Chapter 5 Popular Struggles and Movements

TEXTBOOK EXERCISES

Question 1.
In what ways do pressure groups and movements exert influence on politics?
Answer:
Like an interest group, a movement group also attempts to influence politics rather than directly take part in electoral competition. But unlike the interest groups, movements have a loose organization. Their decision making is more informal and flexible. They depend much more on spontaneous mass participation than an interest group.

Question 2.
Describe the forms of relationship between pressure groups and political parties.
Answer:
In most cases, the relationship between parties and interest or 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.

Question 3.
Explain, how the activities of pressure groups are useful in the functioning of a democratic government.
Answer:
The activities of pressure groups are useful in the functioning of a democratic government in the following ways :

  1. Deepens democracy and counter undue influence on the government : Sometime rich and powerful put pressure on the government to form a policy or take a decision in their interest. In such situations pressure groups can counter such move by putting pressure on the government to take a decision in the interest of ordinary citizens. To put pressure on the government in public interest is good and it strengthens democracy.
  2. Sectional groups and balance of power : Even sectional interest groups play a valuable role. As there are different sectional groups, no one can achieve dominance over society. If one group brings pressure on government to make policies in its favour, another will bring counter pressure not to make policies in the way the first group desires. Thus, different sectional interest groups help the government to maintain a balance of power and accommodation of conflicting interests.

Question 4.
What is a pressure group ? Give a few examples.
Answer:
Pressure groups are organizations that attempt to influence government policies. But unlike political parties, pressure groups do not aim to directly control or share political power. These organizations are formed when people with common occupation, interests, aspirations, or opinions come together in order to achieve a common objective.

The struggle in Nepal was called a movement for democracy. We often hear the word people’s movement to describe many forms of collective action: Narmada Bachao Andolan, Movement for Right to Information, Anti-liquor Movement, Women’s Movement, Environmental Movement.

Question 5.
What is the difference between a pressure group and a political party ?
Answer:
A pressure group is an organised Or unorganised body that tries to promote its interests. They fight and try to achieve a common objective. They do not take part in competitive politics but try to influence the government by different means.
On the other hand, political parties take direct participation in competitive politics. They contest elections in order to win majority and form government. Their aim is to achieve political power. They have more than one interest. They have their own ideology and have their own way of achieving their aim.

Question 6.
Organisations that undertake activities to promote the interests of specific social sections such as workers, employees, teachers and lawyers are called …………….. groups.
Answer:
interest

Question 7.
Which among the following is the special feature that distinguishes a pressure group from a political
party ?

(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 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 parties do.
Answer:
(c)
 Pressure groups do not seek to get into power, while political parties do.

Question 8.
Match List I (organisations and struggles) with List II and select the correct …………. answer using the codes given below the lists :

List I

List II

1. Organisations that seek to promote the interests of a particular section or group

A. Movement

2. Organisations that seek to promote common interest

B. Political parties

3. Struggles launched for the resolution of a social problem with or without an organisational structure

C. Sectional interest groups

4. Organisations that mobilise people with a view to win political power

D. Public interest groups

1

2

3

4

(a)

C

D

B

A

(b)

c

D

A

B

(c)

D

C

B

A

(d)

B

C

D

A

Answer:
(b) C, D, A, B.

Question 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 Andolan

2. Long term movement

B. Asom Gana Parishad

3. Single issue movement

C. Women’s Movement

4. Political party

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

Answer:
(a) D, C,A, B.

Question 10.
Consider the following statements about pressure groups and parties :
A. Pressure groups are an organized expression of the interests and views of specific social sections.
B. Pressure groups take positions on political issues.
c. All pressure groups are political parties.
Which of the statements given above are correct ?
(a) A, B and C
(b) A and B
(c) B and C
(d) A and C
Answer:
(b)
 A and B

Question 11.
Mewat is one of the most backward areas in Haryana. It used to be a part of district Gurgaon and Faridabad. The people of Mewat felt that the area will get better attention if it were to become a separate district. But political parties were indifferent to this sentiment. The demand for a separate district was raised by Mewat Educational and Social Organisation and Mewat Saksharta Samiti in 1996. Later Mewat Vikas Sabha was founded in 2000 and carried out a series of public awareness campaigns. This forced both the major parties, Congress and the Indian National Lok Dal, to announce their support for the new district before the assembly elections held in February 2005. The new district came into existence in July 2005. In this example, what is the relationship that you observe among movement, political parties, and the government? Can you think of an example that shows a relationship different from this one?
Answer:
It was a movement that was supported by different organizations viz., Mewat Educational and Social Organisation, Mewat Saksharta Samiti, and Mewat Vikas Sabha. The awareness campaigns started by Mewat Vikas Sabha forced two major parties, Congress and the Indian National Lok Dal to support them.

Generally, movements are started against the policies of the government. In the present case, the government of the Indian National Lok Dal was in power and it also supported the demand for the new district in view of coming elections in the state. None of the party wanted to go against the demands of the people. As Congress won the election in 2005 and had supported the movement, the new district came into existence in July 2005.

Thus, this movement was different from other movements. In other movements such as Narmada Bachao Andolan, different organizations were against the policy of the government regarding the construction of big dams. In such a movement, the government is not a party to the movement.

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