Class 11 Political Science Short Questions With Answers -Nationalism

Q1. What do you mean by Ration?
Ans: The nation is a territory or a state which is organised on the basis of nationality. A nationality is a group of people of common history, traditional culture, language, dialects, future aspirations and geography. In the nation, people are more patriotic and nationalists. They are emotionally and psychologically linked together with the national glory, national honour and national cause. The nation is not just a group of people. It is more cohesive organisation and is different from all other human groupings.

Q2. What is Nationalism?
Ans: Nationalism is a feeling for the commitment and sacrifice among the people. It is the feeling which attaches the people for the national honour, national glory, national cause, national interests. The feeling of nationalism subordinates the individual and regional interests to the national interests. Nationalism is a creed which is generated in the number of circumstances. Nationalism has a deep impact on the structure of the world. Decolonisation is the result of nationalism developed in Asian and African states which led to the emergence of newly independent nations in Asia and Africa.

Q3. Write the impact of Nationalism in the world.
Ans: Nationalism is the result of a number of negative and positive factors in different parts of the world which have mainly following impacts.

• The emergence of the nation-state.
• The disintegration of empires.
• Development of democracy.
• Social and religions integration of society.

Q4. Write some factors of rising of nationalism.
Ans: There are a number of circumstances/factors which give rise to the feeling of nationalism

• Common culture.
• Emotional attachment for territory.
• Common future aspiration.
• Common history.
• The threat to national integration.
• The glorification of the national flag, national symbols and national songs and past glory and achievements.

Q5. What are the main elements of the Nation?
Ans: Followings are some important elements or we can say the assumption of Nation which is not only a piece of land or group of people, it is something more than that.

• The common belief of the people living on that land.
• All the people share a common history to which they glorify.
• Territory to which people are emotionally and spiritually attached.
• A common culture which includes their traditions, faith, festivals, dress pattern and habitations.
• Group of people.

Q6. Mention some factors responsible for the rise of Indian nationalism.
Ans: India has been the victim of British colonialism which ultimately came to end in 1947. India fought a national war for independence and national movements, which was the result of Indian nationalism which was evoked through following main factors

• Impact of socio, religious and educational reforms.
• Impact of a British education.
• Impact of science and technological development.
• Impact of the press and other means of communication.
• Dedicated and enlighted leadership.
• Excess of the British government.
• Injustice and exploitation of Indians.

Q7. What do you understand by national self-determination?
Ans: The theory national self-determination was given by former President of USA, W. Wilson after the end of First World War and in the wake of the emergence of new states as a result of the disintegration of Europe. This theory says that every nationality should have the right of law. administration and government of their choice which reflect their interests, ethos, culture and future aspirations for their fuller development. It says that every social group should have the right to govern themselves and determine their future development.

Q8. Write the utility of right of National self-determination.
Ans: Right of self-determination means every nationality or social group should have the right to determine the law and government and mode of governance of their choice. It has the following merits

• It will ensure the fuller development of the social group.
• It is more democratic.
• It is more natural.
• It will promote social integration.
• It will strengthen national unity.

Q9. What are the negative features of National self-determination theory?
Ans: Whereas the right of national self-determination has many positive features, it has some negative features also. Some of the negative features are as under:-

• It leads to parochialism.
• There is no end to this of right.
• It leads to mutual hatred and social disharmony.
• It leads to national disintegration.
• It is harmful for federation.

Q10. Write the impact of the theory of National self-Determination.
Ans: This theory of National self-determination was propounded by former President of USA during the First World War. In the post First World War period this theory had a profound impact in raising the number of nation-states in different parts of the world. The Right to National Self-determination has also evoked national liberation movements in Asia and Africa against colonial domination. Many countries achieved independence and emerged as nation-states on the map of the world. Socio-cultural and political unity among different nationality was the consequence of this theory’ of National Self-determination.

Q11. Discuss the demand for nation among nations as a consequence of the right of self-determination.
Ans: In most of the states of the world, society is plural i.e. diverse i.e. people of different nationalities. It is also a fact that today every state in the world faces the dilemma of dealing with the movements who are raising the demand of either an autonomous state or separate nation-state on the basis of their right of self-determination. It is also being realised that a solution does not lie in accepting all such demands. After all, there has to be the same check on this right.

Q12. What do you mean by pluralism?
Ans: Pluralism means living together of social groups of a different culture, religion, dialect, language and geographies as a nation. Pluralism stands for a diverse society. Today all the nation-states have diverse society i.e. plural society living together with regional aspirations and national objectives.

Q13. How the feeling of nationalism and pluralism are reconciled in today’s modern nation-states?
Ans: Today most of the nation-states have a plural society which has different cultures and communities which survive and flourish within the boundary of Nation-states. It is in pursuit of this goal of reconciliation most of the democratic states have started to take the measures for recognizing and protecting the identity of cultural minority communities living within the territory of a nation-state. This reconciliation had become necessary for the state as a nation and also for the minorities living in the territory of that state.

Q14. What provisions Indian Constitution has for the protection of identity and rights of the minorities?
Ans: The Indian Constitution has an elaborate set of provisions for the protection of religious, linguistic and cultural minorities. Indian Constitution has provided for a secular state which is given in Art 25 of the Constitution that every person will be free in a matter of religion and state will neither protect any religion nor it will become a hindrance of any religion. The state will not have its religion. Art. 29 and Art. 30 provides for the protection of minorities by giving them the right to maintain their cultural identities and to run educational institutions for the promotion of their culture and identity.

Q15. What rights should be given to the minority social and cultural groups?
Ans: Most of the social and cultural groups have been given Constitutional rights which includes the protection of language and religion of minority groups. Minority communities have also the right to representation as a group in legislative bodies and other state institutions. They are also given equal treatment and protection of the law for the cultural identity of such group.

Q16. What do you mean by Nationalism? Explain the history of the development of Nationalism in different countries.
Ans: Nationalism is a very powerful force or feeling which unite the people of the nation to the glorious history, dignity, interests and objectives of the Nation-state. It is a feeling which subordinates the individual and regional feelings and interests to the national feelings and national interests. It is generated among the people of our nationality.
Nationalism has been the result of many factors and developments in the field of science technology, press, education and other means of communication. Nationalism has passed through many phases in the 19th century. It was developed in Europe which lead to the unification of Italy and Germany and the number of small kingdoms into larger nation-states. A large number of new states were also founded in Latin America. In 20th Century number of national movements were started as a result of nationalism which resulted in a number of newly independent states.

Q17. Explain the meaning and attributes of Nation.
Ans: Nations are the states which are organised on the basis of nationality i.e. social groups of common identity. We can define the nations as the states constituted by a group of people who share common descent, language, religion or ethnicity. There may be some exception because there are many states who do not have a common language. In such Nations, there is a number of nationalities which live in the same territory. Canada is such an example which has English speaking persons as well as French-speaking people. India also has a large number of social and cultural groups which have a common political identity and living in the territory of India.

Q18. Explain some important elements of Nations.
Ans: The nation is a community which is held together by the collective beliefs, aspirations and imaginations of its members. It is based on certain assumptions which unite the people as a whole with which they identify themselves. The main assumptions are as under

• Common beliefs:- Nation is a group of people who share common beliefs, collective identity and vision for the future to have an independent political existence.
• History:- The people of a nation share common history i.e. the past record of happiness and sufferings, wars and peace and victory and defeat.
• Territory:- Nation is a group of people who occupy a piece of land with which people have an emotional and spiritual attachment.
• Future aspirations.
• Common culture.

Q19. What were the main factors which were responsible for the rise of Indian Nationalism?
Ans: Rise of Indian nationalism led to the war of independence and starting of a national movement for the independence which ultimately got success in 1947. Following were the main factors responsible for Indian Nationalism:-

• Injustice and unequal treatment and exploitations of Indians.
• Development of science, technology and means of communication.
• The spread of education and development of Press.
• Role of social and religious reforms movements.
• Rise of the middle class.
• Impact of international events.
• Impact of English literature.
• Role of nationalist leaders.

Q20. Discuss India as a Nation.
Ans: About India, it is said that India is not a country, it is a continent. It means it is a nation of the nations. All these ethics about the nature of Indian states are attributed because India is a plural society in which people of different caste, colour, race, regions, religions, faith and beliefs reside within the territory of India. All these nationalities have their political and cultural identity and all have contributed during the struggle for national independence. They are well-recognised identity. They have full support for the national song, national festivals, national celebrations and national Constitution, which has given all the rights and protection to all the minorities. All the part and parcel of national ethos and objectives. India has unity in diversity. Therefore we can say that India as a political unity is a unique nation. From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, people are linked together with the feeling of Indianness.

Q21. Mention the contribution of social reformers in the rise of Indian nationalism.
Ans: Although there are a number of factors which have contributed to the rise of Indian nationalism the contribution of these following social reformers is unique:-

• Raja Ram Mohan Rai:- He was a social reformer of liberal thinking. He wanted to build Indian society on the edifice of British culture. He started Brahma Samaj.
• Swami Dayanand:- Swami Dayanand started Arya Samaj. He wanted to build Indian on the edifice of Indian culture.
• Swami Vivekanand:- He wanted to build the character of Indians particularly of youth.

Q22. Discuss how the territory acts as an important attribute of Nation and nationalism?
Ans: The territory is one of the most important and effective attributes of the nation. It acts as a deep source of patriotism and nationalism. Sharing a common past and living together on particular territory over a long period of times creates a sense of common identity and collectivity. They start to imagine themselves as one. Territory i.e. the land which they occupy and live upon has a special significance for them. It is not just a piece of land. They attach emotional and spiritual significance to that part of the land. They call it Maa or motherland for which they guard and become ready to sacrifice anything for it. For example, Jewish people, in spite of being dispersed for a long time in different parts of the world, still claim that their original homeland is in Palestine. Indian have special significance for its rivers like Ganga, Saraswati etc, mountains and regions of the Indian subcontinent.

Q23. How nationalism poses a threat to democracy?
Ans: Nationalism is a positive and desirable rather natural feeling with attaching the people with the national objective and nation’s glorious past. But nationalism is negative and harmful when it assumes extreme form i.e. chauvinism. Most societies are culturally diverse where people have different languages and religions living together in the same territory. To impose religious or linguistic identity in the name of nationalism will certainly be the violation of the principle of equal treatment and liberty for all and it will also be the negation of democracy. Therefore the democracies need to emphasize and expect loyalty to a set of values incorporated in the Consitution rather than adherence to a particular religion, race and language.

Q24. What is the theory of National Self-determination?
Ans: The theory of self-determination means the right to social and cultural groups to govern themselves and determine their future development. It is also right of the political community to be governed by the law which reflects their social-economic, political and cultural interests and aspirations. This theory was propounded by the former President; of USA, W. Wilson at the end of First World War.
As a result of this theory, a number of nation-states emerged in Europe after the disintegration of big empires and reorganisation of the boundaries of the states. The nation of one culture, one state began to gain acceptability at the time. The Treaty of Versailles established a number of small newly independent states. In making the claim of the right of self-determination, the nation seeks recognition and acceptance by the international community of its status as a distinct political entity.

Q25. Discuss the impact of self-determination theory on the colonialism.
Ans: As after the end of First World War and as a result of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, Europe saw the reorganisation of states and emergence of new nation-states. Similarly, after the end of Second World War in 1945, the process of Decolonialism started with the reorganisation of the world and creation of new world order under UN supervision who had accepted the theory of self-determination. Asa result of the breakdown of empiricism and colonialism large number of independent new states emerged oh the map of the world in Asia and Africa and Latin American countries. National movements had started as the impact of the theory of self-determinations.

Q26. Discuss the limitation of the theory of self-determination.
Ans: Most of the national movements were inspired by the theory of self-determination which gave the right to choose law and administration of their choice in which they found the reflection of their culture, ethos, aspirations and interests. Such national movements brought the end of colonialism and helped in the creation of a large number of new nation-states.
Most of the national movements were inspired by the goal of bringing justice rights and prosperity to the nation. But it became virtually impossible to ensure that each cultural group could achieve political independence and statehood Thus paradoxical situation developed when those countries refused to accept the demand of minorities, who themselves had received their own statehood on the right of self¬determination. In fact, this right cannot be absolute. It has to be accepted in relativity.

Q27. What rights are given to minorities in the Indian Constitution?
Ans: Indian society is a plural society with people of different colour, region, language, geographies and religion are living together as a political community. To ensure the development of the minorities, Constitution makers had given certain Fundamental Rights to the people of minorities. All the people have the right to have a choice of religion, culture, language and region. Right of choice in the matter of religion is given in Chapter III of the Indian Constitution.
Similarly in Art 23 Right of Equality is given by Right of Expression. Every minority has the right to build and maintain their educational institutions and to get the aid of government on the basis of their consent of the state.

Q28. Discuss the factors responsible for the rise of Indian nationalism.
Ans: There is a large number of factors which have contributed to the rise of Indian nationalism which ultimately brought the end of colonialism and India’s independence as a sovereign state. Some of the factors are as under:-

• Excess of British administration.
• Role of social reformers like Swami Dayanand, Swami Vivekanand and Raja Ram Mohan Rai.
• The spread of Education.
• Respect of British Literature.
• Development of Press.
• Development of science and technology and means of communication.
• Impact of world events.
• Glorification of history.

Q29. Discuss Indian has unity in diversity.
Ans: It is rightly said about India that India has unity in diversity. Indian society is a plural society which means it has diverse society having people of different caste, colour, regions, climate, traditions, culture and geographies but are linked together with the feeling of oneness which is generated with a common history and common future aspirations. This kind of feeling has helped immensely in generating nationalism which led to the organising national movement against British colonialism and ultimately got independence. Still, India is plural, secular and democratic, people and are linked together with the feeling of oneness on account of nationalism and patriotism. Therefore it is right that India has unity in diversity.

Q30. Discuss the negative impact of the right of self-determination.
Ans: Whereas the right of self-determination has a number of positive features but it has created a number of problems also for the political communities in the matter of state organisation on the basis of the right of self-determination of different nationalities living together on a particular territory. It is also true that people had to suffer a lot for reordering boundaries in the way that culturally distinct communities could form separate nation-states.
It is not possible to ensure that the newly created states have only one ethenic community or the people of one nationality. In every nation-state, there is a number of sub-nationalities who in the course of time start to nurse their grievances and start to demand a separate state on the basis of the right of self-determination. Therefore this right of self-determination poses danger for national integration.

Q31. Discuss the merit of Right of Self-determination.
Ans: The theory of the right of self-determination is given by the former President of USA, W. Wilson, thus this theory became very popular and accepted in most of the parts of the world. This has a number of positive features. Some of these positive features are as under:-

• This is more democratic.
• This is more natural.
• Thisismorehumonistic.
• This promotes national integration.
• This checks the centralisation of powers.
• This promotes social and cultural integration.
• This promotes the development of the political community.