6 Power Sharing
Do You
Remember ?
previous
classes, we've discussedthe basicidea of democracy - a system where the government
in
elected bythe people. We learned about the importance of voting and how representatives
are
s
chosen to make decisions on behalf of the citizens.
Connection: Power sharing is a core principle of democracy. It ensures that power is not
ancentrated in a single entity but is distributed among different levels and branches of
and
government. This helps in preventing the misuse of power and promotes transparency
accountability.
Belgium
Geographical Position: Small country in Europe, bordered by the Netherlands, France and
Germany, Lvnbo
Area and Population: Smaller in area than the Indian state of Haryana.
Population: a little over one crore, half of the state of Haryana.
EthnicComposition: 59% live in Flemish region - speak Dutch, 40% live in Wallonia region -
speak French, 1% speak German
Capital: Brussels-80% speak French, 20% Speak Dutch.
Important Point: In Brussels, the Dutch-speaking people are in a minority which is the
opposite of the rest of the country, where they are in a majority.
he minority population of French-speaking people was richer than the Dutch-speaking people.
tension between the two
ie majority community were given benefits much later. This led to
Brussels.
-Onmunities in the 1950s and 1960s. Tension was more acute in the capital city of
i Lanka
Geographical Position: A small island in Asia, off the southern coast of
Tamil Nadu.
ropulation: Same as Harvana's. (about two crore people.)
ethnic Composition: 74% Sinhalese-speaking people 18% Tamil-speaking people, 13% are
natives of Sri Lanka, known as Sri Lankan Tamils. The rest are called Tamil Lankans who are
came from India during the colonial period.
descendants of plantation workers, who
are Buddhists. Most of the Tamils are Hindus
Religion: Most of the Sinhala-speaking people
or Muslims. Christians constitute 7% of the population and they belong to both Sinhala and
Tamil communities.
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OBympiads : Class 10
Majoritarianism: Meaning ALLEA
Majoritarianism is a political phílosophy which asserts that a
language, religion etc) has the right to take the decision majority of the population
submission of the minority group to the majority group for all affecting the society. This
the decisions
It results in the preferential policies favouring
the majority group in affecting their
government jobs and other opportunities and university lire
interest. There majoritarianism is positigns
minority equal rights and opportunities.
Majoritarianism in Sri Lanka
denying tha
Sri Lanka became
independent in
electred government adopted a 1948 soon after its independence the dernocraticat
supremacy.
series of Majoritarían measures to establish Sinha
In 1956, an Act was
Tamil.
passed to recognise Sinhala as the only official
language disregardirs
Sinhala applicants were favoured
for uníversity positions and
The new constitution gave government job.
special protection and foster
Due to these policies of
Sinhalas, the
Buddhism.
their language and culture. Sri Lankan Tamils felt that leaders were
rights. Government policies were not providing insensitive t
them equal politica
In Sri Lanka due to
opportunities.
majoritarianism, Tamils were díscriminated in
getting jobs and othe
Now, the Sri Lankan Tamils
Tamilas an official languageformed parties and demanded
and equality of opportunity regional autonomy, recognition of
demands were repeatedly rejected. in
By 1980s several securing education and job. These
demanding an independent political organisations were formed
The distrust between the Tamil Eelam (state) in northern and eastern
two parts of Sri Lanka
turned into a civil war. The communítíes turned into widespread conflict.
economic life of the country. It war caused a terrible set back to the social,Conflict s0n
civil
ended in 2009. cultural and
Accommodation in Belgium
The Belgian leaders
recognised
Between 1970 and 1993, they the existence of regional differences and cultural
arrangement that would enableamended their Constitution four times so as to work diversides
the elements of the everyone to live together within out a
Belgían model are: the same country. Some
Constitution prescribes that the number
in the central of Dutch and French
government. Speaking ministers shall be eq
each linguisticgroup. Thus,Some special laws require the support of majority
Many powers of the no single community can of members
central make decisions
regions of the country. The government have been given to state unilaterally.
Thus after Constitutional state government are not subordinate togovernments
the central
of tne,
amendment, Unitary form of
Federal form of government.
government
government in Belgium change
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ALLEN Social Science
Brussels (Capital of Belgium) has a separate government in which both the communities have
r e p r e s e n t a t i o n . The
equal French-speaking people accepted equal representation in Brussels
because the Dutch-speaking community has accepted equal representation in the central
g o v e r n m e n t .
the Central and the State Government, there is a third kind of government. This
Apart from
community government is elected by people belonging to one language group
like Dutch,
Erench and German Speaking and has the power regarding cultural, educational and language
related issues.
Quick
Tips
Netherland
Germany
Borders: Netherland,
Continent: Europe France, Germany,
Capital: Brussels and Luxembourg
France
Luxembourg
Communities and regions of Belgium
Division of Population
59%
1 Flemish (Dutch speaking)
2 Wallonia (French speaking) 40%
3 Brussels 80% (French), 20% (Dutch)
4 Remaining 1% speak German
Community Government
the power to handle
ACommunitygovernment is one in which different social groups are given
the benefit of the
the affairs related to their communities. They are expected to work jointly for
Common masses.
strife between the two
Inese arrangements have worked well so far. They helped to avoid civil
ajor communities and a possible division of the country on linguistic lines. When many countries
O Europe came together to form the European Union, Brussel was chosen as its headquarters.
Why Power Sharing is Desirable?
very social group needs a share in the governance to ensure that their interests would be taken
care of. Power sharing is desirable on two grounds :
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Olympiads : Class 10
Tworeasons of Power Sharing
ALL
Prudential Reason
This reason is based on careful calculation of gains and losses occurring due to the
of a particular style of governance. adopion
Power Sharing reduces the possibility of conflict between the social groups.
Due to Power Sharing there is stability of the political order, the rule by the majority i
oppressive for the minority who might feel neglected and ignored when their interests are
taken care.
Power Sharing also helps in resolving disputes instead of fighting over whom power sharing
beliêf upon the joint exercise of power.
Power Sharing is more constructive.
Moral Reason
Power sharing is the essence of democracy. A democratic rule involves giving voice a
representation to allthe people who would be affected by the policies and
the rules mad.
People have a right to be consulted on how they are to be governed.
t
A legitimate government is one where citizen through participation acquire a stake in
system.
Moral reason emphasises the very act of power sharing as valuable.
Forms of Power Sharing
Power Sharing in Different Organs of Government
Power is shared among different organs of government, such as the legislature, executive and
judiciary. Thistype of distribution can be called the horizontal distribution of power. This type of
power sharing allowsdifferent organs of government placed at the same level to exercise different
powers.
Such a separation ensures that unlimited power is not vested in any organ of the government. This
ensuresa balance of power among various institutions. The executive enjoys official power butis
answerable to the legislature. The legislature has the right to make or amend laws but it is
answerable to the people. The judiciary is independent and ensures that the law of the land s
obeyed by legislature and executive.
Power sharing at different levels
Power can be shared among governments at different levels. Usuallya central government
responsible for the entire nation and state governments are responsible for different units oru
federation. There is clear cut demarcation on subjects which come under the union governi
and those which come under the state government. However, there are some subjects which co
under the concurrent list, i.e. both state and central governments exercise power on such sub)e
Power sharing among soclal groups
Power may also be shared among different social groups. In a diverse country; like India;
are various social, linguistic and caste groups and power is shared among each group So
that
example; people from the minority communities, OBCs, and sC &ST are given reservation
there could be adequate representation for them in the government machinery.
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ALLEN
Social Science
wer sharing among various political parties, pressure
and movements groups
Power sharing among various political parties is
more apparent for most of the people. Usually,
.he largest political party or the largest political coalition becomes the ruling party. The other
arties form the opposition. While opposition is not in power, it is responsible for seeing to it
that
bo ruling party functions as per the wishes of the people. Heads of various committees comes
enm various political parties; which is another way of sharing power among
different political
parties.
Pressure groups alsO get their share in power. For example; the trade unions, ASSOCHAM,
students' union, etc. get some power by certain mechanisms. Representatives of these
associations become part of many decision making bodies and thus enjoy their share of power.
Glossary
1. Studded - Containing a lot of something.
2. Ethnic- A
social based division based onshared culturepeople belonging to same ethnic
group believe in their common descent because of similarities of physical type or of
culture, or both. They need not always have the same religion or nationality.
3. Majoritarian - Aconcept which signifies a belief that the majority community should be
able to rule a country in whichever way it wants is known as "Majoritarian". In this type of
rule they disregard the wishes and needs of the minority.
4. Civil war - Aviolent conflict between opposing groups within a country is known as civil
war. Some times it becomes so intense that it appears like a war.
5. Prudential - Based on prudence,or on careful calculation of gains and losses. Prudential
decisions are usually contrasted with those decisions, which are based purely on moral
considerations.
6. Moral - It is a set of reasons which emphasise the intrinsic worth of power sharing.
7. Community government -A type of governmentwhich is elected by people belonging to
one language community is called community government.
8. Federalgovernment - It is a type of government in which powers are shared among the
different levels.
9. Power sharing - It is the distribution of powers among the organs of the government at
different level.
10. Checks and Balance - Asystem in which each organ of the government checks the others
which results in a balance of power among various institutions.
Sri Lankan Tamils - Tamil natives of Sri Lanka are called Sri Lankan Tamils.
12. Indian Tamils - The Tamilians whose forefathers came from India as plantation workers
during colonial period and settled in Sri Lanka are called Indian Tamils.
13. Horizontal Distribution of Power - A type of distribution in which power is shared
among different organs of government such as the legislature, executive and judiciary.
They are placed at the same level.
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Olympiads: Class 10
ALLE
MIND MAP
Case of Belgium
Geograplhy
Small country in Europe
Population about 1 crore
" Shares border with France, Netherlands, Germany and Luxemburg.
Ethnic Composition:
59% Dutch speakers live in Flemish region.
40% French speakers live in Wallonia.
In Brussels (capital city) 80% were French speakers and 20% were Dutch.
Dutch speakers were majority in country but minority in capital.
French community was minority in country but was rich and powerful, which was
resented by Dutch speaking community.
-In 1950-60s, tension between these two communities were severe in Brussels.
Accommodation in Belgium
They recognized the existence of regional and cultural differences.
They amended their constitution 4 times.
Elements ofBelgian Model
No of Frenchand Dutch speaking people got equal representation in central
government.
Many powers of Central government have been given to state government.
"Separate government in Brussels with equal representation of French and Dutch
speaking people.
Community government was elected for holding cultural and language related issues.
Many countries of Europe came together to form the European Union quarters.
Why Power Slaring is Desirable?
Prudential Reasons Moral Reasons
Helps to reduce the possibility of Power sharing is the very spirit
conflict between social group. of democracy.
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Social Science
A L L E N
Majoritarianism
Abelief that majority community should rule thecountry, the way they want.
Majoritatianism in Sri Lanka
community.
government was dominated by Sinhala
Afer independence in 1948, Sri Lanka's to establish Sinhala
government adopted a series of Majoritarianism measures
The elected
Supremacy.
Government were:
Steps taken by language, thus disregarding Tamil.
1956-Sinhala was declared official and jobs.
people in colleges
Preferential policies favored Sinhala protect and foster Buddhism.
constitution stipulated that the state shall
new
A
Major SocialGroup
Lanka
Case of Sri Tamilspeakers (18%)
Tamil
on southern coast of
Sinhala speakers (74%)
It was Island nation Sri Lanka (13%)
Nadu.
about 2 Crore.
" Population is Indian Tamil(5%) plantation
come from India as
ReligiousComposition (Whose forefathers
workers.)
(Buddhist)
"Sinhala speakers(Hindu and Muslim)
Tamil speakers or Tamil (Christian)
Some speakers either Sinhala
Reaction o f Tamils
struggle for:
Started parties and official language
Recognizing Tamilas an
>
> Regional autonomy alienation among
this generated the feeling of
>Equal opportunity considered and
demands were not
" However, their
them.
Sharing
Forms of Power
Political Parties
Among Different andPressure Groups
Vertical Distribution
social groups
Horizontal Distribution (at different levels)
(Among differentorgans Such a religious and
linguistic
of government) and linguistic
Central Government
Such as religious groups.
e.g. Communal government
groups.
e.g. Communal government
Legislative Belgium
Belgium
State Government
Executive
Judiciary Local Government
Municipality
Panchayat
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