Democratic Politics - class 10 - Power sharing

1. sharing

2. Belgium
 A small country in Europe.
 Smaller than Haryana in size
 Population---nearly 1crore+
 Half of Haryana’s population.
 Bordering countries---
Netherlands, France and
Germany.

3. Belgium
 Complex ethnic
composition.
 59% lived—Flemish—Dutch
speaking region
 40%---Wallonia---French
speaking region
 1%--German speaking
region
 In capital city—Brussels---
80%--French speaking
20%---Dutch speaking
Dutch speaking
French speaking
Germa
speakin
Brussels

4. Belgium
 French speaking---minority---rich and powerful
 Dutch speaking---resented---education and economic
development---delayed.
 Communal tensions—1950’s—1960’s
 Tensions----more acute----Brussels
 Dutch speaking---majority in country---minority in capital

5. Accommodation in Belgium
 Belgian leaders took a different path
 Understood the regional and cultural differences
 Between 1970—93---amended---constitution---4times
 To enable everyone to live together---same country
 This arrangement---different---countries---very innovative
 Helped---avoid---civic strife---major communities
 Possible division---on linguistic lines
 So---many European countries---form---European Union---
Brussels---chosen---headquarters

6. Accommodation in Belgium
 Constitution prescribed---equal no. of Dutch and French speaking ministers--
-central govt
 Special law—supported---members---linguistic group
 Thus no unilateral decisions---single community
 Many powers---central govt---given---state govt
 State govt---not subordinate---central govt
 Brussels---separate govt—both communities---equal representation
 Apart---central and state govt---third kind of govt---community govt.
 Community govt---elected by people ---one language---immaterial of place of
residence

7. Accommodation in Belgium
Central Govt State Govt Community
Govt
Justice
Foreign policy
Defence
Social security
Health matters
Economic matters
Transport
Public work
Industrial policy
Educational issues
Cultural issues
Language-related
issues

8. Sri lanka
 An island nation
 28 kilometers---southern coast—
Tamil Nadu , India
 Population---about-2crores—same
as Haryana
 Like other South Asian countries---
diverse population
 Became independent---1948
 Was called Ceylon---1972
 It is called---Pearl of the Indian
Ocean

9. Sri lanka
 Yellow color---Sinhalese—74%
 Orange color—Lankan Tamil-north &
east of the country—13%
 Many Indian ----tea & rubber
plantation workers---colonial period
 Thus---Indian Tamils
 Maroon color--- Indian Tamil---5%
 Brown dots--- Muslims-Sinhalese &
Tamils
 Christians---7%
 Others ----Moors & Burghers---1%

10. Sri lanka
As per 2012 census
Sinhalese
Buddhism
Tamils
(Hindus, Christians
& Muslims)
Others
Lankan Indian
74%
13%
18%
5%
8%
Christian
Moor
7%
1%

11. Majoritarianism in sri lanka
 Sinhala leaders---dominance over govt---virtue of majority
 As result---democratically elected govt---adopted---majoritarian measures
 In 1956---Act was passed---recognize Sinhala---official language.
 Govt followed---preferential policies---favoring Sinhala---govt jobs &
university positions
 Many such measures---govt increased---alienation thoughts---Sri Lankan
Tamils
 They felt---Buddhist Sinhala leaders---weren’t sensitive---tamil language &
culture
 The constitution & govt policies---denied—equal political rights ,
discriminated against---jobs , interests.

12. Majoritarianism in sri lanka
 Sri Lankan Tamils--- launched parties and struggles for
a) recognition of Tamil---official language
b) Regional autonomy
c) Equality of opportunity in securing education and jobs
 But these demands were repeatedly denied
 In 1980s---several political organizations---demanded---independent
Tamil Eelam (state)---northern & eastern parts of Sri lanka
 As a result---distrust grew---civil war---Sinhala and Tamil
 Thousands were killed
 Many forced to leave the country as refugees
 Many lost their livelihoods
 Civil war---terrible setback----social, cultural and economic life --
country

13. Comparison
Belgium Sri Lanka
 Democratic country
 Leaders realized---unity of
country---possible---respecting
the feelings and interests of
different communities and
regions
 As a result---mutual acceptance
of power sharing
 Democratic country
 Leaders believed---if a
majority community--- force
its dominance over others and
refuse to share power
 As a result---undermine the
unity of the country.

14. Why power sharing is desirable
 There are two sets of reasons to explain why Power sharing is desirable.
 The first set of reasons are---
a) It helps to reduce---possibility of conflict---social groups.
b) A good way---ensure---stability of political order
c) Imposition of will of majority may undermine the unity of the nation ,so
power sharing is important to avoid civil war.
These reasons are called Prudential reasons
The second set of reasons are ----
a) Power sharing is the very spirit of democracy
b) People --- right to be consulted---how they----governed
c) A legitimate govt is ---where citizens---participate , acquire a stake in
system.
These reasons are called Moral reasons

15. Forms of power sharing
There are different forms of power sharing
power sharing
Organs of govt. Levels of govt Different religious Political
parties,
Legislative Central Govt linguistic groups pressure
groups,
Executive State Govt interest
groups,
Judiciary Local Self Govt
Horizontal Vertical Social groups Direct

16. horizontal distribution of power
 This form of power sharing is called a system of checks and balances
 Here the power is shared among different organs of government i.e.
legislative, executive and judiciary.
 This ensures that every organ is placed at same level to exercise different
powers.
 The powers are limited
 Each organ checks the working of others.
 The ministers and govt officials-----responsible to---Parliament and State
Assemblies
 The judges---appointed---executive----can check----functioning of
executive and legislature

17. Vertical distribution of power
 In countries---like India---constitution---laid down separate powers --- for
govt---different level---higher and lower levels of govt
 The general govt---India---termed---Central or Union govt
 The regional or provincial govt---India---State govt
 The same principle---followed---municipality and panchayat
 This is called Federal division of power
 Belgium is best example for this form of power sharing

18. Social groups
 Here the power is shared among different social groups like religious and
linguistic groups.
 ‘Community govt of Belgium is a good example for this arrangement
 In some countries---socially weaker sections & women---represented in
constitution and parliament---form of govt
 This form---meant to give space---govt & administration---to diverse social
groups---feeling of alienation---eradicated
 Reserved constituencies—India---example
 This method---gives---minorities---fair share in power.

19. Direct distribution
 Here power---controlled and influenced---political parties, pressure groups
and movements
 In a democracy---citizens must---freedom---contenders for power
 This ensures---power---does not---remain---one hand
 This represents---different ideologies
 This kind---can be---direct form---two or more political parties---form
alliance---form---coalition govt
 Interest groups---businessmen , traders, industrialists, farmers and workers---
have share---govt power---thru---participation or influence the decision
making process.

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