Ch-1 Power sharing

                                                  Ch-1 Power Sharing

                                                     Define terms

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

Majoritarianism: A belief that the majority community should be able to rule a country in whichever way it wants, by disregarding the wishes and needs of the minority

Civil war: A violent conflict between opposing groups within a country that becomes so intense that it appears like a war.

Prudential: Based on prudence, or on careful calculation of gains and losses. Prudential decisions are usually contrasted with those decisions based purely on moral considerations.

1.What is community government in Belgium?

Ans-A  community government is one in which different social groups are given the power to handle the affairs related to their communities They are expected to work jointly for the benefit of the common masses without undermining any one community.

In Belgium‘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.

2.Explain the ethnic problem of Sri Lanka?

Ans Sri Lanka is an island nation, just a few kilometres off the southern coast of Tamil Nadu. It has about 2 crore people, about the same as in Haryana. Like other nations in the South Asia region, Sri Lanka has a diverse population. The major social groups are the Sinhala-speakers (74 per cent) and the Tamil-speakers (18 per cent). Among Tamils there are two subgroups. Tamil natives of the country are called ‘Sri Lankan Tamils’ (13 per cent). The rest, whose forefathers came from India as plantation workers during colonial period, are called ‘Indian Tamils’. Sri Lankan Tamils are concentrated in the north and east of the country. Most of the Sinhala-speaking people are Buddhist, while most of the Tamils are Hindus or Muslims. There are about 7 per cent Christians, who are both Tamil and Sinhalas

3.How Belgium government solve the ethnic problem in Sri Lanka?

*The Belgian leaders took a different path. They recognised the existence of regional differences and cultural diversities.

*Between 1970 and 1993, they amended their constitution four times so as to work out an arrangement that would enable everyone to live together within the same country

*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, nosingle 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 Frenchspeaking 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.

4.Why power sharing is desirable?
Prudential Reasons
• According to prudential reason power sharing accommodates social diversity hence, helps in reducing the possibility of conflict between social groups.
• Power sharing in another way ensures the political stability through competition among various political parties
• Besides, power sharing is also desirable to the promotion of national unity and integrity.
Moral Reasons
• Moral Reason is a very deeper reason of power sharing.
• According to moral reason power sharing is desirable to produce an accountable, responsible and legitimate government.
• It implies maximum popular participation through decentralisation of powers so that people would be consulted on how th£y are to be governed.
In this way, both the sets of reasons signify the importance of power sharing in the forms of Community Government, Reserved Constituencies and Decentralisation of powers.

Power sharing is desirable for various concrete reasons. Two sets of reasons have been listed out which favours power sharing in two different manners like: Prudential reason and Moral reason.

.It makes a democracy  more reliable and also of reduces the chances of power getting centrallised in one hand i.e dictatorship .

5.Explain the major forms of power sharing in modern democracies.

5 Explain the different forms of power sharing.

Ans-Power Sharing in Different Organs of Government:

Power is shared among different organs of government, such as the legislature, executive and judiciary. This type of distribution can be called the horizontal distribution of power. This type of power sharing allows different organs of government placed at the same level to exercise different powers.

Such a separation ensures that unlimited power is not vested in any organ of the government. This ensures a balance of power among various institutions. The executive enjoys official power but is answerable to the legislature. The legislature has the right to make or amend laws but it is answerable to the people. The judiciary is independent and ensures that the law of the land is obeyed by legislature and executive.

Power Sharing at Different Levels:

Power can be shared among governments at different levels. Usually a central government is responsible for the entire nation and state governments are responsible for different units of the federation. There is clear cut demarcation on subjects which come under the union government and those which come under the state government. However, there are some subjects which come under the concurrent list, i.e. both state and central governments exercise power on such subjects.

Power Sharing Among Social Groups:

Power may also be shared among different social groups. In a diverse country; like India; there are various social, linguistic and caste groups and power is shared among each group. For example; people from the minority communities, OBCs, and SC & ST are given reservation so that there could be adequate representation for them in the government machinery.

Power Sharing Among Various Pressure Groups:

Power sharing among various political parties is more apparent for most of the people. Usually the largest political party or the largest political coalition becomes the ruling party. The other parties form the opposition. While opposition is not in power, it is responsible for seeing to it that the ruling party functions as per the wishes of the people. Heads of various committees comes from various political parties; which is another way of sharing power among different political parties.

Pressure groups also get their share in power. For example; the trade unions, students’ union, etc. get some power by certain mechanisms. Representatives of these associations become part of many decision making bodies and thus enjoy their share of power.

6.What was the act of 1956 in 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.

7.What does coalition government  imply?

Ans-A coalition government is a cabinet of a parliamentary government in which many or multiple political parties cooperate, reducing the dominance of any one party within that coalition. The usual reason for this arrangement is that no party on its own can achieve a majority in the parliament. A coalition government might also be created in a time of national difficulty or crisis