DEMO POL.(X)-CHAPTER – 1 POWER SHARING

DEMO POL.(X)-CHAPTER – 1

POWER SHARING

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v INTRODUCTION-

Ø As you know that power sharing is essential feature of democracy. Power is shared in a democracy among the different organs of government and different level of government. In this lesson we come to know about the importance of power sharing and its forms through examples.

v ETHNIC COMPOSITION OF BELGIUM

Ø It is small country in Europe, sharing borders with Netherlands, France and Germany.

Ø Its population is nearly little more than 1 crore but have the complex ethnic composition like

§  59 % people Speak Dutch and live in Flemish region

§  40% Speak French and live in Wallonia region

§  1%  Speak German

Ø Its capital is Brussels that have different ethnic composition compare to the country.

§  80%  people Speak French

§  20%  people Dutch Speaking

v ETHNIC COMPOSITION OF SRI LANKA

Ø It is an island nation situated in the Southern coast of Tamilnadu.

Ø It became independent in 1948 and capital is Colombo.

Ø It population also diverse according to language and religion-

§  Sinhala Speakers 74% People. They are all Buddhist.

§  Tamil Speakers  18% People. They are Hindu or Muslims. 

·       Sri lankan Tamil-13%

·       Indian Tamil-5%

§  Nearly 8% were Christians. They were both Sinhala and Tamil speakers.

v POWER SHARING ARRANGMENT IN SRILANKA

Ø  Sri Lanka was a democratic country but did not follow the policy of power sharing and follow the policy of Majoritarianism, according to that majority community dominance in the government.

Ø The sri Lankan government adopted the policy of, In 1956 government passed the act and have taken many decision-.

§  1. Sinhala was declared the only official Language.

§  2. The governments favoured Sinhala applicants for university positions and government jobs.

§  3.A new constitution stipulated that the state shall protect and foster Buddhism.

Ø RESULT OR EFFECT-

§  It Increased the feeling of  Distrust among the Srilankan Tamils.

§  Constitution and the government ignored the interests and  denied equal political  rights.

§  Sri Lankan Tamils launched partie (LTTE) and demanded Tamil Eelam State and civil war started.

 v POWER SHARING ARRANGMENT IN BELGIUM

Ø The Belgium government adopted the policy of Accommodative), according to that majority community will not dominance in the government.

Ø Between 1970 and 1993, they amended their constitution four times that would enable everyone to live together within the same country.They have taken many decision as-

§  Equal No. of Ministers from  Dutch and French speaking were in Central Government.

§   No single community can make decisions for itself.

§  State Govt were not subordinate to Central Govt.

§   In the capital city, Brussels: Govt too had equal representation French people agreed with Dutch.

§  Third government known as Community Government ,  has the power regarding cultural, educational and language-related issues. It was elected by Dutch, French and German.

Ø RESULT OR EFFECT

§  The government respecting the feelings of different communities and regions

§  Brussels was chosen as headquarters of European Union.

§  The country remains united

BELGIUM

SRI LANKA 

                       

v WHY POWER SHARING IS DESIRABLE

Ø PRUDENTIAL REASONS

§  The reason which based on careful calculation of gains and losses are refers as prudential reason. These reasons stress that power sharing will bring out better outcomes for a democracy

·       It reduces the conflict between social groups.

·       It also helps in the stability of political order in a country.

·       It also makes unity of the Country.

Ø MORAL REASONS

§  The reasons which are based purely on moral consideration and emphasis the act of power sharing as valuable.

·       Power sharing is desirable because it is the very spirit of democracy.

·       In a democracy people have a right to be consulted on how they are to be governed for that power sharing is necessary.

·       A legitimate government is one where citizens, through participation, acquire a stake in the system.

v FORMS OF POWER SHARING

v Horizontal distribution of power

Ø Power is shared among different organs of government,  legislature, executive and judiciary

Ø It is called as the horizontal distribution of power because it allows different organs of government placed at the same level to exercise different powers. 

Ø Each organ checks the powers of other organs. This results in a balance of power among various institutions.

Ø This arrangement is called a system of checks and balances.

v  VERTICAL DISTRIBUTION OF POWER SHARING

Ø Power can be shared among governments at different levels – a general government for the entire country and governments at the provincial or regional level.

Ø In India there are three levels  of government as-

§  Central Level-Federal government or Central or Union Government.

§  Provincial or regional level –State Government

§  Local Level-Panchayats Or Municipalities

Ø The constitution clearly lays down the powers of different levels of government.

Ø This is also called federal division of power.

v POWER SHARING  AMONG DIFFERENT SOCIAL GROUPS

Ø In a democracy power also can share among different social groups like religious and linguistic groups.

Ø In some countries there are constitutional and legal arrangements whereby socially weaker sections and women are represented in the legislatures and administration.

Ø This power sharing provides the space in the government and administration to diverse social.

Ø This method also gave fair share to minority communities in power.

Ø Community government’ in Belgium and ‘reserved constituencies’ in India are the good examples of this power sharing.

v  POWER SHARING AMONG POLITICAL PARTIES, PRESSURE AND MOVEMENTS GROUPS-

Ø  In a democracy, the citizens must have freedom to choose among various contenders for power.

Ø  In contemporary democracies, power is shared among different political parties that represent different ideologies and social groups

Ø   In a democracy power is also shared among the interest groups such as groups of traders, businessmen, industrialists, farmers and industrial workers through participation in governmental committees or bringing influence on the decision-making process.

TERMS-

vRule by the Ethnic -Social division based on shared culture.  (Identify              with each other on the basis of common  ancestry)  Need not have the         same religion or nationality.

v Majoritarianism  -Rule by the majority community  whichever way it wants disregarding minority.

v Civil War-A violent conflict between opposing groups (people) of a country.

v LTTE- LIBERATION TIGER OF TAMIL ELEM was formed in 1975 to fight for Tamilian rights.