The Effect of Social Divisions on Politics
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Why Politics and Social Divisions Should Not Mix
It is true that politics and social divisions should not be allowed to mix, as it often leads to negative results. This is particularly evident when caste begins to influence politics.
- Each caste group attempts to expand by incorporating neighbouring castes or subcastes that were previously excluded. This leads to the emergence of new caste groupings, such as backward and forward castes. This trend is unhealthy for democracy and can result in tensions, conflicts, and even violence. It also diverts attention from critical issues like poverty, development, and corruption.
- Political parties and candidates appeal to caste sentiment to garner support during elections. Some parties are known to favour specific castes and are perceived as their representatives. This is detrimental because it creates the impression that elections are solely about caste, which is far from the truth.
How Social Divisions Affect Politics
At first glance, the combination of politics and social divisions appears highly dangerous. Democracy involves competition among various political parties, which naturally tends to divide society. If this competition aligns with existing social divisions, it can transform social differences into political divisions, potentially leading to conflict, violence, or even the disintegration of a country.
Examples include the violent ethno-political conflict in Northern Ireland between Catholics, Protestants, and the government. Similarly, in Yugoslavia, political competition along religious and ethnic lines contributed to its disintegration into six independent countries.
However, not every expression of social divisions in politics results in disaster. In a democracy, it is natural for political parties to address these divisions, make specific promises to different communities, and develop policies to address the grievances of disadvantaged groups. Such actions do not necessarily lead to the country's disintegration.