Accommodation of diversity
Also called: Accommodation · Topic: Power-sharing: Majoritarianism versus Accommodation · NCERT: Class 10, Ch 1 "Power-sharing"; Class 10, Ch 2 "Federalism"; Class 10, Ch 5 "Outcomes of Democracy"
Meaning
Accommodation of diversity means recognising a country's regional, linguistic and cultural differences and sharing power so that all groups can live together in one country. It is the opposite of majoritarianism, the belief that the majority may rule however it wants. NCERT presents Belgium as the model of accommodation and Sri Lanka as the warning against majoritarianism.
Example
India created linguistic states, starting with Andhra in 1953 and continuing through the States Reorganisation Act 1956. It also kept English alongside Hindi under the Official Languages Act 1963 (amended 1967). Sri Lanka did the opposite with its Sinhala Only Act 1956.
Don't confuse with
- Assimilation: this pushes minorities to give up their identity and merge into the majority's culture. Accommodation lets them keep their identity and gives them a share of power.
- Majority rule: majorities in a democracy shift from issue to issue. Majoritarianism means a fixed majority based on identity that always rules.