Power Sharing and Governance

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to power sharing, governance in Belgium and Sri Lanka, and the ethnic conflicts associated with these topics.

Power Sharing

The distribution of power among different branches and levels of government.

Belgium

A federal state in Western Europe with a complex ethnic composition.

Ethnic Groups in Belgium

The major ethnic groups include the Dutch-speaking Flemish, the French-speaking Walloons, and a smaller German-speaking community.

Major Language in Belgium

Dutch is the primary language in the Flemish Region, while French is commonly spoken in the Walloon Region.

Sri Lanka

An island nation in the Indian Ocean known for its ethnic diversity, particularly among Sinhalese and Tamils.

Ethnic Conflict in Sri Lanka

The struggle between the Sinhalese majority and the Tamil minority leading to civil war.

Power Sharing in Governance

Policies that allow different ethnic or linguistic groups to participate in government decisions.

Advantages of Horizontal Distribution of Power

Helps maintain checks and balances among different government institutions.

Vertical Distribution of Power

Distribution of power among different levels of government, such as central and local.

Communal Conflict

Struggles between different ethnic or religious groups for political control.

Civil War in Sri Lanka

A conflict that erupted due to ethnic tensions, particularly between Sinhalese and Tamils.