CBSE Class 10 Political Science Notes Chapter 1 Power Sharing
Chapter 1 - Power Sharing
History of Belgium
Belgium is a small European country of over 10 million people, about half of Haryana's population. Of the total population, 59% speak Dutch, 40% speak French, and 1% speak German. See the map below for language options in Belgium. The French-speaking minority benefited from economic development and education because they were wealthy and powerful. This created tension between the Dutch and French-speaking communities in the 1950s and 1960s
Belgium Deploy
In Belgium, the government has done a good job of handling community differences. Between 1970 and 1993, Belgian leaders amended the constitution four times and proposed a new model for running the government.
Below are some elements of the Belgian model
The Constitution stipulates that there should be an equal number of Dutch and French-speaking ministers in the central government. Some special laws require the support of a majority of each language group member. So no community can make decisions unilaterally. State governments are not subordinate to the central government. Brussels has a separate government in which both communities have equal representation.
There is a third type of government besides central government and state government. This "community government" is elected by people belonging to the same language community (Dutch, French, German), regardless of where they live. This government has authority over cultural, educational, and language matters. The Belgian model was very complex, but it helped avoid a feud between the two main communities.
History of Sri Lanka
Now let's look at the situation in another country, Sri Lanka. It is an island nation with a population of 2 crores, roughly the same as Haryana. Sri Lanka's population is diverse. The main social groups are Sinhala speakers (74%) and Tamil speakers (18%). Among the Tamils, there are two subgroups: "Tamils of Sri Lanka" and "Tamils of India". The map below shows the population distribution of the various communities in Sri Lanka.
In Sri Lanka, the Sinhala community had an overwhelming majority and enforced its will throughout the country.
Sri Lanka became an independent country in 1948. Since the Sinhala community was the majority, they formed the government. They also maintained a preferential policy giving Sinhalese candidates preferential treatment for university positions and government positions. These government actions gradually increased the sense of alienation among Sri Lankan Tamils. Sri Lankan Tamils believed that the Constitution and government policies denied them equal political rights, discriminated against them in employment and other opportunities, and ignored their interests. Relations between Sinhalese and Tamils are deteriorating because of this. Sri Lankan Tamils have organized political parties, recognize Tamil as an official language, and fight for local autonomy and equality of educational and job opportunities. However, their demands have been repeatedly denied by the government. Mistrust between the two communities led to large-scale conflict and escalated into civil war. Thousands of people died in both communities as a result. Many families have been forced to leave the country as refugees and many others have lost their livelihoods. The civil war ended in 2009 and dealt a severe blow to the country's social, cultural, and economic life.
What did you learn from the stories of Belgium and Sri Lanka?
Both countries are democracies, but they have different attitudes toward the concept of the separation of powers.
Belgian leaders realized that national unity is only possible if the feelings and interests of different communities and regions are respected.
Why is the separation of powers desirable?
The answer to this question can be found in the paragraph below. The division of power is good because it helps reduce the potential for conflict between social groups.
The second reason is that democratic government shares power with those who are affected by its implementation and have to live with the consequences. People have the right to consult on how to govern them.Let us call the first group of causes prudent and the second moral. Prudent reasons emphasize that sharing power can lead to better outcomes, while moral reasons emphasize the value of the act of sharing power.
Forms of power sharing
It was assumed that all powers of government should belong to one individual or group of people located in one place. Otherwise, it will be very difficult to make and implement quick decisions. But this thinking changed with the advent of democracy. In a democracy, people govern themselves through institutions of self-government. Everyone has a say in shaping public policy. In a democracy, therefore, political power must be distributed to the citizens.
In modern democracies, the division of power can take many forms, such as This is called horizontal power distribution because it allows different powers at the same level to exercise different powers. This separation ensures that no single entity can exercise unrestricted power. Each body checks other bodies. This arrangement is called a checks and balances system.
Power can be divided between the general government over the entire country and government at the local or regional level, called the federal government.
Power can also be divided into different social groups, such as religious and linguistic groups. The Belgian "public government" is a good example of such a device. This method is used to provide an equitable distribution of power to minority communities.
Power-sharing mechanisms can also be seen in the way political parties, pressure groups, and movements control or influence those in power. Two or more parties unite to participate in elections and, if elected, share power by forming a coalition government.
Frequently asked Questions on CBSE Class 10
What is ‘Power Sharing’?
Power sharing means the distribution of power among the organs of the government such as the legislature, executive, and judiciary.
What are the languages spoken in Belgium?
Belgium is composed of four language areas: the Dutch language area, the French language area, the German language area (9 municipalities in the east of Belgium), and the bilingual Brussels-Capital area.
Where is Sri Lanka located?
Sri Lanka is an island in the Indian Ocean, located to the south of the Indian Subcontinent. sprawling over an area of 65,525 sq. km.
