The Role of State Constitutions in Protecting ... - International IDEA
The Role of State Constitutions in Protecting ... - International IDEA
The Role of State Constitutions in Protecting ... - International IDEA
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Which social divisions are constructive for society and which<br />
are destructive?<br />
A society can be divided <strong>in</strong> terms <strong>of</strong> the ideas and op<strong>in</strong>ions it holds, <strong>in</strong>terests and<br />
class l<strong>in</strong>es, ethnicity, religion, and tribal l<strong>in</strong>es. <strong>The</strong>se divisions <strong>in</strong> themselves do<br />
not cause social and political problems and are not <strong>in</strong>herently unhealthy. <strong>The</strong>y are<br />
compatible with democracy if they are not articulated <strong>in</strong> exclusive terms and are<br />
politically negotiable.<br />
<strong>The</strong> real challenge here is not social division but how these social divisions were<br />
dealt with. <strong>The</strong> issue is whether the divisions are used to affirm identity or to<br />
exclude some groups through violent or non-violent means and to ensure that the<br />
excluded groups have no political space. Where this happens, the divisions<br />
become unhealthy.<br />
Another important factor is whether the social divisions are crosscutt<strong>in</strong>g or<br />
overlapp<strong>in</strong>g between the ethnic divide. Nigeria stands <strong>in</strong> contrast to the Indian<br />
model where social cleavages are crosscutt<strong>in</strong>g. In Nigeria, the two ethnic groups<br />
(Hausa and Fulani) that dom<strong>in</strong>ate northern part <strong>of</strong> Nigeria are Muslims, speak<br />
Arabic and are poor. <strong>The</strong> two other large ethnic groups (Yoruba and Igbo), that<br />
dom<strong>in</strong>ate southern part <strong>of</strong> Nigeria are Christian, speak other languages and are<br />
relatively more developed. In India, there are cross cutt<strong>in</strong>g cleavages along<br />
language and religious l<strong>in</strong>es. Among H<strong>in</strong>dus, there are 18 different languages<br />
spoken and they are subdivided further as they follow different religious<br />
ceremonies.<br />
For Burma, people might be over-conscious <strong>of</strong> the starkness <strong>of</strong> ethnic differences<br />
at this given moment <strong>in</strong> their struggle aga<strong>in</strong>st oppressive military rule, but these<br />
perceptions can be changed over time when military rule is withdrawn. <strong>The</strong>re can<br />
be new divisions with<strong>in</strong> each ethnic divide <strong>in</strong> the future, under competitive<br />
political forces. For example, if there is an election <strong>in</strong> Ch<strong>in</strong> state, there will be at<br />
least two parties compet<strong>in</strong>g and a m<strong>in</strong>ority organization or party might appear.<br />
It’s important for democracies to have an effective mechanism to deal with not<br />
only current divisions, but also to make hidden divisions come to the surface and<br />
be able to deal with them through the political process without resort<strong>in</strong>g to<br />
violence. Democracy at its best is a system that enables different groups to contest<br />
and compete legally for power without us<strong>in</strong>g violence.<br />
Is a Women’s m<strong>in</strong>istry important to secure women’s rights<br />
and participation?<br />
It’s important to be clear what you want to accomplish. If the issue <strong>of</strong> secur<strong>in</strong>g<br />
women’s rights is left only to the women’s m<strong>in</strong>istry, it is not enough. To <strong>in</strong>crease<br />
women’s political participation, South Africa’s political party system required that<br />
50% <strong>of</strong> the candidates for election must be women. This was very progressive.<br />
Even though there is no special provision <strong>in</strong> F<strong>in</strong>land’s constitution, they have a<br />
situation where women secure 43% <strong>of</strong> the seats <strong>in</strong> parliament. This has come<br />
about because women have had a longer history <strong>of</strong> education, employment <strong>in</strong><br />
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