Power Sharing Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering the key concepts of power sharing in Belgium and Sri Lanka, including majoritarianism, forms of power sharing, and the rationale for sharing power.

Belgium

A small country in Europe with a population of over $1$ crore, where the population speaks Dutch ($59\%$), French ($40\%\text{)}$, and German ($1\%\text{)}$.

Dutch-speaking community

The linguistic group in Belgium that makes up $59\%$ of the total population.

French-speaking community

A minority community in Belgium making up $40\%$ of the population that was rich and powerful, leading to tensions in the $1950\text{s}$ and $1960\text{s}$.

Sri Lanka

An island nation with a population of $2$ crores that emerged as an independent country in $1948$ and has a diverse population of Sinhala and Tamil speakers.

Sinhala-speakers

The major social group in Sri Lanka, comprising $74\%$ of the population, which established supremacy through majoritarian measures.

Tamil-speakers

A social group in Sri Lanka making up $18\%$ of the population, divided into subgroups of "Sri Lankan Tamils" and "Indian Tamils."

Belgian Constitutional Amendments

The four changes made to the Belgian constitution between $1970$ and $1993$ to create a new model where Dutch and French-speaking ministers are equal in the Central Government.

Community government

A third kind of government in Belgium elected by people belonging to one language community—Dutch, French, and German—having power over cultural, educational, and language-related issues.

Majoritarianism

A system followed in Sri Lanka where the majority Sinhala community formed the government and followed preferential policies favoring Sinhala applicants for jobs and university positions.

Civil War

A widespread conflict between the Sinhala and Tamil communities in Sri Lanka that ended in $2009$ after causing a terrible setback to the country.

Prudential reason

A reason for power sharing that stresses power sharing will bring out better outcomes by reducing social conflicts and ensuring political stability.

Moral reason

A reason for power sharing that emphasizes the act as the very spirit and essence of democracy, where people have the right to be consulted.

Horizontal distribution of power

Power shared among different organs of government such as the legislature, executive, and judiciary, placed at the same level.

System of checks and balances

An arrangement where each organ of government checks the others to ensure none can exercise unlimited power.

Vertical division of power

Power shared among governments at different levels, such as a general government for the entire country and provincial or regional governments.

Coalition government

A government formed when two or more parties form an alliance to contest elections and share power after being elected.