Popular Struggles And Movements
Q.1 Nepal witnessed an extraordinary popular movement in April 2006. Explain.
Ans. Aim of the Nepalese movement- was representative democracy. People wanted to regain popular control over the government from the king, restoration of Parliament, powers for all party government and a new constituent assembly.
Political movement- The Nepalese struggle was a combined and determined effort of all major political parties, Seven party alliance (SPA), the communist party and many organizations like Labour unions and their federations, organizations of indigenous people like teachers, lawyers, human rights groups also supported the Movement.
Methods- While SPA called for an indefinite strike, the Maoists restored to insurgency or armed struggle as they did not believe in parliamentary democracy. Lakhs of people defied curfews and protested on streets. They finally gave an ultimatum to the King.
Outcome- a) initially the King announced some half- hearted concessions which were rejected.
b) Ultimately he was forced to concede all their three demands.
c) Parliament was formed. An interim government was formed headed by Girja Prasrd Koirala as PM.
d) Laws were passed to curb the powers of the King.
e) SPA and Maoists came to an understanding about the election of a new Constituent assembly.
Q. 2 Analyse the reasons and outcome of Bolivia’s water war.
Ans . Reasons-i) The world bank pressurized the bolivian government to give up its control of municipal water supply. The government sold these rights for the city of Cochabamba to a multi-national company.
ii) The company immediately increased the price of water by four times.
2. People successfully struggled against this privatization of water supply. The people led a popular struggle with the help of an alliance of labour, human rights and community leaders.
3. Despite brutal repression and martial law, there were strikes and protests. This was known as Bolivia’s war.
4. Outcome- ultimately the contract with the MNC was cancelled and water supply was restored to the Municipality at old rates. It reminds us that popular struggles are integral to democracy.
Q.3 In what context are the popular movements of Bolivia and Nepal similar?
Ans.1. both these stories share some elements which are relevant to the study of the past and future of democracies. Both these are instances of political conflict that led to popular struggles.
2. In both cases the struggle involved mass mobilization. Public demonstration of mass support clinched the dispute.
3. Finally, both instances involved critical role of political organizations.
Q.4 In what context are the popular movements of Bolivia and Nepal different?
Ans. 1.The movement in Nepal was to establish democracy while the struggle in Bolivia involved claims on elected democratic government.
2. The popular struggle in Bolivia was about 1 specific policy while the struggle in Nepal was a about the foundations of the country’s politics.
3. Both these struggles were successful but their impact was at different levels.
Q.5 What conclusions can be drawn about the evolution of democracy from the popular struggles of Bolivia and Nepal.
Ans.5 Democracy evolves through popular struggles. It is possible that some significant decisions may take place through consensus and may not involve any conflict at all. But that would be an exception.Defining moments of democracy usually involve conflict between those groups who have exercised power and those who aspire for a share in power. These moments come when the country is going through transition to democracy , expansion of democracy or deepening of democracy.
2. Democratic conflict is resolved through mass mobilization. Sometimes it is possible that the conflict is resolved by using the existing institutions like the parliament or the judiciary. But when there is a deep dispute , very often these institutions themselves got involved in the dispute. The resolution has come from outside, from the people.
3. These conflicts and mobilizations are based on new political organizations. True, there is an element of spontaneity in all such historic moments. But the spontaneous public participation becomes effective with the help of organized politics. There can be many agencies of organized politics. These include political parties , pressure groups and movement groups.
Question 6 In which to ways can organisations work behind any big struggle in a democracy?
Answer Direct ways
i) One way of influencing the decisions in a democracy direct education in competitive politics
ii) This is done by creating parties, contesting elections and forming governments
iii) But every citizen does not participate so directly. They may not have the desire, the need or the skills to take part in direct political activity other than voting.
Indirect ways
i) There are many indirect ways in which the people can get governments to listen to their demands or their points of view.
ii) They could do so by forming an organisation and undertaking activities to promote their interests or their viewpoints
iii) These are called focal interest groups or pressure groups. Sometimes people decide to act together without forming organisations
Q:7. What are pressure groups?
Ans:7. 1. Pressure groups are organisations which may have a share in government power either through participation in government or by influencing the decision making process or government policies
2.They undertake activities to promote their interests and viewpoints. They are also known as interest groups
3.Unlike political parties that do not aim to directly control or share political power.
4. They are formed when people with common occupation, interest, aspirations and opinions come together in order to achieve a common objective.
5. Methods of pressure groups:-information campaigns, organising meetings, protest strikes, disruption of government programs, participation in official bodies and committees, filing petitions and influencing media attention to the issues.
6.In some cases pressure groups are either formed or led by leaders of political parties they may act as external arms of a political party. E.g. a creation of trade Unions and student unions to some political parties.
Q 8. What is peoples movement and how is it different from an interest group?
ANS. I. A people's movement has many forms of collective action, example women's movement, environmental movement, etc. They can have more than one issue only, many organisations and different views on policy related matters.
I I. It does not contest elections but attempts to influence politics like an interest group.
I II. Unlike an interest group movements have a loose organisation.
3. There are decision-making is more informal and flexible.
4. Unlike an interest group movement depends much more than spontaneous mass participation.
Some movements seek to achieve a single objective within a limited timeframe, while others are more general , or generic (that is related to an entire group). They seem to achieve a broad goal in a very long-term. E. G. Narmada Bachao Andolan.
5. Sometimes various movements can come under a loose umbrella organisation. E.g. N a PM National Alliance of People's movements.
Q 9. Distinguish between sectional interest groups and public interest groups.
ANS 1. Sectional Interest Groups 1., they usually the present and seek to promote the interests of a particular section or group of society.
2. , example, trade unions, professionals, business associations, etc. , or a particular religion or caste.
3. They do not represent society in general like a public interest group.
2. Public Interest Groups or Promotional Group:
i. They represent some common or general interests that need to be defended.
ii. members of the organisation may not benefit from the corners, but they promote the collective good. Sometimes they promote their own interests as well.
iii. . E.g. a group fighting bonded labour's practice, Bolivian organisation - FEDECOR
Q:10. In what ways do pressure groups and movements exert influence on politics?
Ans:10. i. They tried to gain public support and sympathy for the goals and their activities by carrying out information campaigns, organising meetings, filing petitions, etc. most of these groups try to influence the media into giving more attention to these issues.
ii. the often organised protest activities like strikes or disrupting government programs. Workers organisations, employers associations and most of the movement groups often resort to these tactics in order to force the government to take note of their demands.
iii. business groups often employ professional lobbyists or sponsor expensive advertisements. Some people from pressure groups of movement groups may participate in official bodies and committees that offer advice to the government.
By interest groups and movements do not directly engage in party politics, they seek to exert influence on political parties. Most of the movement groups state of political stance without being a party. They are political ideology and political positions on major issues. The relationship between political parties and pressure groups can take different forms, some direct and some very indirect.
iv. . In some instances, the pressure groups are either formed and led by the leaders of political parties as extended arms of political parties. For e.g. most trade unions and student organisations in India are either established by or affiliated to one or the other major political party. Most of the leaders of such pressure groups are usually activists and leaders of parties.
v. Sometimes political parties grew out of movements. E.g. when the activists movement led by students against the foreigners came to an end, it led to the formation of the Assam Gana Parishad. 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.
vi. in most cases, the relationship between parties and interest of movement groups is not so direct. They often take positions that are opposed to each other. Yet they are in dialogue and negotiation. Movement groups have raised new issues that have been taken up by political parties. Most of the new leadership of political parties comes from interest or movement groups.
Ans:11. Direct ways i. Pressure groups sometimes formed by political parties sometimes also led by leaders of political parties, the act as extended arms of the political parties. E.g. some trade unions and student unions in India are affiliated to some major political parties.
ii. Political parties may grow or evolve from pressure groups and movements. E.g. Assam Gana Parishad grew out of a students movement against foreigners. Even DMK and the AIADMK grew from long drawn social reform movement.
Indirect Ways: i. In some instances, the relationship between the political parties in the movement or interest groups is indirect. They often take positions opposed to each other, but may maintain a dialogue and negotiations.
ii. Movement groups have often raise new issues that are being taken by political parties.
iii. . Most of the new leadership of political parties comes from interest or movement groups.
Q.12 Explain how the activities of pressure groups are useful in the functioning of a democratic government.
Ans. 1. Negative influence of pressure groups on democracy
· They promote the interest of one section while the interests of all must be looked after in a democracy.
· They may wield power without responsibility.
· They are not accountable to the people. While political parties have to face the people in elections.
· They may not get their funds and support from the people.
· Sometimes with small public support and plenty of finances , they may hijack public discussions in favour of their narrow agenda.
2. Positive influence of pressure groups on democracy
· They have deepened democracy by putting pressure on the rulers.
· They perform the useful role of countering undue influence of some rich and powerful people on government.
· They remind the government of the needs and concerns of ordinary citizens.
· interests. Different groups can exert pressure on the government to make some policies, i.e. there is a rough balance of power and accommodation of conflicting
Q.13 What is the difference between a pressure group and a political party?
Ans. 1) While political parties directly engage in politics by contesting elections and holding power in governments , the pressure groups don’t aim at directly controlling political power.
2) A political is an organized political group with its own political ideology and vision. It represents various interests . It is a recognized part of the political system with a wider membership. The pressure groups may be organized or unorganized informal bodies. They are formed by people of a particular kind who may have common interests, occupations, aspirations, objectives and opinions and have come together to achieve their aims. They have a limited membership.
3) Political parties have a broad based programme which covers many aspects of regional and national life. Pressure groups concentrate on specific interests and work for the collective interest of their members only.
Q.14 Cite an example of a “single issue movement” in India.
Ans. Narmada Bachao Andoloan.
Q.15 What do the following stand for?
NAPM: National alliance for Peoples’ Movement.
FEDECOR: Federacion Departmental Cochabambina de Regantes
SPA: Seven Party Alliance.
BAMCEF: Backward and Minorities Community Employers Federation.
Q.16 Name 3 regional parties in India which trace their roots to social reform movements
Ans. Asom Gana Parishad, DMK, and AIADMK.
Q:17. Name some party extensions of political parties.
Ans:17: i. Congress – NSUI – National Students Union of India
ii. BJP – ABUP – Akhil Bhartiya Vidhyarthi Parishad
iii. CPI(ML) – AISA – All India Students Association
iv. CPI – AISF – All India Students Federation
v. CPI – SFI – Students Federation of India
vi. TMC – TCP – Trinamool Chhatra Parishad
vii. TRS – TRVS – Telangana Rashtra Vidyarthi Samiti
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