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Power Sharing |
- Class: 10th
- Subject: Social Science (Political Science)
- Subject: Power Sharing
- Resources: Notes, Important Questions
Topics in chapter
• Belgian story
• Story of Sri Lanka
• Majoritarianism in Sri Lanka
• Why is power sharing desirable?
• Power-sharing forms
Belgium and Sri Lanka:
- Belgium is a small country in Europe.
- It has borders with the Netherlands, France and Germany.
- 59% speak Dutch in the Flemish region.
- The other 40% live in the Wallonia region and speak French.
- The remaining 1% of Belgium speak Germany.
- n In the capital city of Brussels, 80% people speak French, while 20% speak Dutch.
- The minority French-speaking community was relatively prosperous and powerful.
- It was resented by the Dutch-speaking community, which later benefited from economic development and education.
- The tension between the two communities in Brussels was quite severe.
- Like other countries in the South Asia region, Sri Lanka has a diverse population.
Story of sri Lanka
- Sri Lanka is an island nation, with a diverse population of about two crore people in the south of India.
- Major social groups are Sinhalese speaking (74 percent) and Tamil speaking (18 percent).
Tamils are divided into two groups:
- Sri Lankan Tamils (13 percent) - Tamil natives of the country
- Indian Tamil (5 percent) - came from India during the colonial period as plantation workers.
- Most Sinhalese-speaking people are Buddhists, while most Tamils are Hindus or Muslims.
- Around 7 percent are Christians, both Tamil and Sinhala.
Majoritarianism in Sri Lanka:
- Sri Lanka emerged as an independent country in 1948.
- Leaders of the Sinhalese community sought to secure dominion over the government on the basis of their majority.
- In 1956, an act was passed recognizing Sinhala as the only official language, thus disregarding Tamil.
- A new constitution stipulated that the state protect and promote Buddhism.
- All these measures, coming one after the other, gradually increased the feeling of isolation among the Sri Lankan Tamils.
- As a result, relations between Sinhala and Tamil communities became strained over time.
- Sri Lankan Tamils launched parties and conflicts.
- But their demand for greater autonomy to the provinces populated by Tamils was repeatedly denied.
- Distrust between the two communities turned into widespread conflict. This soon changed to CIVIL WAR.
- The civil war gave a terrible blow to the social, cultural and economic life of the country.
Why power sharing is desirable?
- Power sharing is good because it helps reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups.
- A democratic regime involves sharing power with the people affected by its practice, and those who have to live with its effects.
- There is a lot of sense of democracy in the division of power.
Forms of power-sharing
In modern democracies, power sharing arrangements can take many forms.
1. Horizontal distribution
- Power is shared between various organs of government, such as
legislature, executive and judiciary. Example: India.
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| various organs of government |
- vertical distribution of power: Power can be shared between governments at different levels - a general government for governments throughout the country and at the provincial or regional level. Example: USA
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| Different levels of Government |
- Power can also be shared between various social groups such as religious and linguistic groups.
Example: Community Government' in Belgium
- The system of power sharing can also be seen as a way to control political parties, pressure groups and movements or influence those in power.
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QUESTIONS BANK
Q.Which ethnic group is in majority In Sri Lanka ?
Or
Which language Is spoken by majority of Sri Lankans ?
Ans. Sinhala
Q. Name the two subgroups of Tamils in Sri Lanka ?
Ans. (1) Sri Lankan Tamils
(2) Indian Tamil
Q. When did Sri Lanka emerge as an independent nation ? (CBSE Sep. 2010.
Ans. 1948
Q.Name the ethnic groups of Sri Lanka which were involved in a Civil War.
Ans. (1) Sri Lankan Tamils or the Sinhalese
(2) Indian Tamils
Q. What is majoritarianism ? Name a country which has lost peace due to this
Ans. 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. Sri Lanka
Q. Power shared among different organs of government is known as horizontal distribution of power. Give reason.
Ans. Because it allows different organs of government placed at the same level to exercise different powers.
Q. Apart from the Central and the State Government, there is a third kind of government in Belgium. Which is that third kind of government ?
Ans. Community government.
Q. What is the basic principle of democracy ?
Ans. The basic principle of democracy is that people are the source of all political power.
Q. For a long time it was believed that all power of government must reside in one person or group of persons located at one place. Give reason.
Ans. It was felt that if the power to decide dispersed, it would not be possible to take quick decisions
Q. Name the most important organs of the government
Ans .Legislature, Executive and Judiciary.
LONG QUESTIONS:
1. What is Civil War ?Explain with an Examples?
2. Why is power sharing desirable?
0r
Why is power sharing necessary in democracy ?Explain
3. Explain the major form of power sharing in modern democracy?
4. Describe Horizontal and vertical power sharing ?
5. How is power shared among the different organ of the government?
6. What is Majoritarianism ?How has it been adopted in Sri Lanka ?
7. What is the ethnic composition of Belgium ?
8. What is power sharing ?Explain it features?
9. How did the Sri Lankan and the Belgium government try to solve the ethnic problem?
10. "Power Sharing is the essence of a democratic government "? Explain the statement
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