Social constraints
Topic: Political Theory: Freedom and Rights · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 2 "Freedom"
Meaning
Social constraints are limits on a person's freedom that come from society rather than from within the person. NCERT names two sources. The first is domination and laws backed by force, as under colonial rule or apartheid; democracy is the main safeguard against this. The second is social and economic inequality, such as caste or extreme poverty. Some constraints are needed to control violence and protect differences, so the real question is which are justified, who may impose them and how far they should go.
Example
Under apartheid in South Africa, pass laws limited where black people could move, and mixed marriages were banned. That was constraint through force-backed law. In India, caste barriers that stop people from entering certain places or jobs are a constraint arising from social inequality.
Don't confuse with
- Reasonable restrictions: these are limits that are justified by reason and kept in proportion, such as those allowed under Art. 19(2)-(6). Not every social constraint meets this test.