RESULT
The officials of the MNC fled from the city. The government bowed to the
people’s power and the water supply was restored to the Municipality.
This event was known as Bolivia’s water war.
A) What are differences between Bolivia and Nepal?
The movement in Nepal was to establish democracy but movement in
Bolivia was against the policy of an elected democratic government.
The popular struggle in Bolivia was about one specific policy while the
struggle in Nepal was about the foundation of country’s politics.
B) What are similarities between Bolivia and Nepal?
Both of these are instances of political conflicts that led to popular
struggles.
In both cases, the struggle involved mass mobilization.
Public demonstration of mass support clinched the dispute.
CONCLUSION
Democracy evolves through popular struggles.
Democracy involves conflict between those who are in power and those
who aspires for power.
Democratic conflicts are resolved through mass mobilization.
If the conflicts cannot be resolved by parliament the solution will come
from people.
These conflicts and mobilization are based on new political organization.
Pressure groups are the organization that tries to influence
government policies.
They do not aim to control or share political power.
People with common occupation, interest, aspiration come
together to achieve their common objective. E.g. Narmada
Bachao Andolan, Anti-Liquor movement.
Movements
They also try to influence government policies rather than
directly taking part in the electoral competition.
They have a loose organization.
Their decision making is more flexible and informal pressure
groups & movements.
Public Interest Group tries to promote collective rather
than selective goods.
They help the groups either than their groups. E.g. a
group fighting against bonded labor fight not for itself
but for those who are suffering under such bondage. E.g.
BAMCEF (Backward and Minority Communities
Employee Federation).
BAMCEF is an organization largely made up of
government employees & camping against caste
discrimination. Its principle concern is with social justice
and social equality for entire society.
Pressure groups try to get public support and
sympathy for their activities by carrying out
information campaigns, organizing meetings
& filling politicians. They try to influence the
media for their cause.
They often organize protest activity like
strikes or disrupting government programs.
Business groups often employ professional
lobbyists or sponsor expensive
advertisement.
Democracy evolves through political struggles.
Conflict in a democracy between those who exercise
power, and those who want a share in it.
These conflicts happen when : (i) a country goes
through a transition to democracy;
(ii) expansion of democracy and (iii) deepening of
democracy.
The conflict in a democracy is solved through mass
mobilisation or institutions like the parliament or the
judiciary.
Agencies of organised politics help these movements.
Agencies : Political parties, Pressure groups and
Movement groups.