Power-sharing — Class 10 Social Science
Political Science — Democratic Politics-II · Chapter 1
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Chapter summary
Key ideas & terms
- Power-sharing
- The distribution of political power among different groups and levels of government.
- Majoritarianism
- The belief that the majority community should be able to rule as it wishes.
- Prudential reason
- A reason based on careful calculation of gains, such as avoiding conflict.
- Moral reason
- A reason based on values — that power-sharing is the spirit of democracy.
- Horizontal distribution
- Sharing power among the legislature, executive and judiciary at the same level.
- Vertical distribution
- Sharing power among different levels of government — central, state and local.
- Ethnic group
- A social group sharing a common culture, language or descent.
- Civil war
- A violent conflict between opposing groups within the same country.
Extra questions & answers
What are the prudential and moral reasons for power-sharing?
The prudential reason is that power-sharing reduces conflict and ensures stability; the moral reason is that it is the very spirit of democracy, as people have a right to be consulted.
How did Belgium accommodate its regional and ethnic diversity?
It amended its constitution to share power equally among Dutch, French and German speakers at central, state and community levels, with a community government for cultural matters.
Why did Sri Lanka experience civil conflict?
Majoritarian policies favouring the Sinhala community in language, religion and jobs alienated the Tamil minority, leading to demands for autonomy and a prolonged civil war.
Distinguish between horizontal and vertical distribution of power.
Horizontal distribution shares power among organs of government at the same level, while vertical distribution shares power among central, state and local levels.
What forms can power-sharing take?
Among organs of government, among levels of government, among social and religious groups, and among political parties, pressure groups and movements.
What are the prudential and moral reasons for power-sharing?
The prudential reason is that it reduces conflict and ensures stability; the moral reason is that power-sharing is the very spirit of democracy, as people have a right to be consulted.
How did Belgium accommodate its regional and ethnic diversity?
It amended its constitution to share power equally among Dutch, French and German speakers at central, state and community levels, preventing conflict.
Why did Sri Lanka face civil conflict?
Majoritarian policies favouring the Sinhala community in language, religion and jobs alienated the Tamil minority, leading to demands for autonomy and a long civil war.
What is majoritarianism?
The belief that the majority community should be able to rule a country in whatever way it wishes, disregarding the wishes of minorities.
Distinguish between horizontal and vertical distribution of power.
Horizontal distribution shares power among organs of government at the same level (legislature, executive, judiciary), while vertical distribution shares it among central, state and local levels.
Belgium and Sri Lanka
Look at the maps of Belgium and Sri Lanka. In which region, do you find concentration of different communities?
In Belgium, Dutch-speaking people are concentrated in the Flemish region, French-speaking people in the Walloon region, and German-speaking people in the eastern region. Brussels has both French-speaking and Dutch-speaking communities. In Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan Tamils are mainly concentrated in the northern and eastern regions, while the Sinhalese form the majority in most other parts of the country.
Majoritarianism in Sri Lanka
What’s wrong if the majority community rules? If Sinhalas don’t rule in Sri Lanka, where else will they rule?
A majority community may form the government, but it should not use its numerical strength to ignore or suppress minorities. Democracy requires equal rights, respect for every community and the sharing of power. Sinhala majoritarianism discriminated against Tamils and created alienation, conflict and disunity.
Accommodation in Belgium
What kind of a solution is this? I am glad our Constitution does not say which minister will come from which community.
Belgium’s arrangement is a special power-sharing solution designed for its linguistic divisions. Equal numbers of Dutch-speaking and French-speaking ministers prevent either community from making decisions alone. Although such a fixed arrangement may not suit every country, it helped Belgium protect minority interests and remain united.
Let us read newspaper
Classify these conflicts by their location (your state, India, outside India).
The collected clippings should be placed in three groups: conflicts occurring within the students’ state, conflicts occurring elsewhere in India, and conflicts occurring outside India.
Find out the cause of each of these conflicts. How many of these are related to power sharing disputes?
The causes should be identified separately for every clipping, such as disputes over political representation, territory, resources, language, religion or regional autonomy. Conflicts in which a group demands representation, equal rights, autonomy or a share in decision-making are related to power-sharing disputes.
Which of these conflicts could be resolved by working out power sharing arrangements?
Conflicts caused by the exclusion or domination of particular social, linguistic, religious or regional groups could be addressed through power-sharing arrangements. Possible measures include fair representation, regional autonomy, federalism, coalition government and protection of minority rights.
Let us revise
If the parents of Annette and Selvi were to approach respective governments to realise the desire of the child who is more likely to succeed? And why?
Annette’s parents are more likely to succeed. In Belgium, community governments have authority over cultural, educational and language-related matters, and they represent language communities regardless of where their members live. Selvi’s parents are less likely to succeed because Sri Lanka’s majoritarian policies favoured Sinhala and repeatedly denied Tamil demands for equal recognition and regional autonomy.
Khalil’s dilemma
Can you help poor Vikram in answering Vetal?
Vikram should not immediately replace Lebanon’s safeguards with a system in which the largest community can capture every important office. The existing arrangement helped prevent renewed conflict, but it could gradually be made more democratic and flexible. Lebanon could retain guaranteed representation for major communities while introducing proportional representation, rotation of important offices and equal opportunities for citizens who do not identify with a particular religious community.
Reigning the Reins
What, according to this cartoon, is the relationship between democracy and concentration of power? Can you think of some other examples to illustrate the point being made here?
The cartoon suggests that democracy weakens when political power becomes concentrated in one leader or institution. Democracy requires limits on authority, accountability and checks and balances. For example, an executive that controls the legislature, interferes with the judiciary or prevents opposition parties and the press from functioning freely would concentrate power and reduce democratic accountability.
Forms of power-sharing
In my school, the class monitor changes every month. Is that what you call a power sharing arrangement?
Changing the monitor every month is a rotation of responsibility and may allow several students to exercise authority over time. However, it becomes genuine power sharing only when decision-making power is actually distributed and students are able to participate, rather than one monitor exercising all authority alone.
Let us revise
The Bombay High Court ordered the Maharashtra State Government to immediately take action and improve living conditions for the 2,000-odd children at seven children’s homes in Mumbai.
This represents horizontal power sharing among organs of government. The judiciary, represented by the Bombay High Court, is checking and directing the executive, represented by the Maharashtra State Government.
The government of Ontario state in Canada has agreed to a land claim settlement with the aboriginal community. The Minister responsible for Native Affairs announced that the government will work with aboriginal people in a spirit of mutual respect and cooperation.
This represents power sharing between the government and a social group. The Ontario government is sharing decision-making and cooperating with the aboriginal community.
Russia’s two influential political parties, the Union of Right Forces and the Liberal Yabloko Movement, agreed to unite their organisations into a strong right-wing coalition. They propose to have a common list of candidates in the next parliamentary elections.
This represents power sharing among political parties. The Union of Right Forces and the Liberal Yabloko Movement are forming a coalition and agreeing to contest the election together.
The finance ministers of various states in Nigeria got together and demanded that the federal government declare its sources of income. They also wanted to know the formula by which the revenue is distributed to various State Governments.
This represents vertical power sharing among governments at different levels. Nigeria’s State Governments are seeking transparency and a fair division of revenue from the federal government.
Exercises
1. What are the different forms of power sharing in modern democracies? Give an example of each of these.
Modern democracies have four major forms of power sharing. First, power is shared horizontally among the legislature, executive and judiciary; for example, courts can review the actions of the executive. Second, power is shared vertically among governments at different levels; for example, India has Union, State and local governments. Third, power is shared among social groups; for example, Belgium has community governments for its language communities. Fourth, power is shared among political parties, pressure groups and movements; for example, parties may form a coalition government.
2. State one prudential reason and one moral reason for power sharing with an example from the Indian context.
A prudential reason is that power sharing reduces conflict and promotes political stability. For example, the division of powers between the Union and State Governments helps accommodate India’s regional and linguistic diversity. A moral reason is that citizens have a democratic right to participate in decisions affecting them. For example, Panchayati Raj gives local people a direct role in governing their communities.
3. After reading this chapter, three students drew different conclusions. Which of these do you agree with and why? Give your reasons in about 50 words.
Thomman - Power sharing is necessary only in societies which have religious, linguistic or ethnic divisions.
Mathayi – Power sharing is suitable only for big countries that have regional divisions.
Ouseph – Every society needs some form of power sharing even if it is small or does not have social divisions.
I agree with Ouseph. Every democracy needs power sharing because authority should not be concentrated in one person or institution. Even a small and socially homogeneous country requires checks and balances among organs of government, public participation and competition among political parties. Power sharing is therefore essential to democratic government itself.
4. The Mayor of Merchtem, a town near Brussels in Belgium, has defended a ban on speaking French in the town’s schools. He said that the ban would help all non-Dutch speakers integrate in this Flemish town. Do you think that this measure is in keeping with the spirit of Belgium’s power sharing arrangements? Give your reasons in about 50 words.
No. Belgium’s power-sharing system is based on respect for linguistic diversity and the accommodation of different communities. Banning French in schools imposes the language of one community on another and restricts cultural and linguistic rights. Integration should be achieved through cooperation and mutual respect, not through forced linguistic uniformity.
5. Read the following passage and pick out any one of the prudential reasons for power sharing offered in this.
“We need to give more power to the panchayats to realise the dream of Mahatma Gandhi and the hopes of the makers of our Constitution. Panchayati Raj establishes true democracy. It restores power to the only place where power belongs in a democracy – in the hands of the people. Giving power to Panchayats is also a way to reduce corruption and increase administrative efficiency. When people participate in the planning and implementation of developmental schemes, they would naturally exercise greater control over these schemes. This would eliminate the corrupt middlemen. Thus, Panchayati Raj will strengthen the foundations of our democracy.”
One prudential reason is that giving power to Panchayats can reduce corruption and increase administrative efficiency. When local people participate in planning and implementing schemes, they can supervise them closely and prevent corrupt middlemen from misusing public resources.
6. Different arguments are usually put forth in favour of and against power sharing. Identify those which are in favour of power sharing and select the answer using the codes given below? Power sharing:
A. reduces conflict among different communities
B. decreases the possibility of arbitrariness
C. delays decision making process
D. accommodates diversities
E. increases instability and divisiveness
F. promotes people’s participation in government
G. undermines the unity of a country
(a) A B D F
(b) A C E F
(c) A B D G
(d) B C D G
The correct answer is (a) A B D F. Power sharing reduces conflict, decreases arbitrariness, accommodates diversity and promotes people’s participation in government.
7. Consider the following statements about power sharing arrangements in Belgium and Sri Lanka.
A. In Belgium, the Dutch-speaking majority people tried to impose their domination on the minority French-speaking community.
B. In Sri Lanka, the policies of the government sought to ensure the dominance of the Sinhala-speaking majority.
C. The Tamils in Sri Lanka demanded a federal arrangement of power sharing to protect their culture, language and equality of opportunity in education and jobs.
D. The transformation of Belgium from unitary government to a federal one prevented a possible division of the country on linguistic lines.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) A, B, C and D (b) A, B and D (c) C and D (d) B, C and D
The correct answer is (d) B, C and D. Belgium’s leaders accommodated linguistic differences instead of allowing the Dutch-speaking majority to impose its domination, while Sri Lanka adopted majoritarian policies.
1. Power shared among different organs of government
B. Separation of powers
2. Power shared among governments at different levels
D. Federal government
3. Power shared by different social groups
A. Community government
4. Power shared by two or more political parties
C. Coalition government
9. Consider the following two statements on power sharing and select the answer using the codes given below:
A. Power sharing is good for democracy.
B. It helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups.
Which of these statements are true and false?
(a) A is true but B is false
(b) Both A and B are true
(c) Both A and B are false
(d) A is false but B is true
The correct answer is (b) Both A and B are true. Power sharing supports democratic participation and reduces the possibility of conflict between social groups.