Popular Struggles And Movements - Class 10 Political Science - Extra Questions

A pressure group is an organisation which attempts to influence government policies through protests and demonstrations. Pressure groups are formed when people with similar opinions get together for similar objectives. Examples of pressure groups are FEDECOR and BAMCEF.

Organisations that undertake activities to promote the interests of specific social sections such as workers, employees, teachers and lawyers are called Sectional Interest groups.

Narmada Bachao Andolan is a single issue based environmentalist movement. It started with the specific issue of the people displaced by the creation of Sardar Sarovar dam on the Narmada river. Its objective was to stop the dam from being constructed.  

The relationship between political parties and pressure groups can take different forms.

•  Pressure groups are often formed and led by politicians and political parties. Most trade unions and students' organisations in India are either established by, or affiliated to one or the other major political party.
•  Political parties sometimes grow out of movements. Parties like DMK and AIADMK were formed this way.
•  Many a times, the issues raised by pressure or movement groups are taken up by political parties, leading to a change in the policies of the parties.

Pressure groups and movements exert influence on politics in a variety of ways.

•  They try to gain public support and sympathy for their cause by carrying out information campaigns, organising meetings, filing petitions, etc.
•  By organising strikes and disruptions, they seek to make the government take note of their demands.
•  They also influence decision-making by lobbying.
•  The issues raised by them often influence the policies of political parties.

Pressure groups help in the deepening of democracy. As long as everyone gets the opportunity, putting pressure on the rulers is not an unhealthy activity in a democracy. Governments can often come under undue pressure from a small group of rich and powerful people. Pressure groups perform a useful role of countering this undue influence of reminding the government of the needs and concerns of ordinary citizens.

A pressure group is a body that tries to promote its interests. They fight and try to achieve a common objective. Political parties contest elections because their aim is to achieve political power. They have more than one interests, they have their own ideology. They represent various interests and have their own way of achieving their aims.

Pressure group and movement exert pressure on politics by many ways, which are as follow:

The movement in Nepal was to establish democracy, while the struggle in Bolivia involved claims on an elected, democratic government. The popular struggle in Bolivia was about one specific policy, while the  struggle in Nepal was about the foundations of the country’s politics. Both these struggles were successful but their impact was at different levels. 

Trade Unions.

A movement took place in the USA in the late $$1950$$'s to push for equal rights for African-Americans. This movement later came to be known as Civil Rights Movement.

Popular struggle is integral to the working of democracy because: 

A pressure group is an organized group of people that does not put up candidates for election, but seeks to influence government policy or legislation. They can also be described as 'interest groups', 'lobby groups' or 'protest groups' whereas, a  political party consists of a group of people who come together to contest elections and hold power in the government. 

Pressure groups and movements strengthen democracy in the following ways:

They do so to voice their opinions and protest against the government if any of its actions is not in their favour.

1. The Nepal movement took place in April 2006 which was aimed at restoring democracy.

2. The Nepalese king Birendra had accepted massacre of the royal family in 2001.

3. The new king Gyanendra refused to accept the democratic rule.

4. In February 2005 the king dismissed the P.M. and devolved the popularity elected parliament.

5. In against of the dismissed of P.M. all the major parties in the parliament formed SPA and called for a fear days strike in Katmandu.

6. This strike turned into an indefinite strike after the involvement of Maoist with 3 to 5 lakh people.

1. Popular struggles are integral part of democracy. These are very help full for the expansion of democracy.
2. The importance of popular struggle in a democracy can be understood from the example of Bolivia's water war. People were dissatisfied with the decision of the government of giving up of control over municipal water supply and subsequent hike in water tax imposed by the multinational corporation.
3. This led to spontaneous popular protests as the water cost began to make a dent in the household budget of the citizens.
4. An alliance of labour, human rights and community leaders organized a four day strike which was called off the government agreed to negotiate.
5. It was due to such protest by the people that the MNC contract was cancelled and the municipal water supply was restored to old rates represent courts.

$$\bullet$$ Democracy evolves through popular struggles. It is possible that some significant decision may take place through consensus and may not involve any conflict at all.
$$\bullet$$ Democratic conflict is resolved through mass mobilisation. 
$$\bullet$$ These conflicts and mobilisations are based on new political organisations

1) Sectional Interest Groups: The represent a section of society- workers, employees, business persons, industrialists, followers of a religion, caste groups etc. Their principal concern is the betterment and well being of their members and not the society in general.
2) Promotional or Public interest Groups: They promote collective rather than selective goods. They aim to help groups other than their own members.
3) Movement Groups: These are issue specific that seek to achieve a single objective within a limited time frame.

People in a democratic country expect the government to work for their welfare.

The protests organized by the farmers are important in National Freedom Struggle. Thousands of Indian farmers began 10-day protests on Friday demanding farm loan waivers and higher prices for produce, such as cereals, oilseeds and milk. Farmers from the states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan are also asking for a guaranteed minimum income for farmers. This is the third major protest by farmers in less than a year. In March, more than 40,000 marched from far-flung districts in the state of Maharashtra to reach the seat of government in the state capital, Mumbai. The farmers are asking for government support to address the crisis in a sector that employs the majority of the country's workforce. The Indigo Revolt of 1859 was one of the major protests from Indians against British Raj. 

The difference between issue specific movements and generic (general) movements are given below :

Issue Specific Movements

Generic (General) Movements

(1)These movements seek to achieve a single objective. (2)The duration of such movement is comparatively short  (3) The examples are the movement in Nepal for democracy. Its aim was only the restoration of democracy. Narmada Bachao Andolan is another example. (4) Such movement has clear leadership and organisation e.g., SPA in Nepal.

(1) Generic movements have more than one issue before them.  (2) The duration is generally not short. Those movements may continue for a long time.  (3) Environmental movements and women's movements deal with different aspects.  (4) A large number of organisations control or guide such movements e g., environmental movement consists of a large number of organisations with different independent leadership and often different views on policy related matters.

Social Movements are organised group of people having common purpose and work toward a common goal. Social movement are organised or sometimes informal who launch their mode of work toward bringing a social change. A movement of people is always a collective action, it may either work toward bringing a change or resisting a change and they may be organised or non organised having different modes to achieve their aim.

We can't totally neglect our neighbours as what doing in their country must affect our behaviour also. So in my opinion Guest 1 is right in some way. We have to adopt some measures that will support the people who are struggling against monarchy and for democracy. Not by military but by some other co-operations which will not hurt the sentiments of the people. This will also help India in maintaining a good relationship with democratic country rather than a monarchical rule.

A pressure group can be described as an organized group that does not put up candidates for election but seeks to influence government policy or legislation. They are a vital link between the government and the governed and keep governments more responsive to the wishes of the community, especially in between elections. Unlike political parties, these groups neither contest elections nor try to capture political power.

In February 2005, when King Gyanendra dissolved the Parliament, dismissed the democratically elected government and seized power. This led to a movement in 2006, to take away the power from the king.

• Nepal witnessed an extraordinary popular movement in April 2006. This movement aimed at restoring democracy in Nepal.
  
• Nepal won democracy in the year 1990 though the king remained the head of the State.
  
• The real power was exercised by popularly elected representatives. King Birendra accepted this transition from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy.
  
• King Birendra was killed in a mysterious massacre of royal family in 2001. King Gyanendra, the new king of Nepal was not prepared to accept democratic rule.
  
• As a result, in February 2005, the king dismissed the then Prime Minister and dissolved the popularly elected Parliament.
  
• The movement of 2006 was aimed at regaining popular control over the government from the king. All the major political parties in Parliament (Seven Party Alliance of Nepal) called for a 4 day strike and this protest soon turned into indefinite strike in which many other organisations joined hands.
  
• People defied curfew and took to the streets. Even the security forces could not control them as more than 1 lakh people gathered almost every day to demand restoration of democracy.
  
• They stuck to their demands for restoration of parliament, power to an all – party government and a new constituent assembly.
  
• On the last day of this protest movement, the king was forced to accept all the demands of the movement. As a result, SPA chose Girija Prasad Koirala as Prime Minister and the restored parliament passed laws taking away most of the powers of the king.
  
• This movement was known as Nepal's second struggle for democracy. 

The inspiration we get from Bolivia's popular struggle are: collectiveness, power of the common people and the role played by political organisation. Three values we can learn from it are: Unity, Mass mobilisation, Public demonstration.

1. All the major political parties in the parliament formed a Seven Party Alliance (SPA) and called for four day strike in Kathmandu.
2. The protest was joined by the Nepalese Communist Party (Maoist) which did not believe in parliamentary democracy.
3. The struggle involved many organizations other than political parties. All the major labour unions and their federations joined the movement.
4. Many other organizations like organizations of the indigenous people, teachers, lawyers and human rights groups extended support to the movements. 

$$\bullet$$ The movement in Nepal was to establish democracy, while the struggle in Bolivia involved claims on an elected, democratic government.
$$\bullet$$ The struggle in Bolivia was about one specific policy. while the struggle in Nepal was about the foundations of the country's politics.

Public interest groups promote collective rather than selective good. They aim to help groups other than their own members or may undertake activity that benefits them as well as others. For example, a group fighting against bonded labour fights not for itself but for those suffering under such bondage. 

1) Pressure Groups: An ordinary citizen can influence politics by making himself a part of pressure groups. Pressure groups are organizations that attempt to influence government policies. These organizations do not control or share political power. These organizations are formed when people with common occupation, interest, aspirations or opinions come together in order to achieve a common objective. These pressure groups gain public support and try to influence politics through protest and strikes. Some pressure groups are the extended arms of political groups.
2) Movements: Movements are another way to influence politics. The Movements of Restoration of Democracy in Nepal and Bolivia's Water War are the examples to influence the politics by an ordinary man. Movements include demonstration strikes and protests. Movements also gain public support and try to influence politics.

1. Pressure groups performs a useful role in countering the under influence of rich and powerful people on the govt.
2. Pressure groups remind the govt. of the needs and concerns of ordinary citizens.
3. Different pressure groups put pressure on the govt. for making policies in their favor and against.
This lets the govt. know about what different sections of population want. 

1) The RTI Act was passed and implemented in India in 2005.
2) The RTI Act 2005 is a land mark legislation passed by Indian parliament.
3) Many democratic governments provide the Right to Information to the citizens.
4) Under this Act, citizens can seek information from the government offices pertaining to different activities.

$$\bullet$$ The government of Bolivia sold the right of municipal water supply of the city of Cochabamba to a multinational company. 

$$\bullet$$ The company immediately raised the price of water by four times which led to a popular protest and in January 2000. an alliance of labour, human rights and community loadors organised a successful four-day general strike in the city.

$$\bullet$$ The government agreed to negotiate and the strike was called off. Yet nothing happened. Instead of resolving the issue. the police resorted to brutal repression and the government imposed martial law. 

$$\bullet$$ But the power of the people forced the officials of the MNC to flee the city and made the government concede to all the demands of the protestors. 

$$\bullet$$ The contract with the MNC was cancelled and water supply was restored to the municipality at old rates. This camo to be known as Bolivia's water war.

Sectional interest groups refer to the interest groups that seek to promote the interest of a particular section or a group of society. Trade unions, business associations and professional bodies (lawyers, doctors, teachers etc.) are some examples of sectional interest groups - Part- II
1. They aim to help groups other than their own members for example a group fighting against bonded labour fights not for itself but for those who are suffering under such bondage.
2. Some times these organization represents the common or general interest of the society. 
3. They also exert pressure on the government to meet their demands. 

Maoists: Those communists who believe in the ideology of Mao, the leader of the Chinese Revolution. They seek to over throw the government through an armed revolution so as to establish the rule of the peasants and workers.
1) Maoist insurgents joined the strikes which were led by SPA against the king.
2) The protest was joined by the Nepalese Communist Party (Maoists) which did not believe in parliamentary democracy.

1) Pressure group has a strong organization but movement has a loose organization.
2) Decision making in pressure groups is formal but informal in case of Movement.
3) Pressure groups are only accountable to its members but not accountable in case of Movement.
4) Pressure groups depend on the participation of its members but movements depend much more on the spontaneous mass participation.

It may initially appear that it is not healthy for groups that promote interest of one section to have influence in democracy. A democracy must look after the interests of all, not just one section. Also, it may seem that these groups wield power without responsibility. 
Political parties have to face the people in elections, but these groups are not accountable to the people. Pressure groups and movements may not get their funds and support from the people. Sometimes, pressure groups with small public support but lots of money can hijack public discussion in favour of their narrow agenda.
But we cannot deny the fact that pressure groups and movements have deepened democracy. Putting pressure on the rulers is not an unhealthy activity in a democracy as long as every one gets this opportunity. Governments can often come under undue pressure from a small group of rich and powerful people. 
Public interest groups and movements perform a useful role of countering this undue influence and reminding the government of the needs and concerns of ordinary citizens. Hence, we can say that pressure groups have brought about rough balance of power and accommodation of conflicting interests in democracy. 

The popular struggle in Bolivia was against the privatisation of water. Bolivia is a poor country. The people there could not afford to pay the hike in the monthly water bill. Hence, they fought against the democratically elected government which finally conceded to their demands. As a result, the contract with the MNC was cancelled and water supply was restored to the municipality at old rates. 
The struggle was successful because people were united and their demand was genuine. They have the right to get water at subsidised rates. When the government failed to do so, it faced mass agitation. The three values that we learn from Bolivia's Water War are -
$$\bullet$$ If our point is strong, we can raise voice even against the democratically elected government.

$$\bullet$$ We shall win if we are fighting for collective good.

$$\bullet$$ There is tremendous strength in ordinary citizens. It is difficult to suppress them.

The struggle of the Nepali people became a source of inspiration to democrats all over the world due to the reasons as mentioned below:
1. It emphasises the role of people in making of democracy.
2. It shows that disputes or issues can be resolved through struggles with mass mobilisation as had happened in Nepal where people's struggle was successful and democracy was restored.
3. It also shows that political conflict leads to popular struggle and mass participation by the people.
4. It emphasises that in a democracy there are conflicts between those who are in power and those who aspire for power. Such moments come when there is transition to democracy, expansion of democracy and deepening of democracy. Such conflicts are resolved by the peoples participation as has happened in Nepal. 

The two words 'liberty' and 'equality' represent basic values of democratic political systems. Rule by absolute monarchs and emperors has often brought peace and order, but at the cost of personal freedom. Democratic values support the belief that an orderly society can exist in which freedom is preserved. But order and freedom must be balanced. 
(ii) Citizens can demand that truth telling by their government be the rule, since trust in their government is an essential part of the bond between the government and governed. 
(iii) Citizens are the source of all governmental power. This makes the government accountable to their people.