Popular Struggles and Movements Class 10 Social Science Notes and Questions

Democratic reforms can be carried out by politically conscious citizens by participating in the electoral process. One can become a candidate in an election. In addition to that one should vote for only upright candidates who have agendas in the national interest.

Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) is a political party in India which grew out of a movement.

Pressure  groups  are  formed  when  people with  common  occupation, interest, aspirations, or opinions come together in order to achieve a common objective, at times forcing government to fulfil their wishes.

Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad functions as a branch of political party Bhartiya Janta Party.

A political  party refers to a voluntary organized group of dedicated individuals with similar political ideology. They nominate the candidate, contest elections and become part of the government.

Pressure groups are a collection of like-minded people, who come together to promote or defend a common cause, by continuously striving to influence the decision of the government.

In February 2005, the  king  dismissed  the then Prime Minister and dissolved the popularly elected Parliament. King Gyanendra, the new king of Nepal, was not prepared to accept democratic rule.

(d) Increase in water price by four times

The protest against water privatization in Bolivia was led by FEDECOR. This organization was comprised of local professionals, including engineers and environmentalists.

The main aim of the popular movement of April 2006 in Nepal was restoring democracy.

The protest against water privatization in Bolivia was led by FEDECOR and  it made the government concede to all the demands of the protesters.

The political parties formed Seven Party Alliance. It was a coalition of seven Nepali political parties  seeking to  end  autocratic  rule in the country. They spearheaded the Loktantra Andolan.

(c ) To restore democracy

(b) To re-establish democracy in Nepal

They raise the democratic consciousness of the people.

A number of factors contribute to the smooth functioning of the democracy. It includes public participation, and pressure groups participation also.

The struggles in Nepal and Bolivia were aimed at different causes; but they were popular struggles which caught the attention of the people.

1.    The Nepalese struggle was carried out by the people in restoring democracy while the struggle in Bolivia was against privatization and subsequent increase in prices of water after the government sold the rights to an MNC.

2.   Both  these  instances  involved  political conflict that led to popular struggles. In both the cases, the struggle involved mass mobilization and public protests and demonstrations.

3.    These two instances reflect the  values that democracy upholds. The power of popular struggles and the urge to bring about a change is its most important  element. Public participation, mass mobilization and the political organizations are the important elements through which democratic movements take place.

(A) The movement in Nepal was a claim of an  elected  democratic  government  to  restore itself; whereas in Bolivia it was against a particular issue of huge price rise for water, an essential commodity.

(B)  The movement in Nepal was against the king whereas it was against the government in Bolivia. Both these are instances of political conflict led to popular struggles.

(i)   In both cases, the struggle involved mass mobilizations and public demonstration  of  mass support that solved the dispute.

(ii)  Both instances involved the critical role of political organization.

Nepal witnessed an extraordinary popular movement in April 2006, which aimed at restoring democracy. This struggle is a source of inspiration to democrats all over the world.

All major political parties in the Parliament formed a Seven Party Alliance (SPA) and  called for a four day strike in Kathmandu, the country’s capital.

This protest soon turned into an indefinite strike in which Maoist insurgents and various organizations joined hands.

People defied curfew and took to the streets. They demanded  restoration  of  parliament,  power  to an all-party government and a new constituent assembly.

As a result, on 24 April 2006, that is, the last day of the ultimatum, the king was forced to concede all the demands of people and democracy was restored.

People  demanded restoration of parliament, power to an all-party government a new constituent assembly and removal of  all the restrictions that were imposed on them.

.  Bolivia is a poor country in Latin America where government had sold the rights of water supply for the city of Cochabamba to a multi- national company. The company immediately increased the price of water four times. This led to a spontaneous protest from the people and ultimately made the government  concede to all the demands of the protesters. This success of the popular struggle reminded us about power of the people.

From this movement we get inspiration that unity of common men can overcome the big problems in our life.

Three values related with this popular struggle are

(i)   Democratic right to form association
(ii)  Unity of voice against unjust policies
(iii) Achieve collective goal

People’s     successful    struggle    against privatization of water in Bolivia reminds us that popular struggles are integral to the working of democracy.

Bolivia is a poor country in Latin America. The World Bank pressurized the government to give up its control of municipal water supply.

The water distribution  was handed  over to  an MNC.

The company  immediately  increased  the  price of water by four times. This led to spontaneous popular protests as the water cost began to make a dent in the household budget of the people.

An alliance of labor, human rights and community leaders organized a four day strike which was called off after the government agreed to negotiate. It was due to such protests by the people that the MNC contract was cancelled and the municipal water supply was restored at old rates.

Pressure  groups  and  movements  exert influence on politics in a variety of ways.

(i)   They try to gain public support and sympathy for their cause by carrying out information campaigns, organizing meetings, filing petitions, etc.

(ii)  By organizing strikes and disruptions,  they seek to make the government take note of their demands.

(iii) They  also  influence  decision-making  by lobbying.

(iv) The issues raised by them often influence the policies of political parties.

(a) People’s  struggle against privatization of water in Bolivia proves that struggles are integral part of Democracy.

(b)  The World Bank pressurized the government to give up its control of municipal water supply. The government sold these rights to a multinational company which increased the price of water by four times. Many people received monthly water bill of rupee 1000/- in a country where average incomes are around 5000/- a month.

(c)   In  January  2000, a  new  alliance of  labor human rights and community leaders organized a successful four day strike.

(d)  The government agreed to negotiate and the strike was called off, however no action was taken.

(e)   The police resorted to brutal repression when the agitation started in February. In April the government imposed martial law because of the agitation.

(f )   But the  protests  forced the  officials of the MNC to flee the city and made the government concede to all the demands of the protesters.

(g)  The contract with MNC was cancelled and the water supply was restored with the Municipality at old rates.

This  popular  struggle  came  to  be  known  as ”Bolivia’s Water War.”

(i)  Popular  movements  deepen  democracy as they ensure greater participation of people through meetings and processions, making people more aware and vigilant.

(ii) They help in the due representation and accommodation of diverse interests.

(iii) They put pressure on the government, making it more accountable and responsive to the needs of the people.

(iv) They raise the democratic consciousness of the people to fight in the spirit of democracy. For example, the movement in Nepal was to establish democracy, while the struggle in Bolivia involved claims on an elected, democratic government. Both these are instances of political conflict that led to popular struggles. In both cases the struggle involved mass mobilization.

Nepal witnessed an extraordinary popular movement in April 2006, which aimed at restoring democracy. This struggle is a source of inspiration to democrats all over the world.

All major political parties in the Parliament formed a Seven Party Alliance (SPA) and  called for a four day strike in Kathmandu, the country’s capital.

This protest soon turned into an indefinite strike in which Maoist insurgents and various organizations joined hands.

People defied curfew and took to the streets. They demanded  restoration  of  parliament,  power  to an all-party government and a new constituent assembly.

As a result, on 24 April 2006, that is, the last day of the ultimatum, the king was forced to concede all the demands of people and democracy was restored.