The attitude that sees one’s own group as the only legitimate or worthy group, with others being seen as inferior, is called?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Chauvinism
Option (1) Populism — Incorrect. Populism is a style of politics that claims to speak for the ordinary people against an elite. It is about leaders and the people, not about one group seeing itself as the only worthy group.
Option (2) Secularism — Incorrect. Secularism separates religion from the state and asks equal respect for all religions, the very opposite of ranking one’s own group above others.
Option (3) Authoritarianism — Incorrect. An authoritarian state is one in which the people have no voice and those in power are accountable to no one. It describes a form of rule, not an attitude towards other groups.
Option (4) Chauvinism — Correct. Chauvinism is an attitude that sees one’s own group as the only legitimate or worthy group, with other groups seen, by definition, as inferior, illegitimate and opposed. Communalism is aggressive chauvinism based on religious identity.
Note: The concept in Option (1), ‘populism’, is not in NCERT (2025-26); explained here for the benefit of the students.
NCERT (2025-26): “Communalism, Secularism and the Nation-state … Communalism … In everyday language, the word ‘communalism’ refers to aggressive chauvinism based on religious identity. Chauvinism itself is an attitude that sees one’s own group as the only legitimate or worthy group, with other groups being seen – by definition – as inferior, illegitimate and opposed. Thus, to simplify further, communalism is an aggressive political ideology linked to religion.…” |