Question

How do social divisions affect politics? Give two examples.

Answer 1

In politics, there is competition between political parties. If these political parties use this
competition in support of some social divisions, it can lead to political divisions. This can lead
to conflict, violence or even disintegration of a country.

• One example is of Northern Ireland where religious divisions led to ethno-political conflict. Two major sects of Christianity: 53% Protestants and 44% Catholics dominate the country. The Catholics wanted Northern Ireland to join the Republic of Ireland and the Protestants wanted to remain with the UK. This led to years of violence where thousands were killed. Only in 1998, peace returned when the UK government and the Nationalists reached a peace treaty and stopped all violence.
• The second example is of Yugoslavia where the political parties refused to accommodate each other. Each ethno-religious group wanted to dominate the other. Result – the disintegration of Yugoslavia into seven independent countries.