Chapter 3 Democracy and Diversity

Overview

This chapter explores the relationship between democracy and social diversity, emphasizing that social differences are common in most countries and that democracy can successfully accommodate these divisions. It uses examples from Belgium and Sri Lanka to illustrate how power-sharing can manage ethnic and linguistic diversity, while majoritarianism can lead to conflict. The chapter discusses the origins of social differences, distinguishing between those based on birth and those based on choices, and explains how overlapping differences can deepen social divisions, whereas cross-cutting differences can foster accommodation. It analyzes how social divisions are expressed in politics, noting that while this can be dangerous, it is also normal in democracies and can strengthen them if managed properly through dialogue, constitutional power-sharing, and respect for diversity.

A Story From Mexico Olympics

The 1968 Mexico Olympics medal ceremony incident involving African-American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos, who raised black-gloved fists during the US national anthem to protest racial discrimination, highlights how social divisions and inequalities can manifest in public and political arenas, even internationally. Their actions, though controversial and leading to penalties, drew global attention to the Civil Rights Movement in the US.

Differences, Similarities, Divisions

Social differences (based on language, religion, ethnicity, physical appearance, class, gender, caste) exist in all societies. However, these only become social divisions when they overlap significantly, leading to feelings of exclusion and deepening conflict. Cross-cutting differences, where people have common interests across group boundaries on different issues, are easier to accommodate and tend to strengthen democracy.

Origins Of Social Differences

Social differences arise from both the accident of birth (like ethnicity, gender, language) and individual choices (like religion, occupation, hobbies). While differences based on birth are innate, differences based on choices shape individual identities. However, not all social differences lead to social divisions; often, people hold multiple identities.

Overlapping And Cross-Cutting Differences

When social differences overlap (e.g., Catholics being predominantly poor and facing discrimination in Northern Ireland), they intensify social divisions and conflict. Conversely, cross-cutting differences (e.g., Catholics and Protestants in the Netherlands having similar economic statuses) are easier to accommodate and do not necessarily lead to deep divisions.

Politics Of Social Divisions

Social divisions inevitably influence politics. While the expression of social divisions in politics can be dangerous if it leads to conflict or disintegration (as seen in Sri Lanka and Yugoslavia), it is also a normal and potentially healthy aspect of democracy. It allows disadvantaged groups to voice grievances and seek redressal. Properly managed, democratic politics can lead to the accommodation of diversity and strengthen the nation.

Range Of Outcomes

The outcome of politics involving social divisions depends on three factors: how people perceive their identities (singular vs. multiple), how leaders raise community demands (within constitutional framework vs. at the cost of others), and the government's reaction (accommodation vs. repression). Accommodation and respect for diversity, as practiced in Belgium, promote unity, while majoritarianism and suppression, as in Sri Lanka, can lead to disintegration.

Three Determinants

The outcome of social divisions in politics depends on:

1. People's Perception of Identities: Whether identities are seen as singular and exclusive or multiple and complementary.
2. Expression of Demands: Whether demands are raised within constitutional limits or at the expense of others.
3. Government's Reaction: Whether the government accommodates diversity and shares power or suppresses demands, potentially leading to conflict.

Democracy, by allowing peaceful expression of grievances and accommodation of diversity, is the best way to manage social divisions.