CBSE Class 10 Democratic Politics Power Sharing Worksheet Set A

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. All communities and social groups get their say in the governance. People have a right to be consulted on how they are to be governed. A legitimate government is one where citizens acquire a stake in the system; through participation.

CASE STUDIES OF BELGIUM AND SRI LANKA

Population Distribution - Belgium
Walloon (French-speaking)
Flemish (Dutch-Speaking)
German-Speaking

Brussels-Capital Region
(a) Population of about 11 million
(b) 59% of the total population speak Dutch
(c) 40% of the total population speak French
(d) 1% of the total population speak German
(e) However, in the capital Brussels 80% speak

French and 20% Dutch
The French were relatively rich and powerful.
The Dutch speaking were a majority in the country but a minority in the capital-Brussels.

Mechanics of Power sharing
Belgian leaders recognized the existence of regional differences and cultural diversities.XX Between 1970 and 1993, they amended their constitution four times to work out an innovative arrangement that would enable everyone to live together.
As per Constitution, number of Dutch and French-speaking ministers are equal in the central government.

Consequences

• Though the Belgian model appears complicated the arrangements have worked well. They helped to avoid civic strife between the two major communities and a possible
• division of the country on linguistic lines.
• When many countries of Europe came together to form the European Union, Brussels was chosen as its headquarters.
• Some special laws require the support of majority of members from each linguistic group. Thus, no single community can make decisions unilaterally.
• State governments of the two regions have a lot of power and are not subordinate to the Central Government.
• Brussels has a separate government in which both the communities have equal representation.
• There is a third ‘community government’ elected by the people belonging to one language community – Dutch, French and German-speaking. This government has the power regarding cultural, educational and language-related issues.

(a) Population of about 21 million
(b) Sinhala speaking population 74%
(c) Tamil speaking population 18 %, out of which Sri Lankan Tamils 13% and Indian immigrant Tamils 4%
(d) The Sinhala speakers are Buddhists and the Tamil speakers are Muslims or Hindus.

Mechanics of Power sharing
The democratically elected government adopted a majoritarian measure to establish Sinhala supremacy.

• In 1956 Sinhala became the only official language, thus disregarding Tamil.
• The governments followed preferential policies that favored Sinhala applicants for university positions and government jobs.
• A new constitution stipulated that the state shall protect and foster Buddhism.
• There was a feeling of alienation among the Sri Lankan Tamils.
• They felt that Buddhist Sinhala political parties were not sensitive to their language and culture.
• They felt that the constitution denied them equal political rights and discriminated against them.

Consequences

• The Sri Lankan Tamils launched political parties but their demand for more autonomy to Tamil provinces was denied.
• By 1980s they began demanding an independent Tamil Eelam (state) in northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka.
• The distrust between the two communities turned into widespread conflict and a civil war.
• From the above examples we learn that power sharing actually empowers individuals and communities.

Reasons for Power Sharing

1. Prudential reason- Power sharing is good because it helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups. We know that social conflict often leads to violence and political instability. Thus power sharing can ensure the stability of political order. Imposing the will of majority community over others undermines the unity of the nation.

2. Moral reason - Power sharing is the very spirit of democracy. It must involve sharing of 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. This can only be achieved when the citizens have a stake in the system.

Power Sharing in India

India is a democratic country. People of India elect their representative through direct franchise. After that, people’s representatives elect the government to make or amend rules & regulations and to carry out day to day functioning of governance. In India we have a central government, a state government and a local government (panchayat or municipalities).

WHY POWER SHARING IS DESIRABLE?

• Power sharing helps in reducing the conflict between various social groups. Hence, power sharing is necessary for maintaining social harmony and peace.
• Power sharing helps in avoiding the tyranny of majority. The tyranny of majority not only destroys the minority social groups but also the majority social group.
• People’s voice forms the basis of a democratic government. Hence, power sharing is essential to respect the spirit of democracy.
• Avoiding conflict in society and preventing majority tyranny are considered as prudential reasons for power sharing. Maintaining the spirit of democracy is considered as the moral reason for power sharing.

FORMS OF POWER SHARING

1. Horizontal Power sharing : Power is shared among different arms of the government, such as the legislature, executive and judiciary. This ensures that none of the arms of the government has unlimited power. Each organ acts as a check for the others. This leads to a balance of power among various institutions. For example, though ministers and government officials exercise power, they are responsible to the Parliament or State Assemblies. Similarly, although judges are appointed by the executive, they can check the functioning of executive or laws made by the legislatures. This arrangement is called a system of checks and balances.

2. Vertical Power sharing : Power sharing among governments at different levels :

• A government for the entire country is called ‘Central or Union or Federal Government’.
• The Government in a particular state is called ‘State Government’ in India. In such cases the constitution clearly lays down the powers of different levels of government.
• This is what was done in Belgium but not done in Sri Lanka. This is called federal division of power. The same principle can be extended to levels of government lower than the State government, such as the municipality and panchayat.

3. Empowering Social groups : Power may also be shared among different social groups such as the religious and linguistic groups. ‘Community government’ in Belgium is a good example of this arrangement. In some countries there are constitutional and legal arrangements whereby socially weaker sections and women are represented in the legislatures and administration. System of ‘reserved constituencies’ in assemblies and the Parliament of our country is an example of empowering minority community.

4. Political parties and Pressure groups : Power sharing is also seen in the way political parties, pressure groups and social movements control or influence those in power. In a democracy, acquiring power can take the form of competition among different parties. Such competition ensures that power does not remain in one hand. In the long run, power is shared among different political parties that represent different ideologies and social groups. This kind of sharing can be direct as in a coalition government when two or more parties form an alliance to contest elections. In a democracy, we find interest groups such as those of traders, businessmen, industrialists, farmers and industrial workers. They also will have a share in governmental power, either through participation in governmental committees or bringing influence on the decision-making process.

Important terms and Words

• Ethnic : A social division based on shared culture. People belonging to the same ethnic group believe in their common descent because of physical and or cultural similarities.
• They may or may not have the same religion or nationality.
• Majoritarianism : A belief that the majority community should be able to rule a country in any way it wants, by disregarding the needs of the minority.
• Civil war : A violent conflict between opposing groups within a country.
• Prudential : Based on careful consideration of gains and losses.

MCQ Questions for Class 10 Social Science Power Sharing  

1. Which are the two social groups in Sri Lanka? 

2. Define ‘Elam’.

3. Name the language which is spoken by the majority of people in Brussels. 

4. What is meant by the system of 'checks and balances'? 

5. Mention any one characteristics of power sharing.

6. In which form of government people can express their views freely? 

7. What is a ‘Community Government”?

8. What are the benefits of power sharing?

9. Explain the causes of tension that existed between Dutch and French speaking people in Belgium.

10. Describe the major demands of Sri Lankan Tamils which can settle the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka for good. 

11. Suggest any two measures to integrate the people belonging to different ethnic group in a society. 

12. Explain how power is shared in modern democracies. 

13. Explain the horizontal distribution of power and three merits of this form of power sharing.