CIVICS Chapter-1 (POWER SHARING)
Power sharing is essential to ensure that no single individual or group is able to monopolize power and that
all section of society have a say in the decision making.
BELGIUM
European Country smaller than Haryana, has borders with France, The Netherlands, Germany and
Luxemburg. It is the founding member of European Union and hosts the European Union headquarters.
ETHNIC COMPOSITION
1. Flemish (Dutch speaking)- 59%
2. Wallonia (French speaking) – 40% Remaining 1%- German speakers
3. Brussels - 80% (French), 20% (Dutch)
PROBLEMS- The minority French- speaking was relatively rich and powerful and they were resented by
Dutch speaking community, this lead to tension in 1950s and 1960s.
Brussels presented a special problem, the Dutch speaking people constitute majority in the country but
minority in the capital.
FORM OF GOVERNANCE ADOPTED- ACCOMMODATIVE
1. After understanding the regional and cultural diversities between 1970 and 1993 Belgium amended the
constitution 4 times to arrange everything in the same country.
2. Constitution prescribes the number of French and Dutch speaking Ministers shall be equal in central
government.
3. State government is not subordinate to central government as many powers were given to them, Brussels
has a separate government with both communities have equal representation.
4. Apart from center and state a third kind of government known as “COMMUNITY GOVERNMENT”
elected by people belonging to one language community.
OUTCOMES- These arrangements helped to avoid civic strike between two major communities and a
possible division of the country on linguistic lines.
SRI LANKA
An island nation, located on the southern coast of Tamil Nadu holding a population of 2 crore, got
independence in 1948.
ETHNIC COMPOSITION
1.Sinhala speakers- 74% following Buddhist religion 2. Tamil – 18% (13%Sri Lankan Tamils+5% Indian
Tamils) following Hinduism. 3. 7% - Christians speaking both the languages.
MAJORITARIAN MEASURES
Policies Promoting Sinhala Supremacy:
Official Language: In 1956, an act was passed to recognize Sinhala as the sole official language,
disregarding Tamil, which was spoken by a significant portion of the population.
Preferential Policies: The government implemented preferential policies that favored Sinhala applicants
for university positions and government jobs, further marginalizing the Tamil community.
Constitutional Provisions: A new constitution stipulated that the state shall protect and foster
Buddhism, the religion of the majority, further alienating the Tamil community, who are mostly Hindu.
Consequences of Majoritarianism:
Alienation of the Tamil Community: The majoritarian policies led to a growing sense of alienation
among the Sri Lankan Tamils, who felt discriminated against and denied equal opportunities.
Rise of Tamil Separatism: The Tamil community, feeling marginalized and discriminated against, formed
political organizations and demanded an independent Tamil Eelam (state) in the country's east and north.
Escalation into Civil War: The mutual distrust and conflict between the Sinhala and Tamil communities
escalated into widespread conflict, eventually leading to a civil war.
WHY POWER SHARING IS DESIRABLE?
MORAL- It maintains a spirit of democracy and gives the people power to have a legitimate government
through participation acquire a stake in the system. People have the right to be consulted on how they are
to be governed.
PRUDENTIAL- to reduce the possibility of conflict between different social groups and establish a political
stability of political order. This reason stress that power sharing will bring better outcomes.
FORMS OF POWER SHARING
Horizontal Power Sharing:
This involves dividing power among different organs of government, like the legislature (makes laws), the
executive (enforces laws), and the judiciary (interprets laws).
Each organ has its own functions and powers, but they also have a system of checks and balances to
prevent any one organ from becoming too powerful.
This ensures a balance of power and prevents abuse of authority.
Example: In India, the Parliament (legislature), the Council of Ministers (executive), and the Supreme
Court (judiciary) each have distinct roles and powers, but they also oversee each other's actions.
Vertical Power Sharing:
This involves sharing power between different levels of government, such as the central government and
state governments.
It can also involve local governments or municipalities.
This allows for a more decentralized system of governance, where different regions or communities have
some autonomy.
Example: In India, the Union government (central) and state governments have their own powers and
responsibilities, as defined by the Constitution.
Other Forms of Power Sharing:
Power sharing between political parties: Different political parties representing diverse ideologies and
interests can share power through coalition governments or other forms of cooperation.
Power sharing between pressure groups and movements: These groups can influence government
decisions through lobbying, protests, and other forms of activism.
Power sharing among different social groups: In countries with diverse communities, power can be
shared among different religious, linguistic, or ethnic groups to ensure their representation and
protection.
Example: Belgium has a system of power sharing among its French and Dutch-speaking communities to
ensure that both groups have a voice in government.
ASSIGNMENT
1. Explain any three consequences of the majoritarian policies adopted by the Sri
Lankan government. (2013)
2. Why is the ethnic composition of Belgium complex? (2 Marks)
3. How is Belgium’s power-sharing path different from any other country?
Or, Explain the four elements in the Belgian power-sharing model.
Or, why do we find the Belgian model very complicated? How has it helped to
prevent conflict and division of the country on linguistic lines? (3 Marks)
4. What is meant by the system of ‘checks and balances’? (2015)
5. Why Power sharing is desirable? (2 Marks)
6. Describe different forms of power sharing? (5 Marks)
7. Case study
The Sri Lankan Tamils launched parties and struggles for the recognition of Tamil as official language, for
regional autonomy and equality of opportunity in securing education and jobs. But their demands for more
autonomy to provinces populated by the Tamils was repeatedly denied. By 1980s several political
organizations were formed demanding an independent Tamil Eelam in northern and eastern part of Sri
lanka.
1. Why were there dissatisfaction among Sri Lankan Tamils?
2. What were the main demands of Tamils?
3. What were the steps taken by the government of Sri lank to alienate Tamils? (4 Marks)
8. What is power sharing and how it helps to prevent the conflicts of different religious
groups? (2 Marks)
9. Assertion- Majority community is dominant in a few democratic states.
Reason- Dominance can undermine the unity of the country.
10. Assertion- Interest group play an important role in power sharing.
Reason- Interest groups are members of government committees or they influence
the government decisions.
