Power sharing involves distributing power among different government bodies and groups to prevent any single entity from wielding power exclusively. This document discusses power sharing in Belgium as a positive example and Sri Lanka as a negative example. Belgium amended its constitution four times to respect the interests of its Dutch-speaking and French-speaking communities by giving powers to state governments and establishing a community government. In contrast, Sri Lanka's majoritarian system that dominated the Tamil minority led to civil war. Power sharing is desirable to reduce conflicts between groups and ensure political stability.

1. POWER SHARING
Class : 10
Political Science, Chapter : 1
By Tsering Chokeyi
Teacher

2. What is Power Sharing?
Distribution of power among
• Legislature
• Executive
• Judiciary
Sharing of power among different level
• Union/ Central
• State
• Local
Central
State
Local

3. No one man power
(Dictatorship)

4. Two examples of power sharing
Belgium and Srilanga

5. Belgium has a population of little over one crore, about
half the population of Haryana.
Belgium Haryana

6. Ethic composition of Belgium
FLEMISH REGION
WALLONIA REGION
59% Dutch
speaking people
The Capital City Brussel
80% French speaking
20% Dutch speaking
40% French speaking people
1% German speaking

7. During 1950s and 1960s
Tension occurred
Reason:
1. The minority French speaking community was rich
and powerful.
Dutch speaking community got benefit of economic
development and education much later.
2. The Dutch speaking community constituted a
majority in the country, but a minority in the capital.

8. Srilanka Haryana
About two crore people in Srilanka, same as in Haryana.

9. Srilanka, diverse population
• Sinhala-speakers 74%
Major social group
Religion- Buddhist
• Tamil-speakers 18%
Minority social group
Religion – Hindu or Muslim
two sub groups
• Christian 7%
Both Tamil and Sinhala
Sri Lankan Tamils
Indian Tamil

10. Majoritarianism in Sri Lanka
• Sri Lanka emerged as an independent country in
1948.
• In 1956, Sinhala was recognised as the only
official language of Sri Lanka; thus, disregarding
Tamil.
• The governments followed preferential policies
that favoured Sinhala applicants for university
positions and government jobs.
• A new constitution stipulated that the state shall
protect and foster Buddhism.

11. civil war.
• In Sri Lanka, the idea of majoritarianism crumbled
the country.
• A feeling of alienation was seen 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.
• This was denied by the Sinhala dominated
government.

12. By 1980:
• several political organizations were formed
demanding an independent Tamil
• Eelam (state) in northern and eastern parts of
Sri Lanka was demanded independent
• These differences in the two different
communities pushed Sri Lanka into the state
of civil war.

13. Accommodation in Belgium
• Leader took different path
Between 1970-1993
Amended their constitution four times
The arrangement they made was different and
innovative.

14. The elements of the Belgium model
• Central government- equal number of
minister from Dutch and French speaking
• Power- many powers of the central gov.t have
been given to state government.
• State gov.t- not subordinate to the central
gov.t
• Brussel- both the communities have equal
representatives.

15. Community government- third government
• Election of representative
done by people belonging to same language
community, regardless of where they live.
The community gov.t has power regarding
cultural, educational and language related issue.
If Europe come together to form European Union,
Brussels was chosen as its headquater.

16. Belgium and Srilanka
• Belgium’s leaders
Leaders realized the unity of the country.
Respect feelings and interests of different
communities and regions.
• Srilanka
 Majoritarianism
Dominance of majority result in civil war

17. • Think, Pair and Share
?
WHY POWER SHARING
IS DESIRABLE ?
Share your own view.

18. Two Reasons:
1. Prudential: Involving or showing care
2. Moral : concerned with the principles
of right and wrong behaviour

19. Prudential Reason
It reduces the possibility of conflict between
social group.
 It ensure the stability of political order.
 It state that power sharing will bring out
better outcomes.
Conflict leads to violence and political
instability

20. Moral Reason
Power sharing is the spirit of democracy
People have right to consult on how they are
to be governed.
Legitimate government- citizen, through
participation, acquire a stake in the system

21. Forms of power sharing
Long time believe
• Power must reside in one group or one person
• If power to decide is dispersed, it affect quick
decisions and to enforcing them.
The notion have changed with democracy:
• People rule themselves through institutions of self
governance.
• Due respect is given to diverse groups

22. In Modern Democracies, power
sharing arrangements can take many
forms

23. 1. Power is Shared among different organs of
government
Organs of Government
Legislative Executive Judiciary
HORIZONTAL DISTRIBUTION OF POWER
• Such a separation ensures that none of the organ can exercise unlimited
power.
• One organ will not interfere in the matters of the other.
• Each organ checks the other which results in balance of power among
various organs.
• This result in a balance of power among various institutions.
This arrangement is called System of Check and Balance

24. 2. Power can shared among government at
different level
Level of government
Central
State
Local
VERTICAL
A general government for the entire
country and governments at the
provincial or regional level which is
called federal government.

25. 3. Power sharing among social groups
• Social group: religious and linguistic groups.
• Community government of Belgium is the good
example
• Constitutional and legal arrangements for weaker
sections, women.
• It meant to give space in the govt. & administration
to diverse social groups.
• It is used to give fair chance to minority
communities.

26. 4. Power shared by Political parties, Pressure
groups & Movements
• Power is shared between various political parties
through coalition govt. in case a single largest party is
not winning majority.
• Citizens have the freedom to choose among various
contenders for power.
• It ensures that power does not remain in one hand.
• Interest groups( traders, businessmen, industrialists,
farmers, industrial workers) also share the power.