Social diversities take different forms in different societies. In Belgium, people live in different regions and speak different languages. In Sri Lanka, linguistic and regional differences are prominent. Social divisions can overlap, such as class and religion divisions among blacks in the US who are poor and discriminated against, while whites tend to be rich. This can lead to deep social tensions and conflicts, as seen in Northern Ireland among Catholics and Protestants. However, when social divisions are cross-cutting, like in the Netherlands where Catholics and Protestants are equally likely to be rich or poor, there is less conflict and it is easier to accommodate differences. The outcomes of social politics can range from peaceful accommodation to ethno-political conflicts like those seen in

2. Social Diversities…
It can take different forms in different
societies :
• Belgium - people live in different regions
–speak different languages.
• Sri Lanka- linguistic and regional
differences are prominent.

3. Social Diversities…
• Carlos Smith -
African American
• Peter Norman -
White
• Similarity -
Athletes who stood
against racial
discrimination

4. OVER LAPPING AND
CROSS CUTTING
DIFFERENCE

5. Social Division…
Overlapping –
Class &
Religion
Blacks in
USA
Poor Homeless
Discriminated
Against
Whites in
USA
Rich

6. Catholics & Protestants
Northern
Ireland
Catholics
Poor
Protestan
ts
Rich
Result : Conflicts have occurred. Deep social division and tensions
have occurred leading to discrimination.

7. Cross Cutting…
Netherlands
• Catholics and Protestants are equally
likely to be rich or poor.
Result
• No conflicts.
• Easier to accommodate.
Outcomes
• Politics of social division

8. Ethno Political Conflict…
Northern
Ireland
53 %
Protestant
Represented by
unionists who
wanted to be
with UK who
were
Protestants.
44 % Roman
Catholic
Represented by
Nationalist
parties who
wanted the Union
of N.Ireland
With Republic of
Ireland were
Catholics
1998-Peace treaty
was signedRESULT -
CONFLICTS

9. Yugoslavia’s Disintegration &
Emergence of 6 Independent
Countries

10. 3 Determinants…
How people perceive
their identities
INDIA ,
NORTHERN
IRELAND
BELGIUM
How political leaders
raise the demands
of any community
Demand must be
within the framework
of the constitution
Sri Lanka-demand
for only SINHALA
Yugoslavia-demands
of ethnic
Communities can not
be accommodated
How Government
reacts to demands
Willing to share
power and
accommodate
reasonable demands
BELGIUM and SRI
LANKA

11. Advantages of Social Divisions
in a Democracy...
• People can express their grievances.
• Government attends to it.
• People raise their issues in a peaceful
manner for seeking votes.