01 Power-sharing P

Belgium

Belgium is a federal state in Western Europe. 

Belgium is smaller in area than the state of Haryana. 

It has a population of a little over one crore, about half the
population of Haryana

Neighbours - France , Germany ,Netherland and Luxemburg.

The ethnic composition of Belgium

→ 59% Dutch speakers who live in Flemish region(NorthBelgium).

→ 40% French speakers who live in Wallonia region(South Belgium) .

→ 1% German speakers.

Capital - Brussels (Headquarter of European Union)

In Brussels 80% French speakers and 20% Dutch speakers .

Tension between the French and Dutch communities-

The minority Frenchspeaking community was relatively rich and powerful. This made the Dutch - speaking community angry who got the benefit of economic development and education much later.

Special problem in capital Brussels was that the Dutch community was in majority in the whole country but minority in the capital.

Accommodation in Belgium

Belgian leaders recognised the regional differences and cultural diversity .

The constitution was amended four times between 1970 to 993 to ensure that different communities can live in the same nation .

Eements of the Belgian model:

(i) The constitution prescribes that the number of Dutch and French speaking ministers shall be equal in numbers in central government .

Some special laws require the support of majority of members from each linguistic group. Thus, no single community can take decisions unilaterally.

(ii) Many powers of the Central Government have been given to State Governments of the two regions of the country. The State Governments are not subordinate to the Central Government.

(iii)  Brussels has a separate government which has an equal representation of both the communities.

(iv) The French community accepted equal representation in the Brussels because the Dutch community accepted the equal representation in central government .

(v) Apart from central and state government there is a third kind of government . This ‘community government’ is elected by people belonging to one language community Dutch, French and German-speaking  no matter where they live. This government has power based on cultural, educational and language related issues .

Sri Lanka

Sri lanka is an island nation in the Indian Ocean, few kilometres away from southern coast of Tamil Nadu .

It has about two crore people, about the same as in Haryana. 

The ethnic composition of Sri Lanka 

→ 74% Sinhala speakers . Most of the Sinhala speakers are Buddhists .

→ 18% Tamil speakers. Most of the Tamil speakers are Hindu or Muslim.

Tamil-speakers  have two sub groups.

→ 13%  Sri Lankan Tamils’ (Sri Lankan Natives  tamil)

→ 5%  Indian Tamils’ (Descendants of indian plantation workers)

Most of the Sinhala-speaking people are Buddhists,

Most of the Tamils are Hindus or Muslims. 

There are about 7% Christians, who are both Tamil and Sinhala.

Majoritarianism in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka emerged as an independent country in 1948. 

The Sinhala leaders sought to secure dominance over government by virtue of their majority. They took majoritarian measures to establish Sinhala supremacy

In 1956, an Act was passed to recognise Sinhala as the only official language of Sri Lanka.

The government followed preferential policies that favoured Sinhala applicants for university positions and government jobs .

 A new constitution stipulated that the state government shall protect and foster Buddhism.

All these government measures increased the feeling of alienation among Sri Lankan Tamils.

They felt that none of the major political parties led by the Buddhist Sinhala leaders was sensitive to their language and culture. 

They felt that constitution and government denied from equal rights, discriminated against them in getting jobs and opportunities and ignored their interests.

Struggles of Sri Lankan Tamils and its Result :

Tamils launched  struggles for recognition of Tamil as an official language , for regional autonomy and equality of opportunity in securing jobs and education.

Their demands for more autonomy to provinces populated by Tamils were repeatedly denied.

By 1980s several political organisations were formed demanding an independent Tamil Eelam (state) in northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka.

The distrust between both the communities turned into a civil war. As a result, thousand of people of both the 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 set back to the social, economic and cultural life of the country.

Reasons/Needs of Power sharing

(i) Prudential reasons :  Power sharing is good because it  reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups. Since social conflict often leads to violence and political instability, power sharing is a good way to ensure the stability of political order. 

Imposing the will of majority over other , undermines unity of the nation. So it is needed for the unity of the nation.

Tyranny of the majority is not just oppressive for the minority; it often brings ruin to the majority as well. 

(ii) Moral reasons :  Power sharing is the very spirit of democracy. A  democratic rule involves sharing power with those affected by its exercise, and who have to live with its effects. People have a right to be consulted on how they are to be governed. A legitimate government is one where citizens, through participation, acquire a stake in the system.

Forms /Types of Power sharing

The idea of power-sharing has emerged in opposition to the notions of undivided political power

(i) Horizontal Sharing of Power :  Power is shared among different organs of government, such as the legislature, executive and judiciary.

It is horizontal distribution of power because it allows different organs of government placed at the same level to exercise different powers.

This system is also called system of checks and balances .

It ensures that none of the organs can exercise unlimited power and each organ checks the others. This results in a balance of power among various institutions.

This arrangement is called a system of checks and balances.

(ii) vertical Division of Power : Power is be shared among governments at different levels. It means Sharing of power between the central and the state government. Such a general government for the entire country is called federal government. In India, we call it Central or Union Government. The governments at the  regional level are called by different names in different countries. In India, we call them State Governments. This is called federal division of power.The same principle can be extended to levels of government lower than the State government, such as the municipality and panchayat. 

(iii) Community Government : Power may be shared among different social groups, such as the religious and linguistic groups.

This type of arrangement is meant to give space in the government and administration to diverse social groups.

This method is also used to give minority communities a fair share in power.

‘Community government’ in Belgium is a good example of this arrangement. 

(iv) Power sharing in political parties, pressure groups and movements:  Power sharing arrangements can also be seen in the way political parties, pressure groups and movements control or influence those in power. 

In contemporary democracies, the citizens have freedom to choose among various contenders for power. which takes the form of competition among different parties. Such competition ensures that power does not remain in one hand  and is shared among different political parties representing different ideologies and social groups.

Sometimes this kind of sharing can be direct, when two or more parties form an alliance to contest elections. If their alliance is elected, they form a coalition government. Government formed by the coming together of at least two parties is called coalition government

In a democracy, we find interest groups, like traders, businessmen, industrialists, farmers and industrial workers. They also have a share in governmental power, either through participation in governmental committees or bringing influence on the decision-making process.

1. Which two languages are prominently spoken by Belgium Nationals ?

   Dutch and French
2. Which language is dominantly spoken in Belgium?

   Dutch
3. What was the percentage of French community in Belgium,

    40%
4. In which region Population of Sri Lankan Tamils is concentrated of Sri Lanka.

   North and East
5. Which are the major caste group of Sri Lanka 

   Sinhali and Tamil
6. Which is the majority group in Sri Lanka? 

   Sinhalese
7. The power struggle demanding a separate Eelam was started by?

   Tamilians
8. Under which was power shared in the ‘Community Government’ of Belgium ? 

   Different social groups.(religious and linguistic groups.)
9. What is the state religion of Sri Lanka? 

   Or Which  religion was protected and fostered by Sri Lankans in their constitution? 
   Buddhism.
10. What is the prudential reason behind power sharing.

    or Why power sharing is good for democracies? 

    It reduces the possibility of conflict between social groups.
11. Who formed the majority in terms of population in Sri Lanka? 

    Sinhala community.
12. What measure was adopted by the democratically elected government of Sri Lanka to establish Sinhala supremacy? 

    Majoritarian measure.
13. What was appropriate reason for introduction of Community Government in Belgium. 

    Power sharing among different religious and linguistic social groups
14. How and when was Sinhala recognized as the official language of Sri Lanka? 

    Sinhala was recognized as the official language of Sri Lanka by passing an Act in 1956. 
15. What is Civil war?

    A violent conflict between opposing groups within a country that becomes so intense that it appears like a war.
16. What does the system of ‘checks and balances’ ensure in power sharing? 

    It ensures that none of the organs can exercise unlimited power and each organ checks the others. 
17. Which type of powers does the Community Government of Belgium enjoy?  

    This government has power based on cultural, educational and language related issues .
18. How did the feeling of alienation develop among the Sri Lankan Tamils

    Sri Lankan Tamils felt alienated because: 1956, an Act was passed to recognise Sinhala as the only official language thus disregarding Tamil.
19. State any one step taken in Belgium to rule out the problem of regional differences and cultural diversities.

    The constitution  prescribes that the number of Dutch and French speaking ministers shall be equal in numbers in central government 
20. Why is power sharing basic spirit of democracy?

    Power sharing is the spirit of democracy because it ensures the stability of political order.
21. Why is there a need to give space to diverse social groups in the administration of a democratic country ? Give any one reason.

    Diverse social groups are given space in the administration of a democratic country to accommodate social differences. So that they do not feel alienated.
22. Why is Power sharing good for all kinds of Governments 

    Power sharing is good for all kinds of democracy because it bring peace and cordiality among communities and groups.
23. How are interest groups associated with politics?

    They are associated with politics through participation in governmental committees. and they bring influence on the decision-making process.
24. What does competition among different parties ensure?

    Such competition ensures that power does not remain in one hand.

    Power is shared among different political parties that represent different ideologies and social groups.
25. Define Majoritarianism.

    Majoritarianism is the concept of the majority community ruling a country by ignoring the wants and needs of the minorities.
26. Define Ethnicity.
    It is social division based on shared culture.
    People belonging to the same ethnic group believe in their common descent
27. Explain any three consequences of the majoritarian policies adopted by the Sri Lankan government. 

    (i) The feeling of alienation among Sri Lankan Tamils gradually increased due to the majoritarian policies of the Sri Lankan government.

    (ii) The continues distrust between the Sinhala and Tamil  communities led to a civil war in the country.

    (iii)The political and economical situation of Srilanka got shattered.
28. Explain the meaning of horizontal distribution of power. 

    Power is shared among different organs of the government, such as the legislature, executive and judiciary. 

    Different organs of the government exercise different powers.

    Such a separation ensures that none of the organs can exercise unlimited powers.

    This arrangement is called a system of checks and balance.
29. Differentiate between community government in Belgium and majoritarian government in Sri Lanka.

    In Belgium, all the benefits of economic development and education was given to Dutch speaking communities as well as French Minority community while in Sri Lanka, the government adopted a policy of majoritarian measured to establish Sinhala Supremacy on Tamils.
30. “Why is power sharing desirable in democracy? Explain.

    (i) It helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups.

    (ii) It is the very spirit of democracy.

    (iii) It ensures the stability of political order.

    (iv) Power sharingis needed for the unity of the nation.Because Imposing the will of majority over other , undermines unity of the nation. 

    (v) Power sharing is valuable in its own self.

    (vi) Power sharing brings better outcomes.
31. How is the idea of power sharing emerged? Explain different forms that have common arrangements of power sharing

    The idea of power-sharing has emerged in opposition to the notions of undivided political power

    Different forms having common arrangements of Power sharing:

    1. Horizontal Sharing of Power : Power is shared among different organs of government such as the Legislature, Executive and Judiciary.

    2. vertical Division of Power : Powers can be shared among governments at different levels i.e. at National and Provincial or regional levels.

    3. Community Government : Power shared among different social groups such as religious and linguistic groups.

    4. Power sharing arrangements among political parties, pressure groups and movements.
32. Explain any three steps taken by the Belgium government to accommodate regional

    Or Describe the elements of Belgian model for accommodating diversities

    (i) Though the Dutch were in majority in the country, the French and Dutch speaking population was given equal representation in the Central government.

    (ii) Belgium was declared as a Federal state and thus state governments were given important powers.

    (iii) State governments were not subordinate to the central government.

    (iv)  Brussels has a separate government which has an equal representation of both the communities.

    (v) Community government was elected by Dutch, French and German speaking people and looked after educational, language and educational issues.
33. Compare the situation of Belgium and Sri Lanka considering their location, size and cultural aspects.

    Comparison of Belgium and Sri Lanka:

    1. Belgium is located in Europe whereas Sri Lanka is located in

    South Asia.

    2. Belgium has a population of little over one crore whereas Sri

    Lanka has population of two crores.

    3. The ethnic composition of Belgium :

    → 59% Dutch speakers who live in Flemish region

    → 40% French speakers who live in Wallonia region.

    → 1% German speakers.

    whereas The ethnic composition of Sri Lanka :

    → 74% Sinhala speakers which are most of Buddhists .

    → 18% Tamil speakers which are most of Hindu or Muslim.

    4. In Belgium, French-speaking community are powerful whereas in Sri Lanka, Sinhalese-speaking people are  powerful.

    5. In Belgium, Dutch speaking population are in majority whereas in Sri Lanka, Sinhalese speaking population are in majority.