Power Sharing Flashcards
Describe the Ethnic composition of Sri Lanka
- The ETHNIC composition of this small country is
very complex. Of the country’s total population, 59 per cent lives in the Flemish region and speaks Dutch
language. - Another 40 per cent people live in the Wallonia region and speak French. Remaining one per cent of the Belgians speak German.
- In the capital city Brussels, 80 per cent people speak French while 20 per cent are Dutch speaking.
What were the reasons for the tensions between Dutch speaking and French speaking communities?
The minority French-speaking community was relatively rich and powerful. This was resented by the Dutch-speaking community who got the benefit of economic development and education much later.
What was the special problem of Brussels?
The Dutch-speaking people constituted a majority in the country, but a minority in the capital.
Define majoritarianism.
Majoritarianism is rule by majority community by disregarding the needs and wishes of the minority community.
What were the measures taken by Sri Lankan government to ensure majoritarionism?
or
What led to strained relations between the two ethnic communities of Sri Lanka?
- In 1956, an Act was passed to recognise Sinhala as the only official language, 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
4.The Sri Lankan Tamils felt that none of the major political parties led by the Buddhist Sinhala leaders
were sensitive to their language and culture.
5.They felt that the constitution and government policies denied them equal political rights,
discriminated against them in getting jobs and other opportunities and ignored their interests.
What were the demands of Sri Lankan Tamil speakers?
- Recognition of Tamil as an official language
- for regional autonomy
- equality of opportunity in securing education and
jobs.
In Belgium, why was the constitution reamended and how many times?
They amended their constitution four times
With the objective: That would enable everyone to live
together within the same country.
Describe the Belgian model of power sharing
- 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. Thus, no single community can make decisions unilaterally. - Many powers of the central government have been given to state governments of the two regions of the
country. The state governments are not subordinate to the Central Government. - Brussels has a separate government in which both the communities have equal representation. The French speaking people accepted equal representation in Brussels because the Dutch-speaking community has accepted equal representation in the Central Government.
- Apart from the Central and the State Government, there is a third kind of government. This ‘community government’ is elected by people belonging to one language community – Dutch, French and German-speaking – no matter where they live. This government has the power regarding cultural, educational and language-related issues.
Compare the different ways in which the Belgians and the Sri Lankans have dealt with the problem of cultural diversity.
[Answer straight from textbook]
- In Belgium, the leaders have realised that the unity of the country is possible only by respecting the feelings and interests of different communities and regions. Such a realisation resulted in mutually acceptable arrangements for sharing power.
- Sri Lanka shows us a contrasting example. It shows us that if a majority community wants to force its dominance over others and refuses to share power, it can undermine the unity of the country.
[Answer from https://www.learncbse.in]
Both Belgium and Sri Lanka are democracies, yet they have dealt with the problem of cultural diversity very differently.
Belgium:
- Leaders realised that for the unity of the country it is important to respect the feelings and interests of different communities. The Constitution prescribes that the number of Dutch and French speaking people shall be equal in the Central Government.
- Both Dutch and French communities share power on an equal basis at the Centre. Along with the State Government, both communities have a third kind of Government called ‘Community Government’ which decides on cultural, education and language related issues.
- Between, 1970 and 1993, the Constitution was amended four times to enable all linguistic groups to live together within the same country.
Sri Lanka:
- In Sri Lanka, there are two major communities, the Sinhalese speaking (74%) and Tamil speaking (18%). The majority community, the Sinhalese have forced their domination over Tamils, refusing to share power.
- Both communities have lived in tension as the Sinhalese have denied political, educational, religious, employment and economic rights to the Tamils leading to Civil War.
- In 1956, the Government passed an Act to recognise Sinhala as the only official language, thus disregarding Tamil.
State prudential reasons for power sharing.
- Firstly, power sharing is good because it helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups.
- Since social conflict often leads to violence
and political instability, power sharing is a good way to ensure the stability of political order. - Imposing the will of majority community over others may look like an attractive option in the short run, but in the long run it undermines the unity of the nation.
State the moral reasons for power sharing.
- Power sharing is the very spirit of democracy.
- A democratic rule involves sharing power with those
affected by its exercise, and who have to live with its effects. - People have a right to be consulted on how they are
to be governed. A legitimate government is one where citizens, through participation, acquire a stake in the system.
Write a note on horizontal division of power sharing.
- Power is shared among different organs of government, such as the legislature, executive and
judiciary. This is called horizontal distribution of power because it allows different organs of government placed at the same level to exercise different powers. - Such a separation ensures that none of the organs can exercise unlimited power.
- Each organ checks the others. This results in a balance of power among various institutions.
Write a note on vertical division of power sharing.
- Power can be shared among governments at different levels – a general government for the entire
country and governments at the provincial or regional level. Such a general government for the entire
country is usually called federal government. - Division of powers involving higher and lower levels of government is called vertical division of
power. - Higher levels have more powers so there is no balance.
Write a note on power sharing among different social groups.
Power may also be shared among different social groups, such as the religious and linguistic groups.
Eg: Community government in Belgium.
1. In some countries there are constitutional and legal arrangements whereby socially weaker sections
and women are represented in the legislatures and administration.
2. This type of arrangement is meant to give space in the government and administration to diverse
social groups who otherwise
3. This method is used to give minority communities a fair share in power.
Write a note on power sharing among political parties, pressure groups and movements.
Power sharing arrangements can also be seen in the way political parties, pressure groups and
movements control or influence those in power.
1. In a democracy, the citizens must have freedom to choose among various contenders for power.
2. In contemporary democracies this takes the form of competition among different parties. Such
competition ensures that power does not remain in one hand.
3. In the long run power is shared among different political parties that represent different ideologies
and social groups.
4. In a democracy, interest groups such as those of traders, businessmen, industrialists, farmers and
industrial workers can be found.
5. They also will have a share in governmental power, either through participation in governmental
committees or bringing influence on the decision making process.
