Belgium Sri Lanka Ethnicity

Here are the full-sentence answers in points as you requested:

1. Discuss the ethnic composition of Belgium and Sri Lanka. (3M)

Belgium:

Belgium has a complex ethnic composition with three main language communities.

59% of the population lives in the Flemish region and speaks Dutch.

40% of the population lives in the Wallonia region and speaks French.

1% of the population speaks German.

In the capital city Brussels, 80% speak French and 20% speak Dutch.

Sri Lanka:

Sri Lanka has a diverse population with Sinhala and Tamil-speaking communities.

74% of the population speaks Sinhala and are mostly Buddhists.

13% are Sri Lankan Tamils, while 5% are Indian Tamils (descendants of plantation
workers).

About 7% of the population are Christians, belonging to both Sinhala and Tamil
communities.

Sri Lankan Tamils are mainly concentrated in the northern and eastern parts of the
country.

2. What were the reasons for conflict between Dutch and French
speakers in Belgium?
The French-speaking community in Belgium was historically rich and powerful.

The Dutch-speaking majority felt discriminated against in economic and educational

opportunities.

1/7
 The tension was particularly high in Brussels, where French speakers were the majority
despite Dutch being the national majority.

The Dutch community demanded equal rights and fair power sharing.

This imbalance created serious ethnic tensions during the 1950s and 1960s.

3. Explain the Belgium model of governance.

The Belgian constitution requires equal representation of Dutch and French-speaking
ministers in the central government.

No single community can make decisions unilaterally; special laws require support from
both language groups.

Many powers of the central government were transferred to the state governments,
which are not subordinate to the center.

Brussels has a separate government with equal representation from both communities.

A third kind of government, called “community government,” handles cultural,

educational, and language-related matters for Dutch, French, and German-speaking
people.

This model helped avoid civil strife and preserved the unity of Belgium.

4. What is meant by a majoritarian government?

A majoritarian government is one where the majority community rules the country
according to its will.

It disregards the rights, needs, and interests of minority communities.

This kind of rule can create feelings of alienation and injustice among minorities.

In Sri Lanka, the Sinhala majority imposed its dominance through language, religion,
and government policies.

2/7
5. What were the reasons for alienation among the Tamils in Sri
Lanka?
Sinhala was declared the only official language in 1956, ignoring Tamil.

The government gave special preference to Sinhala candidates in jobs and education.

The constitution protected Buddhism, ignoring the religions of the Tamil community.

Tamil people felt politically excluded and culturally discriminated against.

Their demands for autonomy and equal rights were repeatedly denied by the
government.

6. What was the impact of the Act of 1956 in Sri Lanka?

The Act of 1956 declared Sinhala as the sole official language of Sri Lanka.

It excluded Tamil from official use, causing widespread resentment among Tamils.

It deepened the divide between Sinhala and Tamil communities.

This act was one of the first steps that led to long-term ethnic tensions and eventually
civil war.

7. Why is power sharing desirable? (Explain both prudential and moral

reasons)
Prudential reasons:

Power sharing reduces the chances of conflict between social groups.

It helps to ensure political stability and avoids the risk of civil war.

It provides a practical way to maintain unity in a diverse society.

Moral reasons:

Power sharing is essential for the spirit of democracy.

People have the right to be consulted and involved in decisions that affect them.

It gives citizens a sense of participation and ownership in the democratic system.

3/7
8. What are the different forms of power sharing in modern
democracies? Give one example for each.
1. Among different organs of government:

Power is shared among the legislature, executive, and judiciary (horizontal

distribution).

Example: In India, judiciary can check laws passed by the legislature.

2. Among governments at different levels:

Power is divided between central and state governments (vertical distribution).

Example: In India, powers are shared between the Union and State governments.

3. Among different social groups:

Power is shared among religious and linguistic groups to ensure representation.

Example: Community government in Belgium for Dutch, French, and German

speakers.

4. Among political parties, pressure groups, and movements:

Power is shared among different parties through coalitions and influence of groups.

Example: Coalition governments in India where multiple parties share power.

Let me know if you want these formatted as exam answers or turned into a PDF.

Great! Since Question 8 is worth 20 marks, here’s a detailed and well-structured answer in
full sentences and bullet points for high-score writing. It includes introduction,
explanation of each form, examples, and conclusion, as expected in a 20-mark response.

Q8. What are the different forms of power sharing in

modern democracies? Give one example of each. (20
Marks)

4/7
Introduction:
In modern democracies, power is not concentrated in a single person or institution.

Power sharing is a key principle of democracy that helps in accommodating social

diversity, reducing conflict, and ensuring people’s participation.

There are four major forms of power sharing, each playing a crucial role in making
governance more inclusive and effective.

1. Power Sharing Among Different Organs of Government (Horizontal

Distribution):
Power is shared among the three main organs of government: the legislature,
executive, and judiciary.

Each organ is placed at the same level of power and can check the functioning of the
others, ensuring a system of checks and balances.

This arrangement prevents the concentration of power in one branch and promotes
accountability.

Example: In India, the judiciary can review laws passed by the legislature to ensure they
are constitutional, and the executive is accountable to the legislature.

2. Power Sharing Among Governments at Different Levels (Vertical

Distribution):
Power is divided between the central/national government and state/provincial
governments.

This is called a federal system, where both levels of government have separate areas of
jurisdiction as defined by the constitution.

Sometimes, even lower levels like municipalities and panchayats are given power.

Example: In India, power is divided between the Union Government, State

Governments, and Local Governments under the 73rd and 74th Constitutional
Amendments.

5/7
3. Power Sharing Among Different Social Groups:
Power is shared among religious, linguistic, and cultural groups to ensure that no
community feels excluded.

This type of arrangement is especially important in societies with ethnic or cultural

diversity.

It helps to protect the rights and identity of minority communities and maintain social
harmony.

Example: In Belgium, there is a community government system for Dutch, French, and
German speakers. This government handles cultural, educational, and language-related
matters, regardless of where the community lives.

4. Power Sharing Among Political Parties, Pressure Groups, and

Movements:
In a democracy, power is also shared among various political parties, especially when
no single party gets a clear majority.

In such cases, coalition governments are formed, where different parties share
responsibilities and govern together.

Additionally, pressure groups and social movements also influence decision-making by

participating in public debates, protests, and lobbying.

Example: In India, multiple parties often come together to form coalition governments
at both state and central levels, such as the NDA or UPA alliances. Similarly, farmer
unions or trade unions influence policy-making.

Conclusion:
Power sharing strengthens the foundations of democracy by ensuring inclusiveness,
participation, and accountability.

It prevents the dominance of any one group or institution, promotes unity, and
accommodates diverse opinions.

6/7
 Therefore, power sharing is not just a political arrangement—it is the essence of
democratic functioning.

Let me know if you'd like this in PDF, printable format, or with a diagram/table for better
presentation.

7/7