CLASS X POL.SC.CHAPTER 1 POWER SHARING

Chapter 1 Power Sharing

Q.  What is Power Sharing?

Ans.  1. Power sharing is a strategy under which all the major segments of the society are provided with a permanent share of power in the governance of the country.

2. It is a potential tool for solving disputes in the society divided by deep ethnic, cultural or racial differences by giving the parties involved the wide range of power sharing to ameliorate the tensions through consensus-oriented governance.

3. It involves a wide range of political arrangements –in constitutional terms – in which the principal elements of society are guaranteed a place and influence, in governance. It relies on joint exercise of power where all principal groups are given a permanent share in the governance.

Q. Explain the ethnic composition of Belgium.

Ans. Belgium is a small country in Europe sharing its borders with France, Germany and. It has a population a little over 10 million and ethnic composition of the country is complex. is very complex because in that country Dutch speaking people are in majority (59 %), while French speaking are 40% and German speaking 1%.The French live in the Wallonia region and the Dutch live in Flemish region. While this is the case in the country, the capital, Brussels has French speaking people as the majority (80%) and Dutch speaking 20%.

Q.What were the Causes of ethnic struggle in Belgium?

Ans.  1. Of Belgium’s total population, 59% live in Flemish region and speak  Dutch language. Another 40% live in Wallonia region and speak French. Remaining 1% of Belgians speak German.

2. In the capital city of Brussels, 80% speak French while 20% are Dutch speaking.

3. The minority French speaking community is relatively rich and powerful so the majority Dutch community showed resentment against it. This led to tension between the Dutch and French speaking communities in 1950s-1960s. 4. The conflict between the Dutch speaking and French speaking was more severe in Brussels because here, the Dutch speaking people were majority in Belgium but a minority in Brussels. Therefore, the ethnic struggle in Belgium originated from tensions between Dutch and French community in Belgium.

Q. What were the methods adopted by the Belgian leaders to resolve the ethnic conflict in Belgium? (Features of the Belgian Model of Power Sharing-Accommodation)

Ans. Elements/Features of Belgian Model of Power Sharing:

Accommodation (Mutually acceptable arrangement)

1. The Belgian leaders recognized the existence of regional difference and cultural diversities. Between 1970-1993, the constitution was amended 4 times so as to work out an arrangement which would satisfy everybody.

2.The CONSTITUTION saysthat:
a)Dutch and French speaking ministers shall be equal in central government. Special laws will require support of majority of members from each group.
b) Many powers of the central govt. have been given to the state govt. of two regions and state govt.s are not subordinate to the central govt.
c).In Brussels both communities have equal representation.
d). Formation of community govt.-apart from central and state govt., a third form of govt. was to be introduced which was elected by people belonging to one community i.e. Dutch, French and German and no matter where they live, this govt. would have power to discuss cultural , cultural and language related issues.

These arrangements have worked very well for Belgium so far, as it has helped in avoiding civic tensions between the communities.
and also avoided possible division of the country on linguistic lines.
When EUROPEAN UNION was formed Brussels was chosen as its headquarters.

Q. Explain the ethnic Composition in Sri Lanka.
Ans.1.Srilanka an Island nation in the south of India.
2.Tamil Natives-  Srilankan Tamils-13% ; Rest-Whose forefathers had come from India as plantation workers-'Indian Tamils'
3.Sinhalese-Buddhist,74%, formed the majority govt. after independence in 1948.
4.Tamils-Hindus-Muslims, 7% are Christians who are both Tamil & Sinhalese.
5.Sinhalese enjoyed majority and can impose its will on the entire country.

Q. Explain the Power Sharing Arrangement of Sri Lanka (Majoritarianism):

Majoritarianism (Definition in Glossary)

Ans. Measures adopted by the democratically elected Sri Lankan govt. to establish Sinhala supremacy:

Sri Lanka attained independence in 1948.
Leaders of Sinhala community tried to dominate and took some ‘Majoritarian measures to establish Sinhala supremacy.

In 1956-An Act was passed which contained three majoritarian measures.

1.It declared Sinhala as the official language thus replacing Tamil.
2. Preferential policy-favouring Sinhala applicants for university positions and government jobs.
3. The Constitution stipulated that the State shall protect and foster Buddhism, the religion of the Sinhala people.
These measures created feeling of alienation among Srilankan Tamils. They felt that these policies denied them equal political rights and opportunities.
Reactions of the Tamils(Relations were strained)
Srilankan Tamils launched parties and struggles and demanded—
a)recognition of Tamil as an official language
b)regional autonomy
c)equality of opportunity in education and jobs.

Though all these demands were denied.
In 1980’s several political organizations started demanding separate state—TAMIL EELAM
Distrust developed and CIVILWAR started……….

Its results:
Thousands of people got killed
Many families were forced to leave the country as refugees.
Many more lost their livelihood.
Excellent record of Srilanka’s economic development, education and health received a
terrible setback.

Q. Why power sharing is desirable?

Ans. Prudential and Moral reasons:
a).Prudential reasons for power sharing:

1.     It helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between the various social groups.

2.     Since social conflict often leads to violence and political instability, power sharing is a good way to ensure political stability.

3.     Imposing the will of the majority community over the minority may look like an attractive option in the short run, but in the long run it undermines the unity of the nation.

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

b) Moral Reasons for power sharing:

      1. Power sharing is the very spirit of democracy. It involves sharing power     

        with those who are affected by its exercise.

    2. People have right to be consulted on how they are to be governed.

    3. A legitimate govt. is the one where citizens through participation acquire  

       a stake in the system.

   4.Moral reasons emphasize the very act of power sharing as valuable.

Forms of power sharing:

For a long time it was believed that all power of govt. should reside in one person or group of persons located at one place. It was believed that if power was dispersed it would not be possible to take decisions and to enforce them. But these notions changed with the emergence of democracy.
In Democracy people are source of all powers and due respect is given to diverse groups, everyone has a voice in shaping of public policies and therefore political power is distributed among as many citizens as possible.

In modern democracies power sharing arrangements are done in many forms.
1. Power is shared among different organs of govt.(Separation of powers)
such as with legislature, judiciary, executive. This is called horizontal distribution of power as it allows different organs of govt placed at same levels to exercise different powers. Such a separation ensures that none of the organs exercise unlimited powers. Each organ checks the other, which results in balance of power among various institutions.
This system is called system of checks and balances

...Examples
As in India even though ministers and govt. officials exercise power they are responsible to the Parliament or to the state Assemblies.
Although the judges are appointed by the executive they can check the execution of laws made by legislature.

2.power shared among governments at different levels.(Federalism)
a) A general govt. for the entire country is usually called Federal government, and in India we call it Central or Union govt.

b) Governments at the provincial or state level--these govts are known by different names in different countries and in India we call them State govts.
It is not found in all countries but in country like ours Constitution clearly lays down the powers of different levels of government. This is called federal distribution of power and the same principle is extended to the levels lower than state govts such as municipality and panchayats. This is called vertical sharing of power.

3. Power shared among different communities and social groups (Community government)

Social groups such as religious and linguistic groups. ‘Community govt. in Belgium is an example of this arrangement.

a) In some countries there are constitutional and legal arrangements where weaker sections and women are represented in the legislatures and administration.

b) Reserved constituencies are there, as in India. This type of arrangement gives space in the govt and administration to diverse social groups who otherwise feel alienated from the govt. It gives minorities fair share of power.

4. Power sharing among political parties and  pressure groups(Coalition government)

These parties, pressure groups and movements control or influence those in power.
a) In contemporary democracies there is competition among different parties which ensures that power does not remain in one hand. Sometimes this type of sharing is direct when two or more parties form an alliance or ‘front’ to contest elections and if no party wins to form the govt single handedly then the alliance forms the govt. (coalition govt) and thus share power.
b) In democracy we have interest groups (pressure groups) as of traders, businessman, farmers, industrialists, workers. They also have share in governmental power either through participation in governmental committees or brining influence on decision making process.