1) The document describes popular struggles and movements in Nepal and Bolivia that led to political changes. 2) In Nepal, a coalition of political parties called the SPA joined with Maoist groups to pressure the King to restore democracy in 2006 through mass protests and strikes. 3) In Bolivia, indigenous groups and labor unions staged protests that forced a private company to abandon control of the municipal water supply in Cochabamba after raising water prices in 2000.

1. Popular Struggle & Movements
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2. Nepal…
• Won democracy in 1990.
• Formal power was with the King.
• Real power with elected representatives.
• 2001 – Massacre of Royal Family, Gyanendra took charge.
• 2005 – Dissolution of Parliament.
• 2006 - Popular control over Govt. headed by the King.
• 7 Party alliance called for a 4 day strike. Maoists & other
organisations joined.
• 21st April, King conceded to all demands leading to :
1) Restoration of Parliament.
2) Seizure of power from the Ruler.
3) To make Koirala Prime Minister.
• Maoists & SPA came to an agreement about a new constituent
assembly to be elected.
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3. Bolivia…
Fight against Privatization of Water
1) World Bank pressurised Government to give up
control of Municipal Water supply.
2) Sale of rights to a MNC for the City of Cochabamba.
3) Company raised the price of water 4 times.
4) 4 day general strike by Labour and Human Rights and
Community leaders.
5) Government agreed to negotiate.
6) Power of the people forced MNC to flee & made
Government to concede to all demands.
• Water supply was restored to municipality
at old rates.
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4. Similarities…
Nepal
&
Bolivia
Instances of
political
conflict that
led to popular
struggles
Involvement
of mass
mobilisation
Public
demonstration
of mass
support
clinched the
dispute
Involvement
of political
organisations
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5. Differences…
Nepal
To establish democracy
Foundation of
country`s politics
SPA had some big
parties with MP’s
MAOISTS did not believe in
parliamentary democracy, involved
themselves in armed struggle thereby
establishing control over large parts.
They were joined by labour unions.
Organisation of indigenous people,
teachers, lawyers and human rights
groups.
Bolivia
Claims on an elected Govt.
One specific policy
FEDECOR composed of
Professionals, engineers
and environmentalists
Federation of farmers, confederation of
factory worker`s unions, middle class
students from University of Cochabamba
and the city`s growing population of
homeless street children. Socialist Party
supported this.
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6. Two way roles of these organisations
are …
• Direct participation in competitive politics
• Creation of parties contesting elections and
forming Governments
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7. Formation of Organizations…
• Those organisations that undertake activities to
promote their interest are called INTEREST
GROUPS or PRESSUREGROUPS.
PRESSURE GROUPS :
• Influence Government policies
• Do not aim at directly controlling or sharing
political power.
• Formed when people with common occupation,
interests, aspirations or opinions come together
to achieve a common objective.
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8. Pressure Groups…
Movements : Narmada BachaoAndolan
Women’s Movement
• Influence politics rather than directly take part
in electoral competition
• They are loose organisations
• Make informal decisions and are flexible
• They depend on spontaneous mass
participation
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9. Interest Groups…
• Are united organisations
• Do not care much for mass participation
• Promote the interest of a particular section or group
of society
• Example : Trade Unions, Business Associations &
Professional Bodies
• Represent a section of society
• Example : Workers, Employees, Business Groups,
Industrialists, Followers of Religion & Caste Groups
• Aims : Betterment of their members & not society in
general
Sectional Groups…
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10. Groups…
FEDECOR (FeracionDepartamentalCochabambina de
Regantes)
• Represents some common or general interest that needs
to be defended.
• Members may not benefit from the cause that the
organisation represents.
Promotional Groups
• Promote collective good
• Aim to help groups rather than their own members
• Group fighting against bonded labour is an example
• They are also called public interest groups
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11. Groups…
BAMCEF(Backward & Minorities Community Employees
Federation)
• Made of Govt. employees that campaigns against
caste discrimination
• It addresses problems of its members who suffer
discrimination
• Its concern is with social justice and social equality for
the entire society
Movement Groups
• Issue specific movements and seek to achieve a single
objective within a limited time frame
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12. Single Issue Movements…
Nepalese Movement
• Specific objective of reviving the king’s orders that led to
suspension of democracy
Narmada BachaoAndolan
• Specific issue of people displaced by creation of
SardarSarovar Dam
Objective
• To stop the dam
• Questioned all such big dams and requirement of such
dams
• Has a clear leadership and organisation
• Active life is short
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13. Long Term & More Than One Issue
Movements…
• No single organisation controls /guides such
movements.
• All these have a separate organisation,
independent leadership and different views
on policy.
Example :
• Environmental movement
• Women’s movement
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14. National Alliance for People’s
Movements(NAPM)…
• Movement groups struggling on specific
issues are constituents of this loose
organisation which co ordinates the activities
of a large number of people`s movements
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15. How do Pressure Groups & Movements
exert influence on Politics ?
• They gain public support and sympathy for their goals by
carrying out information campaigns, meetings and
petitions.
• They influence media by giving attention to these issues
• Protest activities like strikes are done to force the
Government to take note of their demand
• Business groups employ professional lobbyists or sponsor
expensive advertisements
• They participate in official bodies and committees that
offer advice to the Government
• Sometimes political parties grow out of movements
Example DMK and AIADMK
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16. Groups…
• Interest groups and movements do not directly engage in politics
but seek to influence on political parties
• Movement groups take a political stance without being a party
• They have political ideologies and position on major issues
Is their influence healthy?
• Pressure groups have deepened democracy.
• 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 influence and reminding the Government of the
needs and concerns of ordinary citizens
• Sectional groups prevents the domination of one group over the
rest
• They bring about a rough balance of power and accommodation
of conflicting interests 16Eshan Balachandar