IGNOU MPS-003 Assignment Answers 2025: : India: Democracy and Development Solved Part 3
Question 5: Write short notes on the following in about 250 words. A) The Telangana Peasant Rebellion
Answer: The Telangana Peasant Rebellion (1946–1951) was one of the most significant agrarian movements in India, reflecting the struggle of peasants against feudal exploitation, social oppression, and economic injustice. It occurred in the Telangana region of the erstwhile Hyderabad State, under the rule of the Nizam and dominated by powerful landlords known as zamindars or Doras.
Causes of the Rebellion
The rebellion emerged from deep-rooted structural inequalities in the agrarian system. Peasants, mostly poor tenants and landless laborers, were subjected to:
- Excessive land rents and forced labor (vetti).
- Economic exploitation by zamindars, often leaving them with minimal subsistence.
- Social oppression, as feudal landlords exercised authoritarian control, including restrictions on education and mobility.
- Influence of leftist ideology, particularly Communist Party of India (CPI), which mobilized peasants against feudal dominance.
Course of the Rebellion
The rebellion was organized and militant, with peasants forming armed squads to resist landlords, reclaim land, and redistribute resources. The CPI played a crucial role in providing political leadership and ideological guidance, promoting class consciousness among rural communities. It was both a struggle for economic justice and a challenge to the feudal socio-political order of the Nizam’s state.
Impact and Sociological Significance
- Led to temporary land redistribution and weakened feudal authority in many villages.
- Strengthened class consciousness among peasants and encouraged participation in political movements.
- Influenced post-independence land reforms in Telangana and other regions, highlighting the importance of addressing rural inequalities.
Sociologically, the Telangana Rebellion illustrates how agrarian exploitation, social hierarchies, and political mobilization converge to create collective action. It remains a classic example of a peasant-led movement shaping both rural society and state policies.
Question 5: Write short notes on the following in about 250 words. B) Political participation
Answer: Political participation refers to the ways in which individuals and groups engage in activities that influence the selection of leaders, the formulation of policies, and the functioning of government. From a sociological standpoint, it is a key indicator of the relationship between society and the state, reflecting the degree of citizen involvement, social awareness, and democratic functioning.
Forms of Political Participation
Political participation can be conventional or non-conventional:
- Conventional participation includes voting, joining political parties, attending meetings, and engaging in lawful lobbying or advocacy. These activities directly influence electoral outcomes and policy-making.
- Non-conventional participation involves protests, strikes, demonstrations, social movements, and civil disobedience. These forms often emerge when formal channels are perceived as inadequate or inaccessible.
Determinants of Political Participation
Sociologists identify several factors that influence political participation:
- Socio-economic status: Education, income, and occupation increase awareness and capacity to participate.
- Socialization: Family, peers, media, and educational institutions shape political attitudes.
- Political culture and institutions: Democratic norms, electoral systems, and citizen rights encourage engagement.
- Group identity: Caste, religion, gender, and ethnicity can mobilize collective participation.
Sociological Significance
Political participation is vital for social integration and democratic stability. It ensures that citizens have a voice in governance and helps hold authorities accountable. Participation also reflects power dynamics, highlighting which groups are empowered and which remain marginalized. In contemporary societies, increased political engagement among women, minorities, and youth demonstrates the evolving nature of democracy and social equality.
In essence, political participation is not just a political act but a social process, linking individuals, communities, and institutions to the broader democratic system, shaping both policy and social change.
Question 6: Explain the behavioralist concept of political participation.
Answer: The study of political participation has undergone significant transformation in sociology and political science, particularly with the emergence of the behavioralist approach in the mid-20th century. Behavioralism marked a shift from traditional institutional analysis, which focused on formal structures and legal provisions, to an empirical, scientific study of individual and group behavior in the political system. From a sociological perspective, the behavioralist approach emphasizes understanding political participation not merely as a legal right or duty, but as a social behavior influenced by psychological, cultural, and structural factors.
Behavioralism in Political Science
Behavioralism emerged as a response to the limitations of traditional political analysis, which primarily described constitutions, laws, and political institutions without explaining why individuals and groups behave politically in certain ways. Behavioralists sought to study politics scientifically, using observation, surveys, and statistical methods to analyze patterns of political behavior, including voting, party affiliation, protest, and civic engagement. The approach is rooted in sociology because it views political actions as social phenomena shaped by relationships, norms, values, and group dynamics rather than isolated legal mandates.
Behavioralist Concept of Political Participation
In the behavioralist framework, political participation is understood as any activity by individuals or groups intended to influence government decisions, policy-making, or the selection of leaders. Unlike traditional approaches, which focused on formal participation like voting, behavioralists expand the concept to include informal and non-institutionalized activities, such as:
- Attending political rallies or meetings
- Joining interest groups or social movements
- Writing to elected representatives
- Engaging in demonstrations, strikes, or protests
David Easton and other behavioralist scholars argue that political participation reflects an individual’s political orientation, their sense of efficacy, and their relationship with the political system. From a sociological perspective, participation is a behavioral response to the social environment, influenced by family, education, social networks, and mass media.
Determinants of Political Participation in the Behavioralist View
Behavioralists identify several factors that determine the extent and nature of political participation:
- Socio-economic Factors: Education, income, and occupational status affect knowledge, skills, and resources necessary for engagement.
- Psychological Factors: Political attitudes, party identification, sense of civic duty, and perceived political efficacy influence willingness to participate.
- Social and Cultural Context: Group membership (class, caste, religion, ethnicity) and community norms shape patterns of engagement.
- Institutional and Structural Factors: Electoral systems, political stability, and opportunities for participation impact citizen behavior.
Sociologically, this framework highlights that political participation is not uniform across society. For example, urban, educated, and economically advantaged groups often have higher participation rates, whereas marginalized communities may face structural and cultural barriers that limit their involvement.
Implications of the Behavioralist Approach
The behavioralist perspective has several significant implications:
- Focus on Empirical Research: It emphasizes quantitative analysis of participation, helping sociologists identify patterns and correlations between social variables and political behavior.
- Understanding Political Culture: By studying attitudes, beliefs, and participation levels, behavioralism helps explain the stability or instability of political systems.
- Policy Relevance: Insights into who participates and why can guide interventions to promote inclusivity, reduce alienation, and strengthen democratic governance.
Critique and Sociological Relevance
While behavioralism has expanded understanding of political participation, critics argue that it sometimes overemphasizes individual behavior at the expense of structural and historical contexts. For example, poverty, social exclusion, and institutional discrimination may limit participation in ways not fully captured by behavioral surveys. Sociologically, integrating behavioral insights with structural analysis provides a more holistic understanding of political participation as a product of both social structures and individual agency.
Conclusion
In sociology, the behavioralist concept of political participation provides a framework for analyzing political behavior as a socially and psychologically conditioned phenomenon. It emphasizes empirical study, expands the notion of participation beyond formal activities, and identifies socio-economic, psychological, and cultural determinants of engagement. By focusing on patterns of behavior, behavioralism helps explain why individuals and groups participate differently in politics, offering valuable insights for promoting democratic participation and social inclusion. Political participation, therefore, is seen not just as a constitutional right but as a dynamic social behavior shaped by the interplay of society, culture, and individual agency.
Explain the concept of development and its relationship with democracy.
Analyse the functioning of the federal system in India.
Elaborate on the Liberalisation, Privatisation, and Globalization (LPG) policies.
Elaborate upon the evolution of peasant movements in India.
Write short notes on the following in about 250 words. A) The Telangana Peasant Rebellion
Write short notes on the following in about 250 words. B) Political participation
Explain the behavioralist concept of political participation.
Explain the nature of regionalism in India.
Examine the Basic Minimum Needs approach to human development.
Discuss the causes of over-urbanisation.
Write short notes on the following in about 250 words a) Internal Migration
Write short notes on the following in about 250 words. b) Sustainable Development
IGNOU MPS-003 Assignment Answers 2025: : India: Democracy and Development Solved Part 3