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2. We don’t choose to belong to our community., , 3. But all kinds of social differences are not based on our birth., , 4. Some of the differences are based on our choices., , 5. For example, some people are atheists. They don’t believe in God or any religion., , 6. Every social difference does not lead to social divisions., , 7. In the instances above, Carlos and Smith were similar in one way and thus different from, Norman who was white., , 8. But they were also all similar in another way - they were all athletes who stood against, racial discrimination., , 9. We all have more than one identity and can belong to more than one social group., , 10. We have different identities in different contexts., , Overlapping and cross - cutting differences, , 1. Social division takes place when some social differences overlap with other differences., 2. In the US because the blacks tend to be the poor, homeless and discriminated against., , 3. In our country, Dalits tend to be poor and landless., , 4. They often face discrimination and injustice., , 5. The group that shares a common interest on one issue are likely to be in different issues., 6. Overlapping social differences create possibilities of deep social divisions and tensions., , 7. Cross - cutting social differences are easier to accommodate., Politics of social divisions, , 1. At first sight, it would appear that the combination of politics and social divisions is very, dangerous and explosive., , 2. Political parties can make social divisions into political divisions and lead to conflict,, violence or even disintegration of a country., , 3. This has happened in many countries., , Range of outcomes, , 1. Northern Ireland of the United Kingdom has been for many years the site of a violent and, bitter ethnic - political conflicts., 2. Such example leads some people to conclude that politics and social divisions must not be, , allowed to mix.