations that undertake activities to promote the interests of
specific social sections
such as workers, employees, teachers and lawyers are called _________________
_________________ groups
Ans.
Sectional interest.
Q.7. Which among the following is the special feature that distinguishes a
pressure group
from a political party?
(a) Political
parties take political stances, while pressure groups do not bother about
political
parties.
(b) Pressure
groups are confined to a few people, while parties involve a larger number of
people.
(c) Pressure
groups do not seek to get into power, while political parties do.
(d) Pressure
groups do not seek to mobilise people, while political parties do.
Ans.
(c) Pressure groups do not seek to get into power, while political
parties do.
Q.8. Match List I (organisations and struggles) with List II and select the
correct answer using
the codes given below the List I.
List I
List II
(1)
Organisations that seek to promote the interests of
A. Movements
a particular
section or group.
(2)
Organisations that seek to promote common interest.
B. Political Parties
(3) Struggles
launched for the resolution of a social
C. Sectional interest groups
problem with or
within an organisational structure.
(4)
Organisations that mobilise people with a
D. Public interest groups
view to win political power.
1 2 3 4
(a) C D B A
(b) C D A B
(c) D C B A
(d) B C D A
Ans.
(b) CDAB
Q.9. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes
given below the
lists.
List I
List II
(1) Pressure
group
A. Narmada Bachao Movement
(2) Long-term
movement
B. Asom Gana Parishad
(3) Single issue
movement
C. Women’s Movement
(4) Political
movement
D. Fertiliser Dealers’ Association
1
2 3 4
(a) D C A B
(b) B A D C
(c) C D B A
(d) B D C A
Ans.
(a) DCAB
Q.10. Consider the following statements about pressure groups and political
parties.
(a) Pressure
groups are organised expression of the interests and views of specific social
sections.
(b) Pressure
groups take positions on social issues.
(c) All pressure
groups are political parties.
(a) A, B and C
(b) A and B (c) B and C (d) A and C
Ans.
(b) A and B
MULTIPLE CHOICE
QUESTIONS
Q1. King Birendra was killed in a mysterious massacre of the royal family in
(a) 2000 (b)
2001
(c) 2002 (d)
2003
Ans.
(b)
Q.2. When did King Gyanendra dismiss the then prime minister and dissolve the
Parliament?
(a) In February
2005
(b) In February
2006
(c) In March
2006 (d) In April 2006
Ans.
(a)
Q.3. The people of Bolivia led a successful struggle against
(a) limited
franchise
(b) government’s
apathy towards public
facilities
(c)
privatisation of water
(d) lack of
educational facilities
Ans.
(c)
Q.4. Which financial agency/organisation pressurised the government to give up
its control of municipal water supply?
(a)
International Monetary Fund
(b) World Bank
(c) Central Bank
of Bolivia
(d) None of
these
Ans.
(b)
Q.5. Choose the incorrect statement.
(a) The MNC
raised the price of water by
four times.
(b) Many people
received monthly water
bills of Rs
1000.
(c) This huge
hike in water bill led to a
popular protest.
(d) None of
these
Ans.
(d)
Q.6.
Who won Bolivia’s water war ?
(a) People (b)
Government
(c) MNC (d) None
of the above
Ans.
(a)
Q.7. Most of the time democracy evolves through :
(a) consensus
(b) popular
struggles
(c) both the
above
(d) none of the
above
Ans.
(b)
Q.8. ‘Defining moments’ of democracy usually involve a conflict between
(a) Two most
powerful groups
(b) Those groups
who have exercised
power and those
who aspire for a
share in power
(c) Two
powerless groups
(d) People and
people’s representatives
Ans.
(b)
Q.9. Outstanding democratic conflicts are usually resolved through
(a) mass
mobilisation
(b) institutions
like the Parliament or the
Judiciary
(c) both the
above
(d) none the
above
Ans.
(a)
Q.10. Which of these is not one of the agencies of organised politics?
(a) Political
parties
(b) Pressure
groups
(c) Movement
groups
(d) None of
above
Ans.
(d)
Q.11. The movement Kittiko-Hachchiko started in Karnataka in 1987, was based on
(a) non-violent
protest by farmers
(b) violent
protest by farmers
(c) violent
protest by workers of
Karnataka
Pulpwood Limited
(d) none of
these
Ans.
(a)
Q.12. Which party spearheaded the mass upsurge in Nepal?
(a) Seven-Party
Alliance (SPA)
(b) Nepalese
Communist Party (Maoist)
(c) Nepalese
Communist Party
(d) Nepalese
Congress Party
Ans.
(a)
Q.13.
Which party did not believe in parliamentary democracy and was involved in an
armed struggle but
joined the popular protest?
(a) Nepalese
Congress Party
(b) Nepalese
Communist Party
(c) Nepalese
Communist Party (Maoist)
(d) None of
above
Ans.
(c)
Q.14.
Which of the following organisations/ institutions did not join the protest
movement?
(a) Labour
unions and their federations
(b) Organisation
of indigenous people
(c) Organisation
of teachers, lawyers and
human rights
groups
(d) Army
Ans.
(d)
Q.15. The protest against water privatization in Bolivia was led by
(a) Socialist
Party
(b) An
organisation called FEDECOR, Confederation of factory workers’ unions
(c) Federation
of farmers
(d)
Confederation of Factory Workers’ Unions
Ans.
(b)
Q.16. Which political party that supported the protest in Bolivia, came to power
in Bolivia in 2006?
(a) Socialist
Party
(b) Communist
Party
(c) Congress
Party of Bolivia
(d) None of
above
Ans.
(a)
Q.17. Which of the roles is not played by political parties?
(a) Direct
participation in competitive
politics
(b) Contesting
elections
(c) Forming
governments
(d) None of
these
Ans.
(d)
Q.18. Which of the following is not a movement?
(a) Narmada
Bachao Andolan
(b) Struggle in
Nepal for democracy
(c) Women’s
movement
(d) All India
Trade Union Congress
Ans.
(d)
Q.19. Choose the incorrect statement.
(a) Like an
interest group, a movement does not take part in electoral competition
(b) Like an
interest group, a movement attempts to influence politics
(c) Unlike the
interest groups, movements have a loose organisation
(d) Like the
interest groups, movements have a loose organisation
Ans.
(d)
Q.20. Which of the following is a movement?
(a) CII (b)
AITUC
(c) NGOs
(d)
Environmental movement
Ans.
(d)
Q.21. Usually sectional interest groups seek to promote
(a) the
interests of a particular section of group of society
(b) the
interests of the society in general
(c) the
well-being and betterment of their members
(d) both (a) and
(c)
Ans.
(d)
Q.22.
Which of the following is not a sectional interest group?
(a) Trade unions
(b) Business
associations
(c) Professional
groups
(d) Bolivian
organisation, FEDECOR
Ans.
(d)
Q.23. What is not true regarding public interest groups?
(a) They
represent some common or
general interest
(b) Members of
the organisation may not benefit from the cause that the organisation represents
(c) They promote
collective rather than selective good
(d) They aim to
help their own members
Ans.
(d)
Q.24. ‘A group fighting against bonded labour’ is an example of
(a) sectional
interest group
(b) promotional
group
(c) public
interest group
(d) either (b)
or (c)
Ans.
(d)
Q.25. Which of the following is not a type of movement group?
(a) Single-issue
movements
(b) Generic
movements
(c) Multiple
movements
(d) None of
these
Ans.
(c)
Q.26. What is not true regarding single-issue movements?
(a) These
movements seek to achieve a single objective within a limited time frame.
(b) These
movements tend to have a clear leadership.
(c) These have
some kind of organisation but their active life is usually short.
(d) None of
these
Ans.
(d)
Q.27.
Which of the following is not a single issue movement?
(a) Movement for
democracy in Nepal
(b) Narmada
Bachao Andolan
(c) Women’s
movement
(d) None of
these
Ans.
(c)
Q.28. Which of the following is not a generic movement?
(a) Environment
movement
(b) Women’s
movement
(c) Narmada
Bachao Andolan
(d) None of
these
Ans.
(c)
PREVIOUS YEARS’
QUESTIONS
Q.1. Which of the following is a pressure group ?
(a) Narmada
Bachao Movement
(b) Anti-Liquor
Movement
(c) Women’s
Movement
(d) Worker’s
Trade Union
Ans.
(d)
Q.2. In a democracy which of the following is not a direct way of influencing
the decisions by the people ?
(a) Formation of
interest groups
(b) Formation of
Government
(c) Formation of
political parties
(d) Contesting
Elections
Ans.
(a)
Q.3. Which one of the following is not true regarding the outcome of the
April 2006 Movement in Nepal ?
(a) Girija
Prasad Koirala became the new Prime Minister.
(b) The Maoists
came to power with a clear majority.
(c) The
Parliament was restored.
(d) The new laws
reduced the power of the king.
Ans.
(b)
Q.4. Which one of the following is not true regarding Bolivia’s Water
War?
(a) The struggle
involved mass mobilisation.
(b) A political
conflict led to popular struggle.
(c) It resulted
in the restoration of the water supply at the old rates
(d) It lacked
spontaneous public participation.
Ans.
(b)
Q.5. Which one of the following is not true regarding the influence of
pressure groups on politics ?
(a) They
influence the media and gain public support to influence policies.
(b) They
organise protest activities like strikes and distrupt government programmes.
(c) They are
sometimes formed or led by members of political parties.
(d) They do not
enter into dialogue or discussion with political parties.
Ans.
(d)
Q.6. Which one of the following is NOT the way to resolve a conflict in a
democracy ?
(a) Mass
Mobilisation
(b) Using
Parliament
(c) Using
Judiciary
(d) Armed
Revolution
Ans.
(d)
Q.7. Which one of the following is an example of public interest groups ?
(a) Trade Unions
(b) Business
Associations
(c) BAMCEF
(d) FEDECOR
Ans.
(c)
Q.8. Which one of the following statements is NOT true about the public interest
groups ?
(a) They promote
collective rather than selective good.
(b) They aim to
help groups other than their own members.
(c) They
undertake activity that benefits them as well as others too.
(d) Their
Principal concern is the betterment and well-being of their members.
Ans.
(d)
Q.9. Which one of the following features is NOT common in most of the
democracies of the world?
(a) They hold
elections
(b) They have
formal constitution
(c) They are
efficient and effective
(d) They
guarantee rights to the citizens
Ans.
(c)
Q.10. FEDECOR comprised of :
(a)
professionals like engineers and environmentalists
(b) leaders of
political parties
(c) federation
of farmers who did not rely on irrigation.
(d)
confederation of household workers unions.
Ans.
(a)
Q.11. Which one of the following political parties was founded by reviving the
Bharatiya Jana Sangha ?
(a) Samajwadi
Party
(b) Rashtriya
Janata Dal
(c) Bharatiya
Janata Party
(d) Bahujan
Samaj Party
Ans.
(c)
Q.12. Who amongst the following Nepalese Kings was killed in a mysterious
massacre ?
(a) King
Gyanendra
(b) King
Birendra
(c) King
Mahendra
(d) None of them
Ans.
(b)
Q.13. The interest groups like trade unions, business associations and
professional bodies etc. are referred to as :
(a) Public
Interest group
(b) Sectional
Interest group
(c) Movement
group
(d) Pressure
group
Ans.
(b)
Q.14. Who plays a decisive role in making laws for a country ?
(a) Leaders (b)
Parties
(c) Voters (d)
Constituencies
Ans.
(b)
Q.15. The city of Cochamamba is related to which issue?
(a) Nepal’s
popular struggle
(b) Bolivia’s
water war
(c)
Environmental Movement
(d) Narmada
Bachao Movement
Ans.
(b)
Q.16. Which one of the following distinctions between pressure groups and
political parties is false ?
(a) Parties take
political stances, while pressure groups do not bother about political issues.
(b) Pressure
groups are confined to a few people, while parties involve a large number of
people.
(c) Pressure
groups do not seek to get into power, while political parties do.
(d) Pressure
groups are least concerned with the people while parties fully depend on the
people.
Ans.
(d)
Q.17. Which pressure groups seek to promote collective good ?
(a) Sectional
interest group
(b) Public
interest group
(c) Movement
group
(d) People’s
group
Ans.
(b)
Q.18. Which amongst the following was an organisation of Bolivia comprising
local professionals, engineers and environmentalists?
(a) BAMCEF (b)
FEDECOR
(c) SPA (d) NAPM
Ans.
(b)
Q.19. In which year did Nepal witness an extraordinary political movement ?
(a) 1990 (b) 1998
(c) 2001 (d)
2006
Ans.
(d)
Q.20. Which of the following statements is not true about Nepal ?
(a) King
Gyanendra, the new king of Nepal, was not prepared to accept democratic rule.
(b) Nepal
witnessed an extraordinary popular movement in April 2001.
(c) On 24th
April, king Gyanendra conceded to all the demands of SPA.
(d) Girija
Prasad Koirala was chosen as the new prime minister of the interim government.
Ans.
(b)
Q.21. An organised group which seeks to influence the government’s decision is
called a/an :
(a) Pressure
group
(b) Interest
group
(c) Sectional
interest group
(d) Political
party
Ans.
(a)
Q.22. Which one of the following is true regarding sectional interest groups ?
(a) They promote collective rather than
selective good.
(b) Their
principal concern is the betterment and well-being of their members, not society
in general.
(c) They aim to
help groups other than their own members.
(d) They do not
seek to promote the interest of a particular sector or group of society.
Ans.
(b)
Q.23. Which one of the following is true regarding the extraordinary popular
movement that emerged in Nepal in 2006 ?
(a)
Consolidation of monarchy
(b) Abolition of
democracy
(c) Restoration
of democracy
(d)
Establishment of dictatorship
Ans.
(c)
Q.24. Which one of the following is true regarding public interest
groups?
(a) Betterment and well-being of members
of a particular group
(b) Suppression
of some general interest
(c)
Representation of interests of one section in society
(d) Promotion of
collective good
Ans.
(d)
Q.25. Which one of the following political parties came to power in Bolivia in
2006?
(a) The
Socialist Party
(b) The
Republican Party
(c) The
Conservative Party
(d) The
Communist Party
Ans.
(a)
Q.26. FEDCOR is the example of :
(a) Public interest group
(b) Sectional
interest group
(c) Movement
group
(d) Pressure
group
Ans.
(b)
Q.27. What was the aim of the popular movement of Nepal in April 2006 ?
(a) Restoration of monarchy
(b) Dissolution
of Parliament
(c) Restoration
of democracy
(d) Restoration
of peace
Ans.
(c)
Q.28. The aim of a public interest group is to promote:
(a) Collective
good
(b) Selective
good
(c) The interest
of its own members
(d) The interest
of a particular groups of
society.
Ans.
(a)
Q.29. Which one of the following is not a characteristic of people movement ?
(a) They try to influence government
policies
(b) Pressure
groups are formed when people with a common occupation come together.
(c) Pressure
groups have a common objective to achieve.
(d) Pressure
groups contest election to hold power in the government
Ans.
(d)
Q.30. Which king of Nepal refused to accept democratic rule ?
(a) King
Birendra
(b) Girija
Prasad Koirala
(c) King
Gyanendra
(d) King
Mahendra
Ans.
(c)
Q.31. Which pressure group seeks to promote collective good ?
(a) Sectional
Interest Groups
(b)Public
Interest Group
(c) Movement
Group
(d) Loose
organisation
Ans.
(b)
Q.32. What type of government was adopted in Nepal in the year 1990 ?
(a) Monarchy (b)
Dictatorship
(c) Colonial (d)
Democratic
Ans.
(d)
Q.33. Democracy evolves through
(a) Popular struggles
(b) Elections
and political parties
(c) Pressure
groups
(d) Social
differences
Ans.
(a)
Q.34. Identify the element which is not shared both by the movement of
Nepal and struggle in Bolivia :
(a) A political
conflict that led to popular struggle
(b) The struggle
involved mass Mobilization
(c) It was about
the foundation of the country’s politics
(d) It involved
critical role of political organisation
Ans.
(d)
Q.35. Which one of the following promotes the interest of a particular group ?
(a) Public interest groups
(b) Political
parties
(c) Sectional
interest groups
(d) Government
Ans.
(c)
Q.36. A democratic government is :
(a) an accountable government.
(b) a responsive
government.
(c) a legitimate
government
(d) all the
above
Ans.
(d)
Q.37. Which of these is NOT a good argument in favour of democracy ?
(a) People feel
free and equal in democracy.
(b) Democracies
resolve conflicts in a better way than others.
(c) Democratic
government is more accounatable to the people.
(d) Democracies
are more prosperous than others.
Ans.
(d)
Q.38. When did Nepal first win democracy ?
(a) 1985 (b) 1995
(c) 1990 (d)
1965
Ans.
(c)
Q.39. Which one of the following was not a demand of the Seven-Party
Alliance during the strike in Kathmandu ?
(a) To restore the Parliament
(b) To fight
against the Maoist insurgents
(c) To give
power to an all-party government
(d) To form a
new Constituent Assembly
Ans.
(b)
Q.40. Which one of the following is not true about the pressure groups ?
(a) They are
directly engaged in party politics
(b) They take a
political stance
(c) They
organise protests
(d) They try to
gain public support
Ans.
(a)
Q.41. What was common in both the struggles held in Nepal and Bolivia?
(a) In both the case the struggle
involved mass mobilisation
(b) In both the
cases people used violence
(c) In both the
cases the demands of people were not fulfilled
(d) In both the
cases government ignored the people
Ans.
(a)
Q.42. What was the result of Bolivia water war?
(a) People were
forced to pay the increased water rates
(b) People lost
the war
(c) Government
of Bolivia resisted
(d) The water
contract with the MNC was cancelled and water supply was restored to the
municipality at old rates.
Ans.
(d)
SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q.1. Who were the MNCs? Why were people in Bolivia protesting against them?
Ans.
The MNCs were the multinational companies in Bolivia. Bolivia was
pressurised by the World
Bank to give up
its control of municipal water. They sold these rights to a multinational
company (MNC).
The company increased the price of water by four times and people had to
pay huge
amounts. This led to a spontaneous popular protest.
Q.2. Explain the difference between the two protests in Nepal and Bolivia.
Ans.
The movement in Nepal was for establishing a democracy in the
country, it was about the
foundation of
the country’s politics. In Bolivia, people were demanding their rights from an
elected
government; it was about one specific policy.
Q.3. Describe the Maoist party.
Ans.
It is a Communist Party which believed in the ideology of Mao, the
leader of the Communist
revolution in
China. They believe in overthrowing the government through an armed revolution
to establish the
rule of peasants and workers. The Maoists were already involved in an armed
struggle against
the Nepalese Government. They controlled large parts of Nepal.
Q.4. Why and when did the movement start in Nepal?
Ans.
King Gyanendra, in February 2005, dissolved the Parliament, dismissed
the democratically
elected
government and seized power. This led to a movement in 2006, to take away the
power
from the king.
Q.5. In what way was the movement different in Bolivia?
Ans.
In Bolivia, no political party led the movement which was against the
government’s move to
privatise water.
An organisation called FEDECOR was formed comprising various interest
groups or
pressure groups. These groups were local professionals, engineers,
environmentalists, federations of farmers, factory workers’ unions, middle class
students of the
University of
Cochabamba and the homeless street children of the city. Only in 2006, when
the Socialist
Party gained power, a political party supported the movement.
Q.6. What conclusions do we draw from popular struggles in Nepal and Bolivia?
Ans.
(i) Democracy evolves through popular struggles. It is possible that
some significant decision
may take place
through consensus and may not involve any conflict at all.
(ii) Democratic
conflict is resolved through mass mobilisation.
(iii) These
conflicts and mobilisations are based on new political organisations.
Q.7. Differentiate between a pressure group and a people’s movement.
Ans.
Both pressure groups and movements attempt to influence the
government’s policies rather
than directly
take part in electoral competition. But unlike the pressure groups, movements
have a loose
organisation. They depend much more on spontaneous mass participation than an
interest group.
Q.8. What is the difference between a sectional interest group and public
interest group?
Ans.
Sectional interest groups seek to promote the interests of a
particular section or group of
society. Their
principal concern is the betterment and well-being of their members, not of
society in
general.
Public interest
groups aim to help groups other than their own members. They promote
collective rather than selective
good.
Q.9. Is the influence of mobilisation and movement groups healthy? [HOTS]
Ans.
It may initially appear that it is not healthy for groups that
promote interest of one section to
have influence
in democracy. However, pressure groups and movements have deepened
democracy.
Putting pressure on the rulers is not an unhealthy activity in a democracy as
long
as everyone gets
this opportunity. The government gets to hear about what different sections
of the
population want. This leads to a rough balance of power and accommodation of
conflicting interests.
PREVIOUS YEARS’
QUESTIONS
Q.1. What are public interest groups? How do they look after the public
interests? Explain.
Ans.
Public interest groups promote collective rather than selective good.
They aim to help groups
other than their
own members or may undertake activity that benefits them as well as others.
For example, a
group fighting against bonded labour fights not for itself but for those
suffering
under such
bondage.
Q.2. What is a single-issue movement? How does it differ from a long-term
movement?
Explain with examples.
Ans.
A single-issue movement is issue-specific and seeks to achieve a
single objective within a
limited time
frame. On the other hand, a long-term movement is a general or generic movement
that seeks to
achieve a broad goal in the very long term.
For example, the
Nepalese movement arose with the specific objective of reversing the king’s
orders of
suspension of democracy.
Narmada Bachao
Andolan started with the specific issue of the people displaced by the
creation of
Sardar Sarovar dam on the Narmada river.
Q.3. Distinguish between public interest groups and sectional interest groups.
Ans.
Sectional interest groups represent a section of society such as
workers, employees, business
persons,
industrialists, followers of a religion, caste group, etc. On the other hand,
public
interest groups
promote collective rather than selective good. They aim to help groups other
than their own
members. For example, a group fighting against bonded labour fights not for
itselfs but for
those who are suffering under such bondage. The principal concern of sectional
interest groups
is the betterment and well-being of their members, not society in general.
Q.4. In what three ways can the pressure groups influence the government
policies ? Explain.
Ans.
(i) They try to gain public support and sympathy for their goals and
their activity 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 activity like strikes or disrupting government programmes.
Worker’s
organisations, employees, associations and most of the movement groups often
resort to these
tactics to force the government to take note of their demand.
(iii) Business
groups often employ professional lobbyists or sponsor expensive advertisements.
Some persons
from pressure groups or movement groups may participate in official bodies
and committees that offer advice to
the government.
Q.5. Mention examples of single issue and long-term movements and distinguish
between the two.
Ans.
Most of the movements are issue-specific movements that seek to
achieve a single objective
within a limited
time frame. For example, the Nepalese movement for democracy arose with
the specific
objective of reversing the king’s orders that led to suspension of democracy.
Narmada Bachao
Andolan started with the specific issue of the people displaced by the
construction of
Sardar Sarovar dam on the Narmada river.
Long-term
movements involve more than one issue. The environmental movement and the
women’s movement
are examples of such movements. There is no single organisation that
controls or
guides such movements. Environmental movement is a label for a large number of
organisations
and issue-specific movements. The National Alliance for People’s Movement
(NAPM) is an
organisation of organisations. Various movement groups struggling on specific
issues are
constituents of this loose organisation which coordinates the activities of a
large
number of
people’s movements in our country.
Q.6. Justify with three points that democracy evolves through popular
struggles.
Ans.
(i) In Poland, Lech Walesa led the mass movement under the banner of
‘Solidarity’ party.
Eventually the
party mobilised a successful popular struggle which overthrew the existing
dictatorial
regime.
(ii) In Nepal,
the movement for democracy was aimed at regaining popular control over the
government from
the king.
(iii) In
Bolivia, the World Bank pressurised the government to give up its control of
municipal
water suppy. The
government sold these rights for the city of Cochabamba to a multinational
company (MNC).
After the struggle of Bolivians, the contract with the MNC was
cancelled and
water supply was restored to the municipality at old rates.
Q.7. “The relationship between political parties and pressure groups can take
different
forms.” Support the statement with three points.
Ans.
(i) 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 examples, most trade unions and
students
organisations in India are either established by or affiliated to one or another
major political
party.
(ii) In many
cases political parties have grown out of movements. For instance, students
movement against
the ‘foreigners’ in Assam led to the formation of Asom Gana Parishad
(AGP). The DMK
and the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu arose out of a long-drawn social
reform movement
during the 1930 and 1940s.
(iii) Most of
the time, the relationship between parties and pressure groups is not so direct.
They often take
positions that are opposed to each other. Yet, they are in dialogue and
negotiation.
Q.8. Explain how the activities of pressure groups are useful in the functioning
of a
democratic government ?
Ans.
Pressure groups have deepened democracy. Putting pressure on the
government is not an
unhealthy
activity in a democracy as long as everyone gets this opportunity. Governments
in
a democracy can
often come under undue pressure from a group of rich and powerful people.
Pressure groups remind the
government of the needs and concerns of ordinary citizens. The
government gets
to hear about what different sections of the population want. This leads to
accommodation of
conflicting interests.
Q.9. Explain any three common features of the popular struggle in Nepal and
Bolivia.
Ans.
(i) Both these are instances of political conflict that led to
popular struggles.
(ii) In both
cases, the struggle involved mass mobilisation.
(iii) Public
demonstration of mass support clinched the dispute. Both instances involved
critical role of
political organisations.
Q.10. State any three points of distinction between movements and interest
groups.
Ans.
Movement – There are some people or group concentrated on a single
objective and having
a specific
issue. They want to achieve their target in a limited period of time. Second
type of movement is that the people or group have a general or wider target for
a long period of time.
Third type of
movements that focuses on more than one issue for a long term.
Interest groups
– These kinds of groups concentrate on a particular/specific section or group
of society.
Secondly, they represent a section of the society. Thirdly, they seek the
betterment and well-being of their own member not of the whole society.
Q.11. What are the techniques adopted by the pressure groups and interest groups
to influence
politics ?
Ans.
Pressure groups are able to influence government policies without
having direct political
participation.
Example : Narmada Bachao Andolan. They fight for those people who were
displaced by the
construction of a dam on Narmada river.
Interest groups
are the promoters of the issues that concern a specific section of the society.
Example : an
interest group working for human rights joined the struggle for democracy in
Nepal.
In Bolivia, an
interest group known by the name of FEDECOR fought against the privatisation
of water in
Bolivia.
LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q.1. Give the reasons, events and results of the Movement of April 2006 in
Nepal.
Ans. Causes :
King Birendra of Nepal had accepted to be the constitutional head
instead of an
absolute
monarch. But he was mysteriously killed in 2001 and the new king, Gyanendra, did
not accept
democracy. He dissolved the Parliament and sacked the Prime Minister.
The movement of
April 2006 was against the actions of King Gyanendra, and to seize power
from him.
Events.
All major political parties formed a Seven-Party Alliance and they
called for a fourday
strike in
Kathmandu (the capital of Nepal). They were joined by Maoist insurgents and
various
organisations. People poured into the streets of Kathmandu, defying the curfew
and the
police found it
impossible to deal with more than a lakh people involved in it. On April 24,
2006, the king
finally gave in and he was forced to concede all three of their demands. Girija
Prasad Koirala was chosen as the
new Prime Minister.
Results :
Most of the powers of the king were taken away. The SPA and the
Maoists agreed
about the new
Constituent Assembly, and how to elect it.
Q.2. What is a Movement? Explain the difference between a Movement and a
Pressure Group.
Ans.
A Movement is a form of collective action which also tries to
influence government policies
or politics.
Like a Pressure Group, it also does not seek power and does not take part in
elections. But
unlike the pressure groups, it does not have a strong organisation. They have a
loose
organisation which is both informal and not rigid. They depend on spontaneous
mass
participation
rather than interest groups supporting them. Examples : Women’s Movement,
Narmada Bachao
Movement, etc.
Q.3. How have Pressure Groups and Movements deepened democracy?
Ans.
In a democracy, sometimes politics is influenced by a small but rich
and powerful group.
Public interest
groups and movements play a very important role in exerting such an influence.
They make the
government aware that it should think of the needs and concerns of ordinary
citizens and not
of a few rich groups.
Pressure groups
also help the government in getting the views of different sections of the
population. They
do not allow the government to listen and follow the views of one single
group and allow
it to dominate the policies. In this way a rough balance of power is achieved
and many
conflicting views are heard and accommodated.
Q.4. Describe Bolivia’s water war.
OR
Mention any three features of the Bolivia Water War.
Ans.
The government of Bolivia sold the right of municipal water supply of
the city of Cochabamba
to a
multinational company. The company immediately raised the price of water by four
times.
This led to a
popular protest and in January 2000, an alliance of labour, human rights and
community
leaders organised a successful four-day general strike in the city. The
government
agreed to
negotiate and the strike was called off. Instead of resolving the issue, the
police
resorted to
brutal repression and the government imposed martial law. But the power of the
people forced
the officials of the MNC to flee the city and made the government concede to
all the demands
of the protestors. 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.
Q.5. Compare and contrast single-issue movements with general or long-term
movements.
Ans.
Single-issue movements are issue-specific movements that seek to
achieve a single objective
within a limited
time frame. These movements have a clear leadership and supporting some
organisations.
But their active life is very short. The Nepalese movement for democracy and
Narmada Bachao
Andolan are good examples of single-issue movements.
Long-term
movements are general or generic movements that seek to achieve a broad goal in
the long terms
and involve more than one issue. There is no single organisation that controls
or guides such
movements. The environmental movement and the women’s movement are
examples of such
movements. Environmental movement is a label for a large number of
organisations
and issue-specific movements. All of these have separate organisations,
independent
leadership and often different views on policy related matters. Yet all of these
share a broad objective and have a
similar approach.
Q.6. ‘Pressure groups and movements have deepened democracy.’ Discuss.
Ans.
In democracy, putting pressure on the rulers is not regarded as an
unhealthy practice as long
as everyone gets
this opportunity. Public interest groups and movements perform a useful role
of countering
the undue influence of a small group of rich and powerful people, reminding the
government of
the needs and concerns of the ordinary citizens.
Even the
sectional interest groups play a valuable role. Where different groups function
actively, no one
single group can achieve dominance over society. If one group brings pressure
on government to
make policies in its favour, another will counter pressure not to make
policies in the
way the first group desires. The government, thus, gets to hear about what
different
sections of the population want. This leads to the accommodation of conflicting
interests and
thus deepening of democracy.
Q.7. Describe any two features each of sectional and promotional or public
interest groups is
India.
OR
What are sectional interest groups? How do they watch their interests? Explain.
[2009]
OR
What are public interest groups? How do they look after the public interests?
Explain.
[2009]
Ans. Sectional interest groups
(i) They
represent a section of society : Workers, employees, business persons,
industrialists,
followers of a
religion, caste group, trade unions, business associations and professional
bodies (lawyers,
doctors, teachers, etc.) are some examples of sectional interest groups.
(ii) Their
principal concern is the betterment and well-being of their members, not society
in
general.
Promotional or public interest groups
(i) They
represent some common or general interest that needs to be defended. The
Bolivian
organisation,
FEDECOR is an example of this kind of group.
(ii) In some
instances, the members of a public interest group may undertake activity that
benefits them as
well others. For example, BAMCEF (Backward and Minorities
Community
Employees Federation) is an organisation largely made up of government
employees that
campaigns against caste discrimination. It addresses the problems of its
members who
suffer discrimination. But its principal concern is with social justice and
social equality
for the entire society.
Q.8. Keeping in mind some of the social and economic problems existing in our
country, think
about an ‘interest group’ you would like to set up. Give the reasons to justify
your
decision. [HOTS]
Ans.
Self Attempt.
[Hints : You can
take the issue of child labour.]
PREVIOUS YEARS’ QUESTIONS
Q.1. State the similarities and levels of popular mass struggles of Nepal and
Bolivia.
Ans.
There were similarities in the mass struggles of Nepal and Bolivia.
They were both struggles
for establishing
or restoring democracy. There was mass mobilisation in both countries, and the
resolution to
struggle had come from the people.
(i) Both the
struggles were against the people who exercised power. In Nepal, it was the
monarchy, in
Bolivia, it was against the elected government.
(ii) In both
cases, public demonstrations of mass support clinched the dispute. Finally, in
both
cases, it
involved a critical role of political organisations.
In Bolivia, the
power of the mass uprising and the people forced the government to concede
all their
demands. In Nepal, the king had to step down. From an absolute monarchy, Nepal
became a
republic.
In Nepal, the
call was given by the SPA or the Seven-Party Alliance. It had members of big
parties and some
members of the Parliament. The Nepalese Communist Party (Maoist) also
joined, though
they did not believe in parliamentary democracy. Non-political groups like all
the major labour
unions, their federations, teachers, lawyers and human rights movements also
supported the
movement. The protest against water privatisation in Bolivia was not led
by any
political party.
It was led by an organisation called FEDECOR. It comprised professionals,
engineers,
environmentalists, federations of farmers, factory worker unions, students from
the
university of
Cochabamba and city's growing population of homeless children. The movement
was supported by
the Socialist Party, which came into power in Bolivia in 2006.
Q.2. How do pressure groups and movements influence politics? Explain with
examples.
Ans.
(i) They try to gain public support and sympathy for their goals and
their activity by carrying
out information
campaigns, organising meetings, filing petitions, etc.
(ii) They often
organise protest activity like strikes or disrupting government programmes.
Workers’
organisations, employees’ associations and most of the movement groups often
resort to these
tactics to force the government to pay heed to their demands.
(iii) Business
groups often employ professional lobbyists or sponsor expensive
advertisements.
Some people from the pressure groups or movements may participate in
bodies that
offer advice to the government.
(iv) 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’
organisations in India are either established by or affiliated to one or the
other
major political
party.
Q.3. How are popular struggles an integral part of the working of democracy?
Explain by
giving an example of Bolivia’s struggle for water.
Ans.
(i) Democracy evolves through popular struggles. Significant
decisions in democracy usually
involve conflict
between those groups who have exercised power and those who aspire
for share in
power.
(ii) Democratic
conflict is resolved through mass mobilisation. Sometimes it is possible that
institutions
like Parliament or judiciary, which are set up to solve the disputes, themselves
get involved in
disputes. Then the solution has to come from outside — from the people,
which happens in
the form of popular struggles.
[For second part of the answer,
please refer to : Long Answer Question–Answer 4]