Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

Sociology

Chapter

Indian Society: Challenges of Cultural Diversity

Question:

Read the passage given below and answer the questions based on it:

Historically, states have tried to establish and enhance their political legitimacy through nation-building strategies. They sought to secure... the loyalty and obedience of their citizens through policies of assimilation or integration. Attaining these objectives was not easy, especially in a context of cultural diversity where citizens, in addition to their identifications, with their country, might also feel a strong sense of identity with their community ethnic, religious, linguistic, and so on. Most states feared that the recognition of such difference would lead to social fragmentation and prevent the creation of a harmonious society. In short, such identity politics was considered a threat to the state unity. In addition, accommodating these differences is politically challenging, so many states have resorted to either suppressing these diverse identities or ignoring them on the political domain. Policies of assimilation - often involving outright suppression of the identities of ethics, religious or linguistic groups - try to erode the cultural differences between groups. Policies of integration seek to assert a single national identity by attempting to eliminate ethno-national and cultural differences from the public and political arena, while allowing them in the private domain. Both sets of policies assume a singular national identity.

Why do states fear cultural diversity?

Options:

It does not lead to fragmentation and present creation of harmonious society

It leads to creation of harmonious society

It leads to social fragmentation and prevent creation of harmonious society

It is not considered threat to State Unity

Correct Answer:

It leads to social fragmentation and prevent creation of harmonious society

Explanation:

The correct answer is Option (3) → It leads to social fragmentation and prevent creation of harmonious society.

The passage explicitly states that states fear cultural diversity because they believe it:

  • Leads to social fragmentation: This refers to the division of society into smaller, often isolated groups based on cultural differences.
  • Prevents the creation of a harmonious society: This means that the state believes recognizing diverse identities will hinder them from achieving a unified and peaceful society.