POWER SHARING (POL.

SC)

POWER SHARING - sharing of power b/w different levels of Govt, organs of Govt or
different social groups

Why is Power sharing desirable?

Prudential reason ( based on reason)
-Reduces the possibility of conflict
-Ensures stability
Preserves unity of the country

Moral reason ( based on conscience)

-Is the spirit of democracy.It ensures maximum participation of people
-Power is shared with those affected by it
-Citizens participate and acquire stake in the govt

II Different forms of Power Sharing In modern democracies

-Power is shared among different organs of government
-Power shared among governments at different levels
-Power shared among different social groups such as the religious and linguistic groups.
-Power sharing arrangements between political parties, pressure groups and
movements.

EXPLANATION
Power is shared among different organs of government, (Horizontal Division of
power)
-The power is shared among different organs of Govt such as the legislature,
executive and judiciary.
-This is called horizontal distribution of power because it allows different organs
of government placed at the same level to exercise different powers.
-None of the organs can exercise unlimited power.
Each organ checks the others.
-For e.g Ministers are responsible to the Parliament or State
Assemblies.Similarly although the judges are appointed by the executive but
they can check the functioning of executive or law made by the legislature
-This arrangement results in a balance of powers among various institutions.
-That is why it is called a system of checks and balances.

Power can be shared among governments at different levels –(Vertical Division of

power)
-There is a general government for the entire country and governments at the provincial or
regional level
-This principle can also be extended to levels of Govt lower than the State Govt such as the
municipalities and panchayats in case of India
-The Constitution clearly lays down the powers of different levels of Govt
-This division of power b/w higher and lower levels of Govt is called Vertical Division of
power

Power shared among different social groups such as the religious and linguistic
groups.
For democracy equal power is given to all the religious,linguistic,socially weaker sections of
the society
- One such e.g in India is the Reservation policy for socially weaker sections(SC/ST and
women in legislatures and Govt jobs in India
-Even the system of reserved constituencies in our country is adopted to give equal space to
diverse social groups
- ‘Community government’ in Belgium to which people of each language community elect
their representatives is used to give minority communities a fair share in power

Power sharing arrangements between political parties, pressure groups

and movements.
Political Parties
-In a democracy there is competition b/w different Polical Parties.This ensures
that the power does not remain in one hand
-The power is shared among different political parties and social groups when two
or more parties form an alliance to contest elections.If they get elected, they form
a coalition government and thus share power.
INTEREST GROUPS
-Various interest groups of traders,industralists,workers,farmers also have share in
government power by
a) participation in Govt Committees
b) influencing or the decisions making process of the Govt

Difference b/w Horizontal & Vertical Power Sharing Arrangement

Horizontal Power Sharing Vertical Power Sharing

Power is shared among the different organs It means power is shared among Govts at
of the Govt i.e legislature,executive,judiciary different levels such as Union Govt and
State Govt

Different organs of the Govtare placed at The division of power involves higher and
the same level to excercise different power lower levels of Govt

Each organ checks the other.So it is called The constitution clearly lays down the
the system of checks and balances powers of the different levels of Govt.So it is
called federal division of power
Story of Belgium
Belgium is a small country in Europe
Population of over 1 crore
about half the population of Haryana.

ETHNIC COMPOSITION OF BELGIUM

59% speaks Dutch language in Flemish Region
40% of people speak French in in Wallonia Region
The remaining 1% speak German.
In Brussels however, the French are 80% and are in majority
Where as in Brussels Dutch are in minority with 20%

CAUSES OF CONFLICT B/W THE FRENCH AND THE DUTCH DURING THE 1950s
and 1960s
-The minority French-speaking community was rich and powerful.They got the benefit of
economic development and education.
-This created tensions between the Dutch-speaking and French-speaking communities
during the 1950s and 1960s.
-The tension b/w the 2 communities was more acute in Brussels as the Dutch speaking
people were in majority in the country ,but minority in the capital

Accommodation in Belgium
-In Belgium, the government handled the community difference very well.
-Between 1970 and 1993 Belgian leaders amended their constitution four times and came
up with a new model based on 'Accommodation' to run the government.

Belgian Model of Power Sharing

-The number of Dutch and French-speaking ministers shall be equal in the Central
Government.
-Special laws require the support of the majority of members from each linguistic group.
-The state governments are not subordinate to the Central Government.
-Brussels has a separate government in which both communities have equal representation.
-Apart from the Central and the State Government, there is -The Belgium model helped to
avoid civic strife between the two major communities.

What are the functions of Community Govt in Belgium

A third kind of government.in Belgium is -the ‘Community Government’
-Community Government is elected by people belonging to one language community
– Dutch, French and German-speaking – no matter where they live.
-This government has the power regarding cultural, educational and language-related
issues.

BRUSSELS WAS CHOSEN AS THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE EUROPEAN

UNION
Belgium was an example of a country where diversities between different
communities was handled on the basis of Accommodation model
The Belgium model had helped it to avoid civic strife and ensured peace and unity of the
country
That is the reason why when European Union was formed Brussels was chosen as it's
headquarters

Story of Sri Lanka

Introduction

Sri Lanka emerged as an independent country in 1948.

The Sinhala community was in the majority so they had formed the government
and imposed its will on the entire country.
They followed preferential policies favoring the Sinhala majority

LOCATION AND ETHNIC COMPOSITION OF SRILANKA

It is an island nation having a population of 2 crores, about the same as in
Haryana. Sri Lanka has a diverse population.
The major social groups are the Sinhala-speakers (74%) and the Tamil-speakers
(18%). Among Tamils, there are two subgroups, “Sri Lankan Tamils” and “Indian
Tamils”.
-Srilankan Tamils are Tamil natives of the country.Indian Tamils are those whose
forefathers came from India as plantation workers during the colonial period
-Most Sinhala speakers are Buddhist.Most of the Tamils are Hindus and Muslims
'About 7% Christians are both Tamils and Sinhalas

Define Majoritarianism- A belief that the majority community should be able to rule a
country by disregarding the needs of the minority

MAJORITARIAN MEASURES ADOPTED BY SRI LANKA TO ESTABLISH

SINHALA SUPREMACY
OR
THE PROVISIONS OF THE ACT OF 1956
-Favored Sinhala applicants for university positions and government jobs.
-Sinhala was recognised as the official language
-The constitution stated that the state shall protect and promote Buddhism

Reaction of the Sri lankan Tamils to the Majoritarian Measures taken by the Srilankan
Govt
Or
Relationship between the Sinhala and Tamil communities became strained.Give
Reasons

-These majoritarian measures under the Act of 1956 increased the feeling of alienation
among the Sri Lankan Tamils.
-Sri Lankan Tamils felt that the constitution and government policies denied them equal
political rights
-They felt discrimination against them in getting jobs opportunities
-They felt that their interests,culture and Tamil language were being ignored
-Due to which the relationship between the Sinhala and Tamil communities became strained

Demands and Steps taken by the Sri lankan Tamils

-Sri Lankan Tamils demanded recognition of Tamil as an official language
They also demanded equality of opportunity in securing education and jobs.
-They demanded for regional autonomy
-By 1980s they formed organizations demanding a separate Tamil Eelam *state in Northern
and Eastern parts
- But their demand was repeatedly denied by the government.
-The distrust between the two communities turned into a CIVIL WAR.

CIVIL WAR
A violent conflict between oppposing grouos within a country that it appears like war

EFFECTS OF THE CIVIL WAR ON SRI LANKA

-As a result, thousands of people of both communities were killed.
- Many families were forced to leave the country as refugees and many more lost
their livelihoods.
-The Civil War caused a terrible setback to the social, cultural and economic life of
the country.
-The civil war ended in 2009

What have you learnt from the Stories of Belgium and Sri Lanka?

or
Both Belgium and Sri Lanka are democracies but they dealt differently with the
concept of power sharing. Elucidate
-In Belgium, the leaders realised that the unity of the country is possible only by respecting
the feelings and interests of different communities and regions.
-This resulted in mutually acceptable arrangements for sharing power based on the policy
of 'Accommodation'
This resulted in peace and unity of the country
-Sri Lanka shows that, if a majority community wants to force its dominance over
others and refuses to share power, it can undermine the unity of the country.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BELGIAN AND SR ILANKAN MODEL OF POWER

SHARING

BELGIUM SRI LANKA

Followed an accomodative model of power Followed the majoritarian model of power

sharing sharing
They shared equal powers with all the other The majority community of Sinhala forced
communities it’s domination on the minority community of
Tamils

By respecting the interests of all the The majoritarian measures created distrust
communities, the Belgian Model helped between the Tamils and the Sinhalese and
avoid civic strife resulted in a Civil War

There is no differences b/w religions Buddhism is recognised as the offficial

religion

There is a Community Govt to look after the The Govt follows preferential policies to
issues related to culture,education and favour Sinhala in universities and Govt
language of each community jobs.Sinhala is recognosed as the official
language