This document discusses power sharing in Belgium and Sri Lanka. It explains that in Belgium power is shared among the Dutch-speaking Flemish, French-speaking Wallonia, and German-speaking communities through a system of community governments for each language group. In Sri Lanka, power was dominated by the Sinhalese majority, which led to conflict with the Tamil minority and eventually a civil war, highlighting the importance of power sharing to prevent conflicts between ethnic groups.

1. Presented By – Akshay Kumar Kushawaha
Class – 10th, B Roll No. 03
Radiant Academy

2. What is Power
Sharing?
‘Power Sharing’ is the
distribution of
powers/subjects among
the organs of the
government like –
legislature, executive and
judiciary. It is an
intelligent step to ensure
the stability of political
order. Besides, power
sharing also includes
sharing at the different
levels like union, state
and local.

3. Belgium Sri Lanka
European Union Parliament
on Belgium

4. Belgium is a small country in
Europe, smaller in area than the
state of Haryana. It has border with
France, the Netherlands, Germany
population of a little over one
crore, about half the population of
Haryana. The ETHNIC
composition of this country is very
complex. Of the country’s total
population, 59 per cent lives in the
Flemish region and speak Dutch
language. Another 40 per cent
people live in Wallonia region and
speak French. Remaining one per
cent of the Belgians speaks
German. In the capital city
Brussels, 80 per cent people
speak French while 20 per cent
are Dutch-speaking. The minority
French-speaking community was
Belgium

5. Communities & Regions of Belgium
Brussels –
Capital Region
– Dutch were a
Minority
Wallonia –
40% - French –
Rich & Powerful
Flemish – 59%
- Dutch –
benefit of
education and
economic
development.
German – 1%

6. Sri Lanka is an island nation, just a
few kilometers off the southern
coast of Tamil Naidu. It has about
two crore people, about the same
population. The major social
groups are the Sinhala-speakers
(74 per cent) and the Tamil-
speakers (18 per cent). Among
Tamils there are two subgroups.
Tamil natives of the country are
called ‘Sri Lankan Tamils’ (13 per
cent). The rest, whose forefathers
came from India as plantation
workers during colonial period, are
called ‘Indian Tamils’. Most of the
Sinhala-speaking people are
Buddhist, while most of the Tamils
are Hindus or Muslims. There are
about 7 per cent Christians, who
are both Tamils and Sinhala.
Sri Lanka

7. Ethnic Communities of Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan
Tamils –
Occupy N & E –
Hindus &
Muslims
Sinhalese –
74% - Buddhist
–
Indian Tamils –
Hindus &
Muslims
Muslims – 1%
Tamils – 18%
Both Sinhalese
& Tamil – 7% -
Christian

8. •Dominance of Sinhalese community due
to majority
•1956 Act made Sinhala as the only official
language
•Preferential policies favouring Sinhalese in
university position and jobs
•State to protect and foster Buddhism
Position of Sri Lankan Tamils…
• Launched political parties and
struggles for recognizing Tamil as an
official language
• Demanded autonomy
• Equal opportunity in education and
jobs
• Political organization was formed
demanding an independent TAMIL
EELAM in North & East Sri Lanka

9. Civil War…
Causes
Both sides started
distrusting each other
Effects
Social, Cultural & Economic
setback

10. •Equal number of Ministers from Dutch and
French speaking areas in the Central Govt.
•No single community can make decisions
unilaterally
•Transfer of power from the centre to the
state. State govt. will not be a subordinate to
the centre.
•Separate govt. in Brussels with equal
representation for the French and the Dutch.
•Formation of COMMUNITY Govt elected by
the people belonging to one language
community Dutch, French and German
wherever they live. This has power regarding
•Culture, education and language related
issues.
Power Sharing - Result
The country united respecting the feelings
of different communities and regions.

11. •Similarities: Both are democracies.
•Differences: Power sharing arrangement is different.
Q. What is unique about Belgium?
Ans. Leaders have realized that unity of the country is
possible only by respecting the feelings and interests of
different communities and regions.
Q. What was the drawback in the system followed by Sri
Lanka?
Ans. Dominance of majority community - Sinhalese by
refusing to share power with Tamils resulting in disunity.

12. Why is Power Sharing desirable in a
Democracy?
Prudential
1. Reduces conflicts between
social groups.
2. Stability of political order.
3. Better outcome.
Moral
1. It is the spirit of
democracy.
2.People have the right to
be consulted for governing
practices.
3. Power sharing is
valuable.

13. Why in a democracy should political power be
distributed?

14. Amongst
different organs
of Govt.
legislature,
executive and
judiciary
Among
Governments
at different
levels
Different
Social
groups,
religious/
linguistic
Political parties,
pressure groups and
movements influence
those in power

15. • 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.
• Both the Central and State govt. have transferred power and resources
to the Local bodies.
Central Govt.
State Govt.
Local Bodies
Vertical Power Sharing
• 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
Horizontal Power Sharing

16. Amongst different organs of
Govt. legislature, executive and
judiciary
Amongst
Government at
different levels
Different Social
groups, religious/
linguistic
Political parties
,pressure groups and
movements influence
those in power
Horizontal distribution as it
allows different organs to
exercise different powers
A general govt. for
the entire country-
called Centre and
government at the
provincial/regional
level. Federal Govt.
Accommodates social
diversities who would
feel otherwise
alienated.
Formation of coalition
Govt. when different
parties form alliances
No organ gets unlimited powers State Govt. Influence of interest
groups-businessmen,
industrialists, farmers and
industrial workers.
Each organ checks the other Constitutional
distribution of power
to the state and
centre
Results in balance of power Same with Panchayat
and Municipality
All ministers /Govt. officialsare
responsible to parliament/state
assemblies
Vertical division of
power
Judges can also check the work
of other organs
A system of checks and balances