Social Science (087) — CBSE Class 10 board question

Democracies accommodate social diversities under the following conditions:

1. Majority working with minority: Democracy is not simply rule by majority opinion. The majority must always work with the minority so that the government represents the general view.

1. Majority not based on birth: Rule by majority should not become rule by a majority community based on religion, race, or linguistic group. Every citizen must have a chance of being in the majority at some point.

1. Respecting differences: No society can permanently resolve all conflicts, but democracies evolve mechanisms to negotiate differences rather than suppress them.

1. Political expression of diversity: Political expression of social differences is possible and desirable; it allows diverse groups a voice.

1. Non-democratic regimes fail here: Unlike democracies, non-democratic regimes suppress internal social differences rather than accommodate them.

The example of Belgium shows success; Sri Lanka shows failure when these conditions are violated.

Source: Outcomes of Democracy, Chapter 5; Power Sharing, Chapter 1

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Examiners look for the two key conditions explicitly stated in the textbook (majority working with minority; majority not based on birth/religion/race) plus supporting points on mechanisms, comparison with non-democracies, and real examples (Belgium/Sri Lanka). Mentioning both conditions is essential for full marks. Keep examples brief — one line each is enough.