Instrument of Change
Relevant for Sociology Optional for Civil Service Examination.
Sociology Paper -2
Unit 3 : Social Change in India : Vision of Social change in India
Instrument of Change
- Media is an organised means of sharing information. Through it we can reach a large number of people, quickly, timely, effectively and efficiently.
- The main characteristics of media are
i) It can reach millions of people in short time; even instantaneously.
ii) Audio media is very useful for illiterate and visually challeng
iii) Visual media can be effective in a multilingual society with illiteracy to a large extent.
iv) It is cost-effective and user-friendly.
iv) Generally, media provides one way communication to the recipients.
- According to Norris (2006), media has three key roles in contributing to democratisation and good governance.
- media is to act as a watch dog over the powerful, promoting accountability, transparency and public scrutiny.
- function as a civic forum for political debates, facilitating informed electoral choice and actions;
- act as an agenda setter for policy makers, strengthening government responsiveness for instance to social problems and to exclusion.
- Voice of the Masses: Media serves as a platform for the public to voice concerns and grievances, often pressuring governments to make or change decisions. It act as both a centre of pluralistic power and dispersing power to people.
- Example: Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption movement in India received extensive media coverage and pushed the government to introduce the Lokpal Bill.
- Exposing Democratic Loopholes: Media exposes flaws in the democratic system, helping governments rectify these issues, promoting accountability, and making the system more citizen-friendly.
- Anonymous Participation: New media allows for anonymous expression, enabling people to challenge dominant narratives more freely, as noted by Sherry Turkle.
- Educative Role: Media doesn’t just report news but also educates through debates and commentary, strengthening democratic culture. Karl Deutsch referred to communication as the “nerve of the polity,” essential for good governance.
- Access to Political Information: Media creates a public space for debates and diverse viewpoints, enhancing democratic legitimacy over issues. Which helps in creating value consensus and society.
- Investigative Reporting: Media investigates and highlights conflicts of interest, ensuring transparency and that government policies serve the interests of the masses rather than specific groups.
- Influencing Public Opinion: Media informs people about their rights and duties, influencing attitudes, and behaviors. It acts as source of socilaisation and social control. For example, the “Do Boond Zindagi Ki” campaign in India raised awareness about polio vaccination. Awareness created by media in India has helped to mobilise motivation of people for goal attainment .
Criticism
- The nexus between political parties, media and corporate houses is proving fatal for good governance. Many a times it is observed that media is not representing the voice of people but vested interests of its stakeholders. It derails the process of healthy participation of people. It acts as ideological state apparatus. It turns the democracy into aristocracy.
- Now a days it is seen that there is tendency to create moral panics in media, which sometimes action and reaction against such situations. It sometimes acts against democracy as it generated conflict and anomie in society and impact social stability and creates legitimisation crisis
- The media in India is more focused on elite cosmopolitan issues and it is exclusionary for marginalised and hinterland issues., which is against the democratic tradition .
- It has tendency to scandalise news to attract TRPs. The commercialisation of media has created made the news dramatic affair. It has given rise to culture of populism and thus leads to sense of false consciousness of development and inclusion based on populism agendas.
- It is criticised for having hegemonistic masculine bias. According to Kilbourne media presents mannequin image of women . The hyper sexualisation and objectification of women’s bodies in online advertisements, clickbait, and media content contribute to the perpetuation of gender hierarchies.
- The role of media including social media is getting recognised. It needs to make people information rich and make them active participants in governance process. Sensitive, accountable, responsible and professional media can contribute immensely in effective governance.
Reference: Static Portion
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Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Question: Define the term “ethnic movement” and provide an example from India.
Answer: An ethnic movement refers to a collective effort by a group sharing common cultural, linguistic, or religious traits, seeking to assert their identity and rights; an example from India is the Khalistan Movement in Punjab.
2. Question: Identify the main objectives behind the Gorkhaland ethnic movement.
Answer: The Gorkhaland ethnic movement primarily seeks to establish a separate state for India’s Nepali-speaking population in the Darjeeling region, advocating for linguistic and cultural recognition and political autonomy.
3. Question: What was the Operation Blue Star, and which ethnic movement was it related to?
Answer: Operation Blue Star was a military action in 1984, aiming to remove Sikh militants hiding in the Golden Temple in Amritsar; it is related to the Khalistan movement, which sought a separate Sikh country.
4. Question: Mention a critical factor that triggered the emergence of ethnic movements in India, as discussed by Dipankar Gupta.
Answer: Dipankar Gupta emphasized that ethnicity is fundamentally a political process, wherein caste and religion, the key components of identity formation, are politicized by leaders for vested interests.
5. Question: What were the primary reasons for the Assam Ethnicity conflicts involving Bodo tribals and Bengali Muslim settlers?
Answer: The Assam Ethnicity conflicts primarily stemmed from issues related to immigration, land rights, and resource allocation, leading to clashes, riots, and evolving relationships among indigenous communities to address challenges.
6. Question: Briefly describe the role of the Dravidian Movement in terms of caste and societal structure.
Answer: The Dravidian Movement, led notably by E.V. Ramasamy, aimed to establish an egalitarian society, focusing on anti-Brahmanism and advocating for equal rights for backward castes, while also introducing reforms like self-respect marriages.
7. Question: Name the prominent ethnic movements in North-East India and specify one common objective.
Answer: Prominent ethnic movements in North-East India include the Nagas’ and Mizos’ struggles; a common objective was to gain autonomy and recognition for their distinct tribal identities and cultural uniqueness.
8. Question: What is the key argument of Gail Omveldt regarding traditional Indian society and multiculturalism?
Answer: Gail Omveldt opposed romanticizing traditional Indian society, arguing that hierarchy has always dominated it and dismissing the notion that multiculturalism is an intrinsic feature of Indian society as a myth.
9. Question: Briefly explain the social hierarchy factor as a contributing element to ethnic movements as suggested by Olzak.
Answer: Olzak suggests that the construction of hierarchies among ethnic communities, which often leads to the suppression of one group by another, is a key factor that can instigate social and ethnic movements.
10. Question: Identify one consequence of the unequal economic development factor within the context of ethnic movements in India.
Answer: One consequence of unequal economic development is the marginalization and underdevelopment of certain groups, leading to feelings of alienation and sometimes initiating ethnic movements as these groups strive for equality and recognition.
GS Related Practices Questions…
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