An Introduction to Society

CIVICS IN NEPAL
(Contemporary Society Course)

UNIT 1

AN INTRODUCTION TO SOCIETY

Introduction
Purpose of Unit
Structure of Unit
Terms to Know
Meaning of Society
Types of Society
Process of Social Change and Integration
Elements of Good society
Activities
Conclusion

INTRODUCTION <TOP>

Nepal is filled with many different types of people with unique lifestyles. Some of us live in cold climates in the mountains, others in hot climates in the Terai. Some of us work as farmers and others in offices. We speak dozens of languages and are from various ethnic backgrounds. Given that our country is so diverse, we need a government that respects the rights and needs of the many different people throughout the country, no matter their ethnicity, caste, gender, economic background, age or marital status. We need a government that allows everyone in the country to believe what they wish, practice any religion they want and express their own political opinions. We need a government that does not put the preferences of one group of people over another.

Democratic institutions can provide for this type of government. Democracy provides opportunities for the participation of citizens in the political process. Citizens of all backgrounds are encouraged to speak their minds and make demands on their government. Within a democracy, the citizens of the country are encouraged to help shape government policy.

PURPOSE OF UNIT <TOP>

This unit reminds students that our Kingdom is extremely diverse, consisting of people from a broad range of ethnic groups with different lifestyles and facing unique challenges in their daily lives. The main purpose of this unit, however, is to help students develop ideas about the purpose of government and the type of political system that can be most effective in representing the needs of our diverse citizenry.

After studying this unit you should be able to:

- Describe how Nepal became so diverse;
- Explain how our country has changed over the years and how the various ethnic groups have helped shape Nepali society;
- Evaluate the responsibilities government fulfills and why government is needed;
- Identify key aspects of a democratic government that can benefit a country as diverse as Nepal; and
- Become familiar with the skills necessary to participate in democratic governance.

STRUCTURE OF UNIT <TOP>

This unit is divided into the following sub-units:

" Meaning of Society
" Types of Society
" Hunting and Gathering
" Agricultural
" Herding
" Industrial and Information Societies
" Process of Social Change and Social Integration
" Elements of a Good Society
" Activities
" Conclusion

TERMS TO KNOW <TOP>

Please pay attention to the key words listed below. Become familiar with their definitions and how they are used in the text. You will need to understand these terms to answer the questions at the end of the unit.

Nepali Society
Social Change
Social Integration
Government
Authoritarian Government
Democratic Government

MEANING OF SOCIETY <TOP>

Our country is filled with many different types of people with unique lifestyles and different opinions about how our country should be run. Democratic government attempts to incorporate all our voices to allow all of us to have a say in our political process. The basis of democracy is difference, which is why democracy is so appropriate for our country. Before we discuss the characteristics of democracy, let's first examine the many differences between the people who live in Nepal.

Opposite are pictures of Nepalis from different parts of the country, with different jobs and unique traditional practices. Look at these pictures and see if you can identify which group of people each picture represents.

Some of us live in cold climates in the mountains, others in hot climates in the Terai. Some of us work as farmers and others in offices. We speak dozens of languages and are from various ethnic backgrounds. Although most of us practice Hinduism or Buddhism, we also practice Shamanism, Christianity, Islam and other religions. Some of us live in villages, others in the mountains, near rivers or in the cities. Many of us work inside our homes or on farms. We walk to work, take buses, ride our bicycles or drive cars. Some of us are rich and others are not, and some of us can read and write while others cannot.

Can you think of other ways in which we differ from each other? Come up with at least 8 examples and write these examples in your copy.

Although we are all different, we manage to live together and share our resources. On a daily basis we divide available food, land and water. We go to school together, share the same water pipes and travel on the same roads.

These interactions create trends in behavior, thought patterns and relationships that form our traditions and ways of life. Our different traditions, languages, religions and lifestyles make up what we call Nepali society.

Our society is complex and incorporates thousands of different traditions handed down by our ancestors during ancient periods when they settled in Nepal and began to live together and trade among themselves. Some examples of shared traditions are our habits of eating dal bhat or our ways of greeting each other.

The more information people from different parts of the country share, the more likely we are to adapt to each other's traditions and practices and the more likely we are to become increasingly similar.

Write down in your copy at least 8 examples of different types of traditions and behaviors that characterize Nepali society.

TYPES OF SOCIETY <TOP>

The economic basis of any society is the system through which the members acquire needed basic resources. These resources include food and water. How we survive is defined as a subsistence system. All over Nepal, we obtain essential resources in different ways. Some of us herd animals, others of us farm and still others of us work in factories or sell different services to earn money to pay for food and other essentials.

Hunting and Gathering, Agricultural, Herding, Industrial and Information Societies

As you read the descriptions and stories below see if you can identify which type of subsistence system each scenario refers to. Your choices are: Information, Agricultural, Herding, Horticultural, Hunting and Gathering, Industrial and Artisan. Write your answers down in your copy.

Scenario 1
Ambika and Raghav live in the middle hills of Nepal and are Chepangs. They are married and have 3 children, Tachen, Shree and Mala. They live in the mountains with 10 other families. To get food for the family Ambika and Mala walk in the nearby forest looking for wild fruits, nuts, leaves and roots to pick. Occasionally, someone in their group hunts animals for food.

Scenario 2
Other families survive by breeding animals and selling their milk, cheese, meat and fur. On a seasonal basis, they move their animals to different places according to how much fodder is available.

Scenario 3
Krishna lives in western Nepal and farms his land using hand tools such as digging sticks and wooden hoes. He plants millet, rice and potatoes. He can't grow very much food because it takes a lot of work to farm with the tools he uses. Krishna produces just enough food to feed his family.

Scenario 4
Harka and Uma farm their land in the Terai using ploughs, spades and other animal driven machinery. Harka and Uma can produce enough food for their family and extra to sell at the local market. Each year they sell so much food that they are able to build a big house and send their sons and daughters to private schools.
Scenario 5
In the market, weavers, cobblers and blacksmiths sell their products and services.

Scenario 6
Other Nepalis work in factories and run power-driven machinery. They work long hours in poor working conditions. The factories produce carpets, bottled drinking water, canned food products and furniture. The Nepalis working in the factories use their wages to buy food and other household items.

Scenario 7
Sushmita works at a computer company. She helps develop computer software that can be used by companies to manage their money. Sushmita writes messages to her friends using a computer. Once she types a message into the computer she can send this message all the way across the world within a matter of minutes.

Scenario 8
Sushmita's friends work at the phone company, radio and television stations as well as at the local newspaper. Her friends work in jobs that help people communicate faster. Joshee, the friend who works at the newspaper, writes articles about recent events in Nepal. The paper is distributed all over the country.

Within our national borders our means of acquiring food and other essential resources vary dramatically. They vary from herding animals to farming, to working as sales people to writing articles for national newspapers.

PROCESS OF SOCIAL CHANGE AND INTEGRATION <TOP>

Society is always changing. Through time a society changes its attitudes, beliefs and perceptions of the world. Customs of societies alter as inventions are discovered and applied. Environmental changes lead to new practices and political conflicts result in a redistribution of governing power.

Often new groups of people with unique lifestyles and traditions join a society and share their beliefs and behaviors. The result is a mixing of cultures: some beliefs and traditions are absorbed and used, while others are abandoned. We call this process social integration.

Some say that social change and social integration advance a society: that people within the society become more skilled. As people share ideas and practices, they create new ways to more effectively manage their natural resources, feed themselves, educate their children and maintain their health to allow them to live longer and have happier lives.

Are we better off today than we were thousands of years ago?

The history of our country is very long and rich. As you read our country's history, summarized below, you will see how different ethnic groups mixed, governments formed, fell and then new governments formed again. People have always shared ideas about how to grow food from the land, how to clean water to make it safe to drink and how to make tools. Our ancestors shared religious ideas and ideas about how to care for our sick ones. They also shared ideas about different styles of government. Our ancestors did all this in an effort to develop the best way of dealing with the challenges of daily life.

Activity
As you read through the summary opposite see if you can identify where in our history our ancestors shared information and skills with each other. During each of these periods, which people or groups traded information, and what types of information was most likely shared or imposed?

Some believe that people may have begun living in Nepal as long as 10,000 years ago.
King Ashok introduced Buddhism into Nepal in the first century AD and it rapidly spread.
In the 4th century, the Hindu Licchavis came from North India and gained power. They established a flourishing dynasty, made relationships with surrounding nations and conducted a large amount of trade.
In the 12th century, Mallas from the west, came to power, and firmly established the caste system.
Meanwhile in the 16th century, the Moguls conquered North India and established a great empire where science, art and architecture prospered. These cultural influences, though not direct, would have reached Nepal, which at the time was divided into over 40 small kingdoms. The kingdoms continually fought amongst themselves over land issues.
Because people were able to grow crops they could become sedentary, enabling the people of Nepal to develop arts, crafts and architecture in their own style.
In the past, migration throughout Nepal was easy as there was enough land for newcomers to settle and setup farms. Many people established large tracts of land where they needed people to work for them. Landowners encouraged migrant workers to settle permanently on their land. People came from neighboring regions to settle near the landowners and work on their farms.
Because of so much migration, various ethnic groups living in Nepal intermingled to create new ethnic groups.
It was only in the 18th century that individuals from different ethnic groups created a more unified political state under the Shah dynasty.
In 1816, the Sugauli Treaty was signed with the British East India Company, which defined the boundaries of present day Nepal.
After the Kot massacre in 1846, Jang Bahadur Rana established hereditary rule over the Kingdom, which lasted until 1950.
In the later 1950s and early 1960s, Nepal again struggled to gain its own identity and the people established a democratic government. Unfortunately democracy only lasted a short time.
The Panchayat governmental system replaced the democratic institutions. Within the Panchayat system, small councils, consisting of government officials, made the major decisions for the country.
After the eradication of malaria, the geography of the Terai favored the development of an extensive system of roads. This system combined with its proximity to the Indian railroad and the plentiful supply of labor encouraged Nepali industry to develop in the Terai. Nepal's agricultural wealth as well as its industrial capacity are centered in the Terai. 1

This brief summary of our country's history demonstrates that the Kingdom has changed dramatically since ancient times.

Here are some recent changes: in the past, it could take weeks to get from one part of the Kingdom to another, now we can travel by bus and arrive in a few days. We can fly by airplane to the other side of the country in an hour.

In the past, people needed to walk great distances to tell others that a fire had occurred in their village and that they needed food. Now, through the radio, news about what is happening in different parts of the country can reach the rest of the country within a few minutes. Newspapers can also quickly communicate information.

Through the development of roads, airplanes and communication systems like radio, newspapers and television, Nepalis from all over the country are increasingly sharing information and ideas with each other.
The more information people from different parts of the country share, the more likely we are to adapt to each other's traditions and practices and the more likely we are to become increasingly similar.

Social change and social integration forces our government to deal with different types of issues. For example, when there were many small kingdoms in Nepal, the leaders of each kingdom fought with each other over territories. Now that our country has a defined border, our government has other concerns. Our government must now work to develop the country economically, educate all citizens and manage national elections. It must also monitor population flows across borders and check what items are brought into and out of the country.

Can you think of other challenges that our government must face as a result of social change and social integration? Discuss this question with your class and write at least 5 examples in your copy.

Unlike in the past, our current government must establish systems that take into account all the country's traditions, religions and practices. Democracy is well suited to incorporate the various voices that make up our country, and democracy works best when all citizens participate in the governing process.

ELEMENTS OF A GOOD SOCIETY <TOP>

A government can play an important role in creating a good society. In addition, an active and informed citizenry can play an important role in creating a good government. To decide on the type of governmental system that best fits the needs of our society, let's first examine the role a government should play within a country.

What is government and what does it do?

Government is the people and groups within a society with the authority to make, carry out and enforce laws and manage disputes among individuals.

We probably notice the existence of government in different parts of our daily lives. Some bodies of government include the Parliament, the Village Development Council and the Ward Committee. Other bodies of government include the police. We notice government when we pay taxes and when we go to school. Government helps support public schools and some private schools as well. Our government pays for much of the cost for our health clinics and our military. It also helps to protect us.
The government's primary responsibilities are to:

Make laws. (Such as those that establish schools, provide for health services and require licenses for drivers.)
Implement laws.
Enforce laws. (Such as those that punish wrongdoers.)
Make sure that disputes between people are settled peacefully.
Provide for the defense of the nation.

To get a better idea of what the government is responsible for, let's examine how government works in our communities. In many ways, our local and national government serves many of the same purposes as our parents, principals and teachers.

Activity

Within the family, it is likely that parents or other adults in the household make rules that govern the behavior of children. Parents or other adults also are responsible for enforcing these rules and for settling disputes when conflicts arise over the rules.

Give 5 examples of the rules that your parents or other adults have made to govern you or your sisters' and brothers' behavior.
Explain how your parents or other adults enforce these rules.
What happens when you and your brother and/or sister fight? Do your parents or another family member help resolve the dispute?
What would happen if you did not have parents or another adult to look out for you? Do you think you would have grown up the way you have? If yes, why? If not, why not?

In schools, teachers and principals make, carry out and enforce rules and laws and manage disputes among students.

Give 5 examples of the rules that your teachers and principals make to control students' be-havior.
Explain how your teachers and principals enforce these rules.
What happens if there is a fight on the school yard or within the classroom? Do the teachers and principals help to resolve the dispute?
What would happen if you did not have teachers or principals to look out for you while you were at school? Do you think students would sit in class for the whole day? Who would relay the lessons to the students? Give 5 examples of what would happen if teachers and principals were not around.
What purpose do you think the teachers and principals serve at school?

Can you think of any similarities between the roles your parents, teachers and principals play and that of our local and national government? Discuss with your classmates the answer to this question, and write in your copy at least 6 examples.

Many people have argued that life without government would be dangerous and miserable.

What would happen if we did not have a government? After discussing this question with your classmates write at least 6 examples in your copy.

If we agree that government is necessary, what kind of government do we want?

Given that our country is so diverse, with people who have different lifestyles, speak different languages and practice different religions, it seems reasonable to conclude that we need a government that respects all the people in the country; a government that does not put the preferences of one group of people above another. We could conclude that we need a government that treats everyone fairly and protects everyone equally; a government that allows everyone in the country to believe what they wish, practice any religion they want and express their own political opinions; a government that allows all the citizens, no matter their ethnicity, caste, gender, economic background, age or marital status, to organize and make demands on the political leaders. We need a government that allows everyone to participate in the political process.

Different types of governments exist all over the world. Some countries have authoritarian style governments, where power is concentrated with one person or a small group of people and the citizens in the country do not help shape government policy. Authoritarian leaders can act any way they please, often in a way that harms the people. Other countries, like Nepal, have democratic governments. Democratic leaders are restricted in their behavior by the laws of the country. Forcing our leaders to abide by laws, helps to better ensure that the people of the country are protected and that the government acts for the welfare of all people and not just a limited few.

Read the following descriptions of authoritarian and democratic governments and then do the exercises below.

Authoritarian Governments

An authoritarian government means that the leaders, either alone or in small groups, are able to decide how they want to rule the country. If the leaders decide to arrest citizens who speak publicly against the government, then the leaders are free to do so.

Authoritarian governments often forbid citizens to organize into political, social or religious groups.

There are no established procedures that the government must follow, so leaders are free to make random choices. People are not sure what to expect from government policy because the policy is decided by the leaders and not formalized into law.

Leaders can decide to protect some individuals and oppress others, and authoritarian leaders cannot easily be removed from office through legal means.

What would it be like to live under an authoritarian government?

The following example is fictional.

The dictator decides that the citizens of Pagar cannot leave the country.
The dictator does not like the article written about him in the national newspaper so he closes down the paper.
All the citizens of Pagar decide to protest in the central square against the government's policy to not allow for education in the country. All the protesters are arrested.
Some citizens of Pagar decide not to practice the national religion but rather another religion. The citizens are arrested.
Although the law of Pagar allows citizens to speak any language they want, the dictator decides that the people of the country should speak only Pagarese. They follow his orders.
The dictator passes a decree that all people with orange hair are allowed to control the government's money. Those with blue hair must abide by the orders of those with orange hair.

Looking at the description of authoritarian style government described above, come up with at least 5 other examples of what life would be like for the citizens of Pagar under an authoritarian government. Write these in your copy.

Democratic Government

Democratic government means that the powers of government are limited to ensure that people in positions of authority fulfill the responsibilities they have been assigned, work for the good of the people and do not misuse or abuse the power they have been given.

Everyone in the country, including all the people in positions of authority, must obey the laws. This even includes government officials.

The laws are designed to protect the rights of the people and to ensure that the government acts to promote the welfare of all people in the country, no matter their gender, caste, ethnicity, age, economic class or marital status.

Democratic laws include laws designed to:

Prohibit the government from jailing individuals for publicly criticizing the government;
Protect citizens from murder or crime;
Prohibit the government from oppressing people because of their religious or political beliefs;
Ensure free and fair elections;
Limit corruption within the government to make sure that government money is spent on the welfare of the country rather than for the leaders' personal well-being;
Allow for citizens to organize and put pressure on the government to adhere to citizens' demands;
Encourage citizens to get involved in the political decision making processes of government officials;
Ensure that no single person or small group of people have too much authority over how the country is run. Instead democratic laws divide power among different parts of the government structure; and
Ensure freedom of speech for all people.

Within a democracy, people are encouraged to participate in their government. We are encouraged to help design government policy by:

Praising government officials when they do good work;
Criticizing our officials or calling for reform in newspapers or through the radio or television;
Forming a youth group;
Joining civic groups or political organizations;
Conducting or attending training courses on how to solve societal problems;
Marching in peaceful demonstrations;
Working with government officials to solve social problems;
Participating in boycotts;
Signing petitions; and
Voting for candidates who will address the issues with which we are concerned.

Democratic government is important for the protection of individual rights.

A democratic society allows us to:

Express our opinions
Enjoy the privacy of our home
Practice the religion we choose
Express our own opinions
Vote
Meet or associate with whomever we choose
Ask our government to change laws we think are unfair
Choose the kind of work we please
Own our own property

Activity

Your teacher will divide the class into groups. Each group should make up a drama about what life would be like under an authoritarian government or what life would be like under a democratic government. Everyone in each group should be assigned a part. Perform the dramas in front of the class. After each drama, your teacher will ask the class to identify which aspects of each story made it obvious that the story took place under a democratic or an authoritarian government.

In 1990, through demonstrations and protests, Nepalis encouraged the King to reestablish democracy in Nepal. They succeeded and our new government structure is designed to adhere to democratic principles and traditions. However, democracy alone cannot improve our lives. We need an effective democracy to really make a difference in our country.

For democracy to be effective, we, as citizens, must fulfill our responsibilities to participate in government and help shape government policy.

Strengthening our democracy takes time and we need to be patient and not expect too much right away. Other countries have had democracy for hundreds of years. Nepal has only had democracy for a short time and more time is needed for our new democracy to be effective in solving our social problems. We need patience and we need to work with our officials to strengthen our government processes.
If we want our government to be effective then we need to get involved in the political process.

Answer the questions below in your copy.
1. What are the primary responsibilities of government?
2. How is the government's role similar to the role that our teachers, principals and parents play?
3. List 3 examples of what life would be like without a government.
4. What are the primary characteristics of authoritarian government?
5. What are the primary characteristics of democratic government?
6. List 3 examples of democratic style laws.
7. List 3 examples of what citizens within a democracy are encouraged to do to participate in government.
8. List 4 examples of the rights democratic governments try to ensure.

ACTIVITIES <TOP>

For individual and group work:

1. Your identity is who you think you are and where you belong in the world. Take a clean page of your copy and draw yourself in the middle.

Now think of all the groups that you belong to. Include all levels of groups such as your family, friends, school, town, caste, ethnicity, country, etc. Draw circles near to yourself, or further away, to show the relationship. Label each circle. Think of as many groups as possible. Take ideas from the text and also from your partner.

When you've finished, exchange drawings with your friend and read and discuss each other's, noticing and questioning similarities and differences.

2. Demonstrate some of the hand movements made by Nepali people when talking. Are these used and understood a) by most Nepalis, no matter their background? b) by tourists? What does this tell you about Nepali society? How does our society compare with others? Give at least one example. Describe what is different about the various societies?
3. Do a class or school survey to learn more about the differences between you and your classmates and/or schoolmates. You can measure one or more of the following:
a) Mother tongue
b) Ethnic group
c) Favorite music
d) Father's occupation
e) Favorite radio or TV program
f) Ambition for the future

Are your classmates different from you? If so, how? Are the differences good or bad or not either?

4. After dividing the class into groups, each group should choose one aspect of democracy listed above. Design with your group a poster that explains this aspect to a village audience. The class as a whole should make posters for all the different aspects of democracy.

Medium Answer Questions:

Whenever appropriate, write 2 short paragraphs to respond to the following statements or questions.

What is a society?
Name some of the religions practiced in Nepal. What makes each religion different? Why are they different?
Describe social change and social integration. How can these concepts help us understand Nepali society?
Very early societies were hunters and gatherers. Describe briefly how they lived.
In what ways are the lifestyles of herding and agricultural societies different from those of hunters and gatherers?
Give examples of herding and agricultural societies from Nepal or worldwide.
Developed countries all have an industrial aspect to their society. Explain.
Describe different modern ways of communicating. How do people in different parts of our country acquire information?
The Ranas are sometimes described as prime ministers. In what ways were they different from our present post of prime minister?
What are 3 important jobs of a democratic government?
How does a democratic government do these 3 jobs?
In a democracy, in which ways do the people govern the country and in which ways do elected and un-elected representatives govern?
Describe the government of your school. Is it authoritarian or democratic, or a combination? Give reasons for your answer.
Choose 5 contrasting Asian countries and say very briefly what sort of government they have. As best you can, explain the difference between the different types of governments.
What things happen in Nepal that are undemocratic? What makes them undemocratic?
What things happen in Nepal that are democratic? What makes them democratic?

Long Answer Question:

Write 1 page essays to support the following statements.

1. There is no single Nepali society, it is a mixture of different kinds of people and traditions and is always changing.
2. An authoritarian style government limits people's freedoms.
3. A democracy tries to give everyone equality.
4. An election is an opportunity to help determine how our country is governed.

CONCLUSION <TOP>

In this unit you have learned that:

Our country is filled with individuals from different ethnicities, who speak different languages and have unique traditions and lifestyles.
Nepali society incorporates thousands of different traditions handed down from our ancestors during ancient periods when they settled in Nepal and began to live together and trade among themselves.
Social change and social integration allowed for our society to become more complex and the people more skilled.
"As people share ideas and practices, they gain insight into better ways to more effectively manage their natural resources, feed themselves, educate their children and maintain their health.
Through the development of roads, airplanes and communication systems like the radio, newspapers and television, Nepalis from all over the country are increasingly sharing information and ideas with each other.
Due to social change and social integration, our government must address different problems today than it did in the past.
The government's primary responsibilities are to:

- Make laws
- Implement laws
- Enforce laws
- Make sure that disputes between people are settled peacefully
- Provide for the defense of the nation

The responsibilities our government has are similar to those of our parents, teachers and principals.
Authoritarian government is where power is concentrated with one person or a small group of people and individuals within the country do not help shape government policies. Authoritarian leaders can act any way they please, often in a way that harms the people.
Other countries, like Nepal, have democratic governments. Democratic leaders are restricted in their behaviors by the laws of the country in an effort to better ensure that the people are protected and that the government acts for the welfare of all people and not just a few.
Within a democracy, people are encouraged to participate in their government. We are encouraged to help design government policy by:

1. Praising government officials when they do good work;
2. Criticizing the government or calling for reform in newspapers or through the radio or television;
3. Forming a youth group;
4. Joining civic groups or political organizations;
5. Conducting or attending training courses on how to solve societal problems;
6. Marching in peaceful demonstrations;
7. Working with government officials to solve social problems;
8. Participating in boycotts;
9. Signing petitions; and
10. Voting for candidates who will address the issues with which we are concerned.

Democratic government is important for the protection of individual rights.
To have an effective democracy, people must participate in the political process.
Strengthening our democracy takes time and we need be patient.

TOP