Power sharing

CLASS X - SOCIAL SCIENCE
POLITICAL SCIENCE - CHAPTER 1
POWER SHARING

1. POWER SHARING CLASS X- SOCIAL SCIENCE POLITICAL SCIENCE – CHAPTER 1 (By: Usha Joy)

2. Belgium and Sri Lanka Belgium is a small country in Europe, smaller than Haryana. It has borders with France, the Netherlands, Germany and Luxembourg. It has a population of a little over one crore, about half the population of Haryana. The ETHNIC composition of this small country is very complex. Ethnic: A social division based on shared culture. People belonging to the same ethnic group believe in their common descent because of similarities of physical type or of culture or both. They need not always have the same religion or nationality.

3. ETHNIC COMPOSITION OF BELGIUM COUNTRY AS A WHOLE 59% - Flemish Area – Dutch 40% - Wallonia Area – French 1% - Eastern Area - German IN CAPITAL BRUSSELS 80% - French 20% - Dutch

4. GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION- Small country in Europe. Shares borders with Netherlands, Germany, France & Luxembourg. AREA AND POPULATION- Smaller in area than the state of Haryana. Population little over one crore(1/2 the population of Haryana) ETHNIC COMPOSITION- 59% speak Dutch & live in the Flemish region. 40% speak French & live in the Wallonia region. 1% speak German. BRUSSELS- CAPITAL OF BELGIUM . 80% speak French. 20% speak Dutch.

5. SRI LANKA 74% - Sinhala – Buddhists 18% - Tamil _ Hindus/Muslims 13% - Sri Lankan Tamils 5% - Indian Tamils 7% - Christians Speak both Tamil and Sinhala

6. GEOGRAPHICAL POSITIION- A smaller island in Asia, off the southern coast of Tamil Nadu. POPULATION- About two crore people (same as Haryana ) ETHNIC COMPOSITION- 74% Sinhala speakers 18% TAMIL speakers TAMILS- Sri Lankan Tamils (Native Tamils) 13% Indian Tamils –forefathers came from India as plantation workers during colonial period. RELIGION- Most of the Sinhala speakers are Buddhist. Most of the Tamils are Hindus or Muslims. 7% Christians are both Tamil and Sinhala.

7. MAJORITARIANISM IN SRI LANKA SRI LANKA got independence in 1948 from the British. Sinhala leaders secured dominance over the government as they were in majority. Majoritarianism - a belief that the majority community should be able to rule a country in whichever way they want, by disregarding the wishes and needs of the minority. Democratically elected government adopted as series of Majoritarian policies to establish their control in the country ---- 1956 Act was passed to recognise Sinhala as the only official language. Preferential policies that favoured Sinhala applicants for university positions and government jobs. New constitution encouraged the state to protect and promote Buddhism.

8. FEELING OF ALIENATION AMONG TAMILS . Tamils felt that the constitution & government policies denied them equal political rights, discriminated against them in getting jobs . Relations between the Sinhalas and the Tamils strained over time. Sri Lankan Tamils demanded- Recognition of Tamil as an official language Regional autonomy Equality of opportunity in education and jobs By 1980 several political organisations were formed demanding an independent Tamil Eelam(state) in northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka. Distrust between the two communities led to a civil war in Sri Lanka. Thousands of people of both the communities were killed. Caused terrible setback to the social,cultural and economic life of the country.

9. ACCOMMODATION IN BELGIUM Between 1970 & 1993 the Belgian leaders amended the constitution four times to enable everyone to live together peacefully. CENTRAL GOVERNMENT- Equal number of Dutch & French speaking ministers. Some special laws require the support of majority of members of each linguistic groups. STATE GOVERNMENTS –Many powers of the central government have been given to state government. Not subordinate to the Central government. BRUSSELS – has a separate govt. in which both communities have equal representation. The French speaking community accepted equal representation as Dutch speaking accepted in the central govt. COMMUNITY GOVERNMEN T-Elected by the people belonging to one language community -Dutch, French & German speaking no matter where they live. In charge of cultural, educational & language issues.

10. What do we learn from these two examples of Belgium & Sri Lanka ? Belgium- Leaders realised that the unity of the country is possible only by respecting the feelings & interests of different communities & regions. Resulted in mutually acceptable arrangements for sharing power. Brussels became the headquarter of the European Union . Sri Lanka- Reflects that if the majority community wants to dominate other communities and refuses to share power . Undermine the unity of the country. Led to civil war.

11. WHY POWER SHARING IS DESIRABLE? Prudential reasons : based on careful calculation of gains and loses Moral reasons : based on moral considerations

12. Why power sharing is desirable ? Prudential and Moral Reasons Prudential Reasons : Based on careful calculation of gains and losses. Help to reduce possibility of conflict between social groups. 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. Tyranny of the majority is not just oppressive for the minority; it often brings ruin to the majority as well. Reservation of constituencies for minorities and women in India is a prudential reason.

13. Moral Reasons: Based on purely moral considerations. 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. A legitimate govt is one where citizens through participation, acquire a stake in the system. Emphasis act of power sharing as valuable

14. FORMS OF POWER SHARING Horizontal distribution of power Vertical distribution of power Among different social groups Among political parties , pressure groups and movements

15. HORIZONTAL DISTRIBUTION OF POWER Power is shared among different organs of government, such as the legislature, executive and judiciary. It allows different organs of government placed at the same level to exercise different powers. Each organ checks the others. This results in a balance of power among various institutions. This arrangement is called a system of checks and balances.

16. HORIZONTAL DISTRIBUTION OF POWER

17. Vertical Distribution of Power

18. Vertical Distribution of Power A general government for the entire country and governments at the provincial or regional level or state level . Such a general government for the entire country is usually called federal government. In India, a central or union government, state government and local government such as municipality and panchayat. This is called federal division of power.

19. AMONG DIFFERENT SOCIAL GROUPS- Religious groups & linguistic groups Community government in Belgium. Reserved constituencies in assemblies & Parliament of India. AMONG POLITICAL PARTIES, PRESSURE GROUPS AND MOVEMENTS . Takes in the form of competition among different parties. ensures power does not remain in one hand. Coalition government. Pressure groups of traders, industrialists, farmers. businessmen etc