Power Sharing - Detailed Notes

Belgium's Case

Belgium is a small European country bordering France, the Netherlands, Germany, and Luxembourg.
It has a complex ethnic population.
59% live in the Flemish region and speak Dutch.
40% live in Wallonia and speak French.
1% speak German.

Brussels is the capital of Belgium.
80% of people in Brussels speak French.
20% of people in Brussels speak Dutch.
The minority French-speaking community was rich and powerful, which was resented by the Dutch-speaking community.
Tensions between the two communities were severe in Brussels during the 1950s and 1960s.

Belgian leaders recognized regional and cultural differences.
Four constitutional amendments were made between 1970 and 1993 to facilitate peaceful living.
Arrangements made for peaceful living:
- The constitution prescribes an equal number of Dutch and French-speaking ministers in the central government.
- Many powers of the central government were given to state governments of the two regions.

Both communities have equal representation.
Community Government:
- Elected by people belonging to one language community (Dutch, French, or German-speaking), no matter where they live.
- The Belgian model worked well, avoiding civil strife and division on a linguistic basis.

Sri Lanka is an island nation south of Tamil Nadu with a diverse population.
74% of the population speaks Sinhala.
18% of the population speaks Tamil.
Religious composition:
- Buddhist: Sinhala Speakers (74%)
- Hindus & Muslims: Tamil Speakers (18%)
- Christians: 7% (both Tamil & Sinhala)

'Sri Lankan Tamils' (13%): Tamil natives of the country.
Indian Tamils: Forefathers came from India as plantation workers during the colonial period.

A belief that the majority community should be able to rule a country in whichever way it wants, disregarding the wishes and needs of the minority.
In 1956, an Act recognized Sinhala as the only official language of Sri Lanka.
Sinhala community leaders adopted majoritarian measures to establish Sinhala supremacy and followed majoritarianism.
Sinhalese were given preferential treatment.
Tamil speakers felt the constitution and government policies denied them equal political rights and discriminated against them in getting jobs.
Tamils launched parties & struggles for:
- Recognizing Tamil as an official language

By the 1980s, several political organizations formed demanding Tamil Eelam.
Distrust between the communities grew and ultimately resulted in a CIVIL WAR, which ended in 2009.

Prudential Reason:
- Power sharing brings out better outcomes.
- Helps reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups.
- Ensures the stability of political order.
- Tyranny of the majority is oppressive for the minority and often brings ruin to the majority.
Moral Reason:
- Emphasizes the very act of power sharing as valuable.
- Power sharing is the spirit of democracy.
- People have a right to be consulted on how they are to be governed.
- A legitimate government is one where citizens, through participation, acquire a stake in the system.

For a long time, it was believed that all power of a government must reside in one person or group at one place.
It was felt that if the power to decide is dispersed, it would not be possible to take quick decisions and to enforce them.

Power is shared among different organs of government.
- Legislature
- Executive
- Judiciary

Different organs of government are placed at the same level to exercise different powers.
None of the organs can exercise unlimited power; each organ checks the others.
Results in a balance of power among various institutions.
This arrangement is called a system of checks and balances.

Usually called federal government.
Not all democracies have a federal structure.
India has a 3-tier federal structure instead of just two levels.
The constitution clearly lays down the powers of different levels of government.
Belgium implemented this, but Sri Lanka refused.

Power may be shared among different social groups, such as religious and linguistic groups.
This arrangement gives space in government & administration to diverse social groups who otherwise would feel alienated.
Minority communities get a fair share in power.
Example: ‘Community government’ in Belgium.
‘Reserved constituencies’ in assemblies & the parliament of our country.

Can also be seen in the way political parties, pressure groups, and movements control or influence those in power.
In a democracy, citizens must have the freedom to choose among various contenders for power.

A form of government in which political parties cooperate, reducing the dominance of any one party within that "coalition."
Competition among parties ensures that power does not remain in one hand.
Sometimes power is shared directly when two or more parties form an alliance to contest elections.
If their alliance is elected, they form a coalition government and thus share power.

Pressure Groups: Groups of people who are organized actively for promoting and defending their common interests.
In a democracy, various pressure groups organize popular struggles or protest against any decision of the government which they feel is wrong.
They put pressure on the government to influence the decision.

Horizontal Power Sharing:
- Power is shared among different organs of government such as the legislature, executive, and judiciary.
- The organs of the government are placed at the same level to exercise different powers.
- It keeps a check on the use of power of government.
- Ensures the concept of the expansion of democracy.
Vertical Power Sharing:
- Power is shared among different organs of government such as union, state, and local levels of government.
- The power involves the highest and the lower levels of government.
- No concept of checks and balance.
- Promotes the concept of deepening of democracy.