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Popular Struggles & Movements
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.
Bolivia…Fight against Privatisation of Water1) 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.
Similarities…
Differences…
Two way roles of these organisations are …
• Direct participation in competitive politics• Creation of parties contesting elections and
forming Governments
Formation of Organisations…• Those organisations that undertake activities to
promote their interest are called INTEREST GROUPS or PRESSURE GROUPS.
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.
Pressure Groups…
Movements : Narmada Bachao Andolan 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
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…
Groups…FEDECOR (Feracion Departamental Cochabambina 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
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
Single Issue Movements…Nepalese Movement• Specific objective of reviving the king’s orders that led to
suspension of democracy
Narmada Bachao Andolan• Specific issue of people displaced by creation of Sardar
Sarovar DamObjective• To stop the dam• Questioned all such big dams and requirement of such
dams• Has a clear leadership and organisation• Active life is short
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
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
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
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