Topics in the Chapter
1.Story of Belgium
2.Story of Sri Lanka
3.Majoritarianism in Sri Lanka
4.Accommodation in Belgium
5.Why power sharing is desirable?
6.Forms of power-sharing
Story of Belgium
Belgium is a small country in Europe which has a population of a little over one crore.The ethnic composition of this small country is very complex.Out of the total population of the country, 59 percent lives in the Flemish region and speaks Dutch language. Another 40 percent people live in the Wallonia region and speak French. Remaining one percent of the Belgians speak German.In Belgium's capital, Brussels, 80 percent people speak French while 20 percent are Dutch speaking. The minority French-speaking community was relatively rich and powerful. This made Dutch-speaking community angry as they the benefit of economic development and education much later. During the 1950s and 1960s, tensions between the Dutch-speaking and French-speaking communities created due to these differences.
Story of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is an island nation, south of India having diverse population of about two crore people. The major social groups are the Sinhala-speakers (74 percent) and the Tamil-speakers (18 percent). Tamils are divided into two groups: Sri Lankan Tamils (13 percent) - Tamil natives of the country Indian Tamils (5 percent) - came from India during colonial period as plantation workers. Most of the Sinhala-speaking people are Buddhists, while most of the Tamils are Hindus or Muslims. There are about 7 percent Christians, who are both Tamil and Sinhala.
Majoritarianism in Sri Lanka
• The democratically elected government adopted a series of Majoritarian policy measures to establish Sinhala supremacy. These are: 1.Sinhala as the only official language.2.The governments followed preferential policies that favoured Sinhala applicants for university positions and government jobs. These decisions gradually increased the feeling of alienation among the Sri Lankan Tamils. The Sri Lankan Tamils launched parties and struggles for the recognition of Tamil as an official language, for regional autonomy and equality of opportunity in securing education and jobs.By 1980s several political organisations were formed demanding an independent Tamil Eelam (state) in northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka. It soon turned into Civil War.
Accommodation in Belgium
Between 1970 and 1993, Belgian's constitution amended four times to work out an arrangement that would make everyone to live together. The elements of the Belgian model:
1. Constitution prescribes that the number of Dutch and French-speaking ministers shall be equal in the central government.
2. Many powers of the central government have been given to state governments of the two regions of the country.
3. Brussels has a separate government in which both the communities have equal representation. 4.There is also provision of 'community government’ elected by people belonging to one language community which has the power regarding cultural, educational and language-related issues.
Why power sharing is desirable?
Power sharing is good because it helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups. 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
Forms of power-sharing
In modern democracies, power sharing arrangements can take many forms.
1. Horizontal distribution of power: Power is shared among different organs of government, such as the legislature, executive and judiciary. Example: India.
2. Federal Government (Vertical distribution of power): Power can be shared among governments at different levels – a general government for the entire country and governments at the provincial or regional level. Example: USA.
3. Power may also be shared among different social groups such as the religious and linguistic groups. Example: ‘Community government’ in Belgium.
4. Power sharing arrangements can also be seen in the way political parties, pressure groups and movements control or influence those in power.
SOLUTION
Exercises Page No. 10
1. What are the different forms of power-sharing in modern democracies? Give an example of each of these.
Answer.
There are different forms of power-sharing in modern democracies. These are given below:
- Horizontal distribution of power – Power is shared among different organs of government, such as the legislature, executive and judiciary. Example – India
- The federal division of power – Power can be shared among governments at different levels – a general government for the entire country and governments at the provincial or regional level. Example – India (Union Government & State Government)
- Community government – Power may also be shared among different social groups such as the religious and linguistic groups. Example – Belgium
- Power-sharing between political parties, pressure groups and movements – Such competition ensures that power does not remain in one hand. In the long run, power is shared among different political parties that represent different ideologies and social groups.
2. State one prudential reason and one moral reason for power-sharing with an example from the Indian context.
Answer.
While prudential reasons stress that power-sharing will bring out better outcomes. In India, the power is shared horizontally among various organs of government. The Legislature, Executive and Judiciary are responsible for administering India. Reservation is applicable in India, where various sections are given benefits over others to avoid conflicts.
Moral reasons emphasise the very act of power-sharing as valuable. In India, citizens are conferred with fundamental rights and directive principles of state policies are implied on the government.
3. After reading this chapter, three students drew different conclusions. Which of these do you agree with and why? Give your reasons in about 50 words. Thomman – Power sharing is necessary only in societies which have religious, linguistic or ethnic divisions. Mathayi – Power sharing is suitable only for big countries that have regional divisions. Ouseph – Every society needs some form of power sharing even if it is small or does not have social divisions.
Answer.
Ouseph’s conclusion is the right one. Every state should have some or the other form of power-sharing. Power-sharing ensures an optimum balance between different sections in the society. The chances of conflict lessen, and so does the injustice. Hence, power-sharing becomes the value of democracy. Also, power-sharing is a good way to ensure the stability of political order
4. The Mayor of Merchtem, a town near Brussels in Belgium, has defended a ban on speaking French in the town’s schools. He said that the ban would help all non-Dutch speakers integrate into this Flemish town. Do you think that this measure is in keeping with the spirit of Belgium’s power-sharing arrangements? Give your reasons in about 50 words.
Answer.
The measure of Mayor of Merchtem to ban on French-speaking in the town’s schools near Brussels is unfair. It does not keep with Belgium’s power-sharing arrangement. Power-sharing helps maintain a balance between different sections of society, and in Belgium, there is a need to maintain the power-sharing between Dutch and French to avoid civil unrest. Banning French will promote the tendency of civil unrest. To promote peace among different communities, the Mayor should promote bilingual education system in the town’s schools.
5. Read the following passage and pick out any one of the prudential reasons for power sharing offered in this. “We need to give more power to the panchayats to realise the dream of Mahatma Gandhi and the hopes of the makers of our Constitution. Panchayati Raj establishes true democracy. It restores power to the only place where power belongs in a democracy – in the hands of the people. Giving power to Panchayats is also a way to reduce corruption and increase administrative efficiency. When people participate in the planning and implementation of developmental schemes, they would naturally exercise greater control over these schemes. This would eliminate the corrupt middlemen. Thus, Panchayati Raj will strengthen the foundations of our democracy.”
Answer.
The prudential reason in the given passage is – “Giving power to Panchayats is also a way to reduce corruption and increase administrative efficiency.”
6. Different arguments are usually put forth in favour of and against power-sharing. Identify those which are in favour of power-sharing and select the answer using the codes given below? Power-sharing:
- reduces conflict among different communities
- decreases the possibility of arbitrariness
- delays the decision-making process
- accommodates diversities
- increases instability and divisiveness
- promotes people’s participation in government
G. undermines the unity of a country
| (a) | A | B | D | F |
| (b) | A | C | E | F |
| (c) | A | B | D | G |
| (d) | B | C | D | G |
Answer.
| (a) | A | B | D | F |
7. Consider the following statements about power-sharing arrangements in Belgium and Sri Lanka.
- In Belgium, the Dutch-speaking majority people tried to impose their domination on the minority French-speaking community.
- In Sri Lanka, the policies of the government sought to ensure the dominance of the Sinhala-speaking majority.
- The Tamils in Sri Lanka demanded a federal arrangement of power-sharing to protect their culture, language and equality of opportunity in education and jobs.
- The transformation of Belgium from unitary government to a federal one prevented a possible division of the country on linguistic lines.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) A, B, C and D
(b) A, B and D
(c) C and D
(d) B, C and D
Answer.
(d) B, C and D
8. Match List I (forms of power-sharing) with List-II (forms of government) and select the correct answer using the codes given below in the lists:
| List I | List II | |
| 1. | Power shared among different organs of government | A. Community government |
| 2. | Power shared among governments at different levels | B. Separation of powers |
| 3. | Power shared by different social groups | C. Coalition government |
| 4. | Power shared by two or more political parties | D. Federal government |
Answer.
| List I | List II | |
| 1. | Power shared among different organs of government | Separation of powers |
| 2. | Power shared among governments at different levels | Federal government |
| 3. | Power shared by different social groups | Community government |
| 4. | Power shared by two or more political parties | Coalition government |
9. Consider the following two statements on power-sharing and select the answer using the codes given below:
A). Power-sharing is good for democracy.
B). It helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups.
Which of these statements are true and false?
| (a) A is true but B is false |
| (b) Both A and B are true |
| (c) Both A and B are false |
| (d) A is false but B is true |
Answer.
(b) Both A and B are true
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