Question

Discuss three factors that determine the outcomes of politics of social divisions.

Answer 1

Outcome of politics of social divisions are decided by three crucial factors.

First Factor – Determining Outcomes of Politics of Social Divisions

• Predominantly the outcome is dependent on how people discern their identities.
• If people look at their identities in an exclusive and singular manner, then the process of accommodation becomes very complicated.
• Taking the example of Northern Ireland, people found it difficult at the process of reconciliation when they looked at themselves only through the prism of Protestant or Catholic.
• When people see their identities as complementary to national identity and when they consider their identity as multiple, then it is easier for reconciliation.
• People in Belgium are able to stay together as they feel they are as much Belgian as they are German speaking or Dutch speaking.
• Even in India people are able to see themselves as Indians as well as belonging to a religious community or a social group or a language group or a state.

Second Factor – Determining Outcomes of Politics of Social Division

• The second factor is dependent on how the demands of the community are raised by political leaders.
• If the demands are not detrimental to any other community and are within the framework of the constitution then it would be easier to accommodate those demands.
• In Sri Lanka, when the Sinhala community had demands at the expense of Tamil community, then it resulted in clases.
• Leaders belonging to different ethnic communities had demands in Yugoslavia in such a manner that it could not not be accomodated in a single country.

Third Factor – Determining Outcomes of Politics of Social Division

• Third factor is dependent on the reaction of the Government to the demands made by the different groups.
• Social divisions become less threatening for the country, if the Government is able to accommodate demands of the minority community in a reasonable manner and if they are willing to share power, we could see the examples of Sri Lanka and Belgium.
• Under the pretext of national unity if the demands are suppressed then it will lead to sowing the seeds of disintegration.