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A Story from Mexico Olympics

This story shows Public Expression of Social Division

• The picture in textbook depicts an important landmark in history of CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT IN THE UNITED STATES
• This is the scene of medal ceremony of 200 metres race in 1968 Mexico Olympics
• The two men standing with Clenched fists upraised and heads bowed, while American national anthem was played, are US athletes, Tommie Smith and John Carlos
• They are African-Americans. They had won the gold and bronze medals respectively
• They received medals wearing black socks and no shoes to represent Black Poverty
• With this gesture, they tried to draw international attention to racial discrimination in United States
• The black-gloved and raised clenched fists were meant to symbolise Black Power
• The silver medalist, white Australian athlete, Peter Norman, wore a human rights badge on his shirt to show his support to the two Americans

Actions of Olympic Association

• The International Olympic Association held Carlos and Smith guilty of violating Olympic spirit by making political statement
• Their medals were taken back
• Norman, too suffered from his action and was not included in Australian team for next Olympic

Conclusion

• But their action succeeded in gaining international attention for Civil Rights Movement in US
• In 2005, San Jose State university, of which they were former students, honoured them and installed their statue in University campus
• The athletes in above example were responding to social divisions and social inequalities  

Differences, similarities, divisions

Origins of social differences

Social difference arise majorly on two basis-

• Basis of birth
• Basis of choice

For example-

• People around us are male or female,tall or short, have different color complexions. All these are social differences by birth
• Some people do not believe in God while some believe in God and religion.Some choose what to study, which games to play, which occupation to choose. All these are social differences by choice
• Social differences divide similar people from one another
• They also unite very different people
• People belonging to same community may have different caste
• Also, people from different religions may have same cast
• Some people’s are rich while some are poor
• Thus, all of us have more than one identity and social groups

Overlapping and cross cutting differences

• Social division occurs when social difference overlaps with other differences
• Example- In India, Dalits tend to be poor and landless, they face discrimination, injustice
• Such situations produces social divisions
• If social differences do not exist, it will be difficult to depress one group of people with another
• Example-
• In Northern Ireland, class and religion overlap with each other. Catholics are more poor and discriminated by Protestants. This led to conflict
• In Netherlands, class and religion cut across each other. Catholics and Protestants are  equally poor or rich
• Overlapping social differences create social divisions and tensions
• Cross-cutting (adopting some part of other culture) social differences are easy to accommodate
• Social divisions exists in many countries whether vast country like India or small country like Belgium
• Homogeneous (society of same kind people) countries like Germany and Sweden are changing with Migrants (anyone shifting to region or country)
• Most countries of world are multi-cultural

Politics of social divisions

• Combination of politics and social divisions is very dangerous and explosive
• Democracy involves competition among various political parties
• This competition tends to divide any society lead to conflicts, violence,disintegration of country

Range of Outcomes

Three factors decide outcome of political division-

 

It depends upon how people see their identities

 

• If people see their identities as singular, it becomes difficult to adjust
• But it is easy if people see their identity as multiple and matching with national identity
• Example- Most people in India see their identity as Indian as well as belonging to state or language group or social or religious community

It depends on how political leaders raise demands of any community

 

• It is easier to fulfill demands that are within constitutional limits
• It is easier to fulfill demands that are not at the cost of another community
• Example- The demand for “only Sinhala” was at cost of interest and identity of Tamilians in Sri Lanka

It depends on how government reacts to demands of different groups

 

• There will be less social divisions in country if-
• Governments are ready to share power
• Governments fulfill demands of minorities
• But if rulers suppress demands in name of unity then outcomes are violent
• Violence may lead to disintegration of country

Conclusion

• People who feel alone, poor and discriminated must fight against injustice in peaceful manner
• Democracy is best way to fight for identity and to help diversity