There are two ways of running a government. One is a tyranny – In this, the power is concentrated in the hands of a leader or a king. On the other hand, the other one is a democracy. In this, the power is delegated at different levels. We don’t need to tell you this, but of course, the latter is better. So what is Power Sharing? Now, before you understand why is power sharing so important? Let us learn, what is power sharing and what are the forms of power sharing. So, let’s find out more about Power Sharing.
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Introduction to Power Sharing
Power sharing means the distribution of power among the organs of the government such as the legislature, executive, and judiciary. Power sharing helps in achieving the stability of political order. In power-sharing, power might even be shared at distinct levels such as union, state and local.
Forms of Power Sharing
In a modern democracy, power-sharing arrangements can take many forms.
- Horizontal distribution of power: In this, the power is shared among different organs of government such as the legislature, executive, and judiciary. This type of power sharing is prevalent in India.
- Federal government (vertical distribution of power): In this, the power can be shared among governments at different levels. This type of power sharing is prevalent in the USA.
- Power sharing among different social groups: Power can be shared among social groups such as linguistic and religious groups. For instance, Community government’ in Belgium.
- Other types of power-sharing: Power sharing is also seen in political parties, pressure groups and movements control or influence those in power.
Terms you need to know
- Majoritarian: It is a belief that the majority community should be able to rule a country in whichever way it wants.
- Community Government: A type of Government which is elected by people belonging to one language community is called community government.
- Prudential: It involves decision making based on prudence, or on a careful calculation of gains and losses.
- Checks and Balances: In this system, each organ of the government checks the others which results in a balance of power among various institutions
- Reserved Constituencies: In this, the constituencies are reserved in the Assemblies and the Parliament for minorities in order to give them a fair share in power.
- Coalition government: When the alliance of two or more parties gets elected and forms a government it is known as the Coalition Government.
Story of Belgium
Belgium is a European country with a population of a little over one crore. In this country, the ethnic composition is complex. Of the total population, 59 percent lives in the Flemish region and speaks the Dutch language. Another 40 percent people live in the Wallonia region and speak French. Remaining one percent of the Belgians speak German.
In the capital city, Brussels, 80 percent people speak French while 20 percent are Dutch speaking. The French-speaking minority community was relatively rich and powerful. This made the Dutch-speaking community angry. From the 1950s to 1960s, there were tensions between the two communities because of these differences.
The Story of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is located south of India. This island nation has a diverse population of two crore people. In Sri Lanka, the major social groups are the Sinhala-speakers (74 percent) and the Tamil-speakers (18 percent). Tamils in Sri Lanka were divided into two groups:
- Sri Lankan Tamils (13 percent) – Tamil natives of the country
- Indian Tamils (5 percent) – came from India during the colonial period as plantation workers
Sinhala-speaking people are mainly Buddhists while the Tamil speaking people were either Hindus or Muslims. There was even 7 percent Christians, who are both Tamil and Sinhala.
Majoritarianism in Sri Lanka
In Sri Lanka, the democratically elected government opted for a series of Majoritarian policy measures because they desired Sinhala supremacy. Some of the measures taken were:
- Sinhala was the only official language.
- The governments followed preferential policies and Sinhala applicants.
This made the Sri Lankan Tamils feel alienated. As a result of this, the Sri Lankan Tamils launched parties and began struggles for the recognition of Tamil as an official language. By the 1980s several political organisations were formed. They demanded for an independent Tamil Eelam (state) in northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka. All this soon turned into a Civil War, thereby, causing distress in the nation.
Accommodation in Belgium
From 1970 to 1993, the constitution of Belgian was amended four times. The idea was to work out an arrangement that would make everyone to live together. Key elements of the Belgian model are:
- The number of Dutch and French-speaking ministers shall be equal in the central government.
- Certain powers of the central government were given to state governments of the two regions of the country.
- There was a separate government for Brussels in which both the communities had equal representation.
- There was a provision of ‘community government’ that was elected by people belonging to one language.
Hence, it was a fairly better alternative than the majoritarian policy of Sri Lanka.
Question for you
Q1: Why power-sharing is desirable?
Ans: Power sharing is good since it helps in the reduction of the possibilities of conflicts between the social groups. In the broader view, power sharing is the very spirit of democracy. Thus, power sharing is good.
What is the main difference between srilankan and belgian government.
Lol
Srilankan government follows majoritarsium – the dominance of majority community by disregarding the wishes and needs of the minority community.
Belgium the government had only one problem that is French speaking people is more in capital place of Belgium that is Brussels.
good !!!!!!
In belgium minority dominate majority. In Sri Lanka majority dominate minority.
The main difference is Belgium followed a community which is elected by people belonging to one language community Dutch, German and French speaking and Sri Lanka followed majority based government system.
Belgium has one religion but sri Lanka has more religions
In belgium basically Christian relion exist
Sri Lanka government gave support to Dutch people and gave admissions and jobs only to Dutch people
But Belgium government gave equal rights to both the social group
Belgium and Sri Lanka’s government
Dutch community is in the Belgium not in Sri lanka . Your answer should be ” Sri Lankan government supports Sinhala speakers and give them the Jobs .
And give them Supremacy “
Nice
In Belgium,leaders thought that the unity of the country is possible only by respecting the feeling and interest of different communities and regions
But
Srilankan adopted majoritarian which means only majority group should be rule a country it in way majority group wants by disregarding the wish and needs of the minority. They do not give them equal rights.
These are the main difference between srilankan and belgian government.
In Belgium, the government does not follow preferential policies in matters of jobs and education. In Sri Lanka, the government follows preferential policies in matters of government, jobs and education. … In Sri Lanka, the major political parties are not sensitive to the language and culture of the Tamils.
Sri Lankan government aimed to secure dominace over the minorities while Belgian government wanted to share power with the minorities and allow them equal represenation in the country.
In srilanka minority was not given any importance but in Belgium every o ne is treated equally
Is power sharing necessary for good progress in a nation both economically and political affairs?
Yes power sharing is very imported for progress
Good
Yes power sharing is good as it leads to better decisions and
Will u please help me to solve a question
Not much helpful
But the way of defining topics is interesting
Plz try to make small notes or u can say summary
I agree with you.
write outcome the outcome of accommodation in Belgium
It was great and helpful👍👍
Which power sharing model is similar to india and why? (belgium model or sri lanka model)
how were ethinic groups in belgium and sri lanka accommodated
how were ethinic groups in belgium and sri lanka accommodate
In srilanka evan the government had supported the majoritarian that is Sinhala community and made policies favouring them but in Belgium the government had supported both lingual groups that is French and Dutch speakers and made policies supporting both the groups a solved the problem.
power-sharing can lead to delay in decision-making, how can the ideology of power-sharing be improved for faster decision making, and what are the disadvantages of power-sharing?
This chapter look interesting
I HATE CIVICS