This chapter introduces power-sharing as a central feature of democracy, using the contrasting examples of Belgium and Sri Lanka. Belgium, with its Dutch, French and German-speaking communities, worked out an ingenious arrangement to share power among regions and communities at every level, avoiding conflict. Sri Lanka, by contrast, followed majoritarian policies that favoured the Sinhala majority and ignored the Tamil minority, leading to alienation, distrust and a long civil war. From these cases the chapter draws two reasons for power-sharing: a prudential reason — that it reduces conflict and ensures the stability of the political order — and a moral reason — that power-sharing is the very spirit of democracy, since people who are affected by a government have the right to be consulted. It then sets out the main forms of power-sharing: among the organs of government (horizontal distribution), among governments at different levels (vertical distribution), among social groups, and among political parties, pressure groups and movements.
The case of BelgiumThe case of Sri LankaMajoritarianism and its effectsPrudential and moral reasons for power-sharingForms of power-sharingHorizontal and vertical distribution
Key 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
Belgium and Sri Lanka
Majoritarianism in Sri Lanka
Accommodation in Belgium
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Khalil’s dilemma
Reigning the Reins
Forms of power-sharing
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Exercises
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The prudential reason for power-sharing is that it:
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