Belgium has successfully implemented power sharing to accommodate its Dutch-speaking Flemish and French-speaking Walloon populations. The constitution mandates equal representation of the linguistic groups in government. Power is also shared regionally, with autonomy given to Flemish and Walloon state governments. A similar power sharing model was not adopted in Sri Lanka, exacerbating tensions between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil minority and ultimately leading to civil war. Power sharing is desirable to reduce conflicts, give all groups a stake in government, and strengthen national unity.

1. OUR
SOCIAL
SCIENCE
PROJECT
ON-

2. SUBMITTED TO:-
MRS. AMITA MAM
SUBMITTED BY:-
VASU
CLASS-Xth D
ROLL.NO.-9

4. Power sharing is too much desirable. This is the reason why most of the countries
have adoptedpower sharing.
For example:-Our nation, INDIAshowsdifferent forms of power sharing.

7. BELGIUM
o SIZE AND
POPULATION-
a) A small country in
Europe.
b) As much as the state
of Haryana.
c) Have population of 1
Crore.
d) Have borders with
France, Netherlands,

8. BELGIUM
o ETHNIC
COMPOSITION-
a) 59% speak Dutch
and live in the
Flemish region.
b) 40% speak French
and live in the
Wallonia Region.
c) 1% speak German
DUTCH 59%
FRENCH 40%
GERMAN 1%

9. BRUSSELS
• Capital city of
Belgium.
• Has entirely
different ethnic
composition than the
country:-
a) 80% in the capital
speak French but
they are minority in
the country.
b) 20% in the capital

10.  The minority French were rich and powerful.
 The majority Dutch got the benefit of economic
development much later.
 The capital- Brussels represented a special problem i.e.
majority Dutch was in minority here.
This way, there were tensions between Dutch and
French speaking population.

11. Belgian leaders took a different way. They
recognized the existence of regional
differences and cultural diversities.
Between 1970 and 1993 the constitution was
amended four times to accommodate social
and cultural diversities.
For accommodating the interests of the
minority and the majority, Belgium adopted a
unique system of power sharing.

12. BELGIAN MODEL OF
GOVERNMENT
The constitution prescribes that the
number of Dutch and French speaking
ministers shall be equal in the central
government. Some special laws require
the support of majority of members
from each linguistic group.
Many powers of the Central
Government have been given to State
government. Therefore, the state

13. Brussels had separate government in
which both the communities have equal
representation. The majority French in
Brussels accepted equal representation in
Brussels because the majority Dutch
accepted equal representation in the
central government.
There is third form of Govt. called
‘Community Govt.’
 It is elected by people belonging to
one language community – the Dutch,
BELGIAN MODEL OF
GOVERNMENT

14. Though complex, the
model has worked well
so far.
It has avoided civic
strife between the two
communities.
The European Union
chose to have its
Headquarters at
Brussels as Power
Sharing was
practiced
successfully.

15. o SIZE AND POPULATION:-
a. An island nation in South
Asia.
b. A few kilometers off the
southern coast of Tamil
Nadu.
c. Population of 2 Crore,
almost equal to as in
Haryana.

16. ETHNIC
COMPOSITION
TAMIL-
SPEAKERS
(18%)
INDIAN
TAMILS (5%)
SRI LANKAN
TAMILS (13%)
CHRISTIANS
(7%)
SINHALA-
SPEAKERS
(74%)
BUDDHISTS

17. In 1948, Sri Lanka became independent. A number of laws
were made to establish Sinhala’s supremacy:-
 In 1956 an Act was passed which recognized Sinhala as
the only official language of Sri Lanka; thus,
disregarding Tamil.
 Sinhala speakers were preferred both for university positions and
Government jobs.
 Constitution was amended to protect and foster Buddhism Language.

18. EFFECT ON TAMILS
 Tamils felt isolated.
 They felt that no party lead
by Sinhala leaders were
sensitive to their culture
and region.
 They felt that the
constitution and government
are denying them from equal
rights.
 They were discriminated
from getting jobs & other
opportunities.
 Their interest was ignored.

19. CIVIL WAR

20. WHY POWER SHARING
IS DESIRABLE?
PUDENTIAL REASONS
• It reduces the possibilities
of conflicts between social
groups.
• It gives stability to
government.
• It strengthens the unity of
the country. to
MORAL REASONS
• Power sharing is the very
spirit of Democracy.
• People have a right to be
consulted on how they are
to be governed.

21. 1) Horizontal Division Of Power:- Legislature
ExecutiveJudiciary
• Each of these organs is placed at
the same level to exercise
different powers
• None of them has unlimited power
thus maintains balance.
• Each one of them keeps watch on
the functioning of the other two.
• Hence it is called Check and
Balance System

22. 2) Vertical Division Of Power:-
•Both the Central and State govt. have transferred power and
resources to the Local bodies.
•The Central Govt. is set up for the whole
nation.
•The state/provincial govt. is set up for
each provinces/states.
•The central govt. transfers/shares some of
the powers to/with the state govt. (as in
Belgium).
•In a big country like India, this type of two tier system is
not sufficient.
•So we have the third tier – the Local Self Govt.

23. 3) Social Division Of Power:-
The power is shared among different social
groups- linguistic and religious groups.
Socially weaker sections also have to have
share in power.
Community government in Belgium is one
example for this type of power sharing.
In India, it is done by way of reservation.
Constituencies and seats are reserved for women,
SCs and STs.

24. 4) Power Sharing among Political parties, pressure
groups and movements:-
• Parties compete with each other to come into
power.
• With the emergence of coalition government
many parties share power at the same time.
• Pressure groups and movements have share
in power by exerting pressure on the
government.
• They exert pressure by various means and get
policies framed in their favor.