Question 1.
Explain with examples the two types of political movements. (2011)
Answer:
The movement in Nepal and movement in Bolivia are examples of two types of political movements for democracy.
The movement in Nepal was to regain popular control over the government from the King. This was a struggle to restore democracy. The movement in Bolivia was against a specific policy of the elected democratic government. The people of Bolivia agitated and protested against the government’s decision of privatization of water.

Both these movements are instances of political conflicts that led to popular struggles. Even though in both cases public demonstration of mass support clinched the dispute, their level of impact was different.

Question 2.
What inspiration do we get from Bolivia’s popular struggle? Explain any three values that we can learn from it. (2014)
Answer:
We can identify the following values in Bolivia’s struggle:

1. It was a conflict between the people and the government to fight for justice and fairness and to fight against the greed of the government.
2. The Bolivian organization FEDECOR represented the common or general interest. The members of the organization did not necessarily benefit from the cause that the organization represented. They were fighting for collective social good.
3. The political conflict that led to popular struggle in Bolivia involved mass mobilization. It showed the power of the common people.

Question 3.
Mention any three similarities between struggles of Nepal and Bolivia. (2012)
Answer:
The struggle in both these countries relates to establishing and restoring democracy. The success of peoples’ struggle is a reminder that popular struggles are integral to the working of democracy. The democratic struggle in Nepal and Bolivia share some elements:

• The popular struggle in the form of protest turned into indefinite strike.
• Struggle involved mass mobilization.
• Political conflict led to popular struggle.
• Political organization played a critical role.

Question 4.
Explain with examples, how movements are different from interest groups. (2013)
Answer:
Movements:

1. Movements have a loose organization.
2. Movements are issue specific and long-term involving more than one issue.
3. Their decision-making is more informal and flexible.
4. They depend much on spontaneous mass participation.
   Example: Narmada Bachao Andolan under Medha Patkar.

Interest groups:

1. Interest groups form organizations and undertake activities to promote their interests.
2. Interests groups are both sectional and public. Sectional interest groups promote interest of particular section of society and promotional or public interest groups aim to help groups other than their own members.
3. They promote collective good and are concerned with welfare of the society and not just their own members.
   Example: BAMCEF (Backward and Minorities Community Employee Federation).

Question 5.
Describe the movement for democracy in Nepal. (2011)
Answer:
The Nepalese for democracy arose with the specific objective of reversing the king’s order that led to suspension of democracy. The popular struggle in Nepal involved many organizations other than political parties like the SPA or the Nepalese Communist Party. All the major labour unions and their federations joined the movement. Many other organizations of the indigenous people, teachers, lawyers and human rights groups extended support to the movement.

Question 6.
Differentiate between sectional interest groups and public interest groups with examples.
Answer:

Sectional interest groups	Public interest groups
(i) They seek to promote the interest of a particular section or group of society.	(i) They seek to promote collective interest rather than selective good.
(ii) They are sectional groups because they represent a section of society.	(ii) They are public groups because they represent the general people of the society.
(iii) They promote selective good and are concerned only about the interest of their section of the society, their own members and not the society in general.	(iii) They promote collective good and are concerned with welfare of the society and not just their own members.
(iv) For example, FEDECOR (Bolivian organization).	(iv) E.g., BAMCEF (Backward and Minorities Community Employee Federation).

Question 7.
Explain how the relationship between political parties and pressure groups can take different forms? (2011)
Answer:
The relationship between political parties and pressure groups can take different forms, some direct and others very indirect.
In some instances the pressure groups are either formed or led by the leaders of political parties or act as extended arms of political parties. For example, most trade unions and students’ organizations in India are either established by or affiliated to one or the other major political party.

Sometimes political parties grow out of movements. For example, the Assam Movement led by students against the ‘foreigners’ led to the formation of the Asom Gana Parishad. The roots of parties like the DMK and the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu can be traced to social reform movement during the 1930s and 1940s. When the relationship between parties and interest groups is not so direct they often take positions opposed to each other. Yet they are in dialogue and negotiation. New issues raised by movements have been taken up by political parties.

Question 8.
“The struggle of the Nepali people is a source of inspiration to democrats all over the world.” Support the statement. (2015)
Answer:

1. The Nepalese movement for democracy arose with the specific objective of reversing the king’s order that led to suspension of democracy.
2. The movement of 2006 was aimed at regaining popular control over the government from the king.
3. The popular struggle in Nepal involved many organisations other than political parties like the SPA or the Nepalese Communist Party.
4. All major political parties in the Parliament formed a Seven Party Alliance (SPA) and called a four day strike in Kathmandu. This strike turned into an indefinite strike in which the Maoists and other insurgent groups joined hands.
5. All the major labour unions and their federations joined the movement. Many other organisations of the indigenous people, teachers, lawyers and human rights groups extended support to the movement.
6. The movement put forward three demands:
   • Restoration of Parliament
   • Power to an all-party government
   • A new Constituent Assembly.
7. The number of protesters reached between three to five lakhs. They stuck to their demands and the king was forced to concede to all three demands. On 24th April, the SPA chose Girija Prasad Koirala as the new Prime Minister of the interim government.

Question 9.
What are sectional interest groups? Describe their functioning. (2016)
Answer:
Sectional interest groups are the groups that seek to promote the interests of a particular section or a group of society. For example, FEDECOR (Bolivian organisation).
Functioning:

• They perform a meaningful role in countering the undue influence of other groups.
• They create awareness about the needs and concerns of their own society.

Question `10.
What is the difference between pressure group and a political party ?
Answer:

Pressure groups	Political parties
(i) Pressure groups are organisations that attempt to influence government policies.	(i) A political party is a group of people who come together to contest elections and hold powers in the government.
(ii) Unlike political parties, pressure groups do not aim to directly control or share political powers. The groups wield power without responsibility.	(ii) Political parties form and run governments. They play a decisive role in making laws, shaping public opinion.
(iii) Pressure groups are not accountable to the people.	(iii) Political parties have to face the people in elections. Parties have to be responsive to peoples’ need and demands. Otherwise people can reject them in next elections.

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MCQs: Popular Struggles and Movements

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