Power Sharing: Comprehensive Study Notes
Key Terminology and Definitions
Ethnic: A division of society based on shared culture and social classifications.
Civil War: A violent conflict between opposing groups within a single country that becomes so intense it resembles a war.
Prudential: A decision-making approach based on a careful calculation of gains and losses, emphasizing pragmatism over purely emotional or moral considerations.
Majoritarian: A belief system asserting that the majority community should be allowed to rule a country in whichever way it wants, often by disregarding the needs and wishes of the minority.
Case Study: Belgium
Geography and Borders
Belgium is a small country located in Europe.
It shares its borders with four countries: France, the Netherlands, Germany, and Luxembourg.
Ethnic Composition and Language Distribution
Flemish Region: The Dutch language is dominantly spoken here. Approximately of the total population speaks Dutch.
Wallonia Region: The French language is spoken by residents in this region. Approximately of the total population speaks French.
German-speaking: The remaining of the population speaks German.
Capital City (Brussels): The ethnic composition is significantly different from the rest of the country. In Brussels, of the population speaks French, while physical proximity and demographics result in only speaking Dutch.
The Belgium Model of Power Sharing
Constitutional Amendments: Between and , the leaders of Belgium amended their constitution four times to work out an arrangement that would allow everyone to live together within the same country.
Central Government Equality: The Constitution stipulates that the number of Dutch and French-speaking ministers shall be equal in the Central Government. No single community can make decisions unilaterally, as some special laws require the support of the majority of members from each linguistic group.
Devolution of Power: Many powers of the Central Government have been given to State Governments of the two regions. The State Governments are not subordinate to the Central Government.
Brussels Government: The capital city has a separate government where both communities have equal representation. This was accepted because the Dutch community accepted equal representation in the Central Government despite being the majority nationwide.
Community Government: Apart from the Central and State levels, there is a third tier called "Community Government." This is elected by people belonging to one language community (Dutch, French, or German-speaking), regardless of where they live. This government has power regarding cultural, educational, and language-related issues.
European Union: Due to its successful model of accommodation, Brussels was chosen as the headquarters for the European Union.
Case Study: Sri Lanka
Ethnic Composition
Sinhala Speakers: Represent of the population. The official religion associated with this group is Buddhism.
Tamil Speakers: Represent of the population. This group is further divided into two subgroups:
Sri Lankan Tamils: Natives of the country ( of the total population), concentrated in the North and East regions.
Indian Tamils: Descendants of plantation workers who migrated from India during the colonial period.
Majoritarianism in Sri Lanka
The Act of 1956: An Act was passed to recognize Sinhala as the only official language, purposefully disregarding the Tamil language.
Preferential Policies: The government followed policies that favored Sinhala applicants for university positions and government jobs.
Religious Protection: The state stipulated that it would protect and foster Buddhism, further alienating non-Buddhist citizens.
Consequences of Majoritarianism
Alienation: Sri Lankan Tamils felt the government was insensitive to their language and culture.
Discrimination: Tamils felt excluded from equal political rights and discriminated against in jobs and education.
Conflict: Relations between Sinhala and Tamil communities became strained over time.
Demand for Autonomy: By the s, several political organizations were formed demanding an independent Tamil Eelam (state) in the northern and eastern parts of the country.
Civil War: The distrust led to a civil war that ended in . It resulted in the deaths of thousands and caused a massive setback to the social, cultural, and economic life of Sri Lanka.
Theoretical Framework: Why Power Sharing is Desirable
Prudential Reasons
Conflict Reduction: It helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups.
Political Stability: By reducing conflict, it ensures the stability of the political order.
National Unity: It promotes the overall unity of the nation.
Moral Reasons
Spirit of Democracy: Power sharing is the fundamental essence or "very spirit" of democracy.
Stakeholder Participation: A democratic rule involves sharing power with those affected by its exercise.
Right to Consultation: People have a legitimate right to be consulted on how they are to be governed.
Legitimacy: Participation allows citizens to acquire a stake in the system, creating a legitimate government.
Forms of Power Sharing in Modern Democracies
1. Horizontal Division of Power
Organs: Power is shared among different organs of government: the Legislature, Executive, and Judiciary.
Level: All organs are placed at the same level to exercise different powers.
System of Checks and Balances: No organ can exercise unlimited power. Each organ checks the others. For example, in India, while Ministers exercise power, they are responsible to Parliament. Judges are appointed by the Executive but can check the functioning of the Executive and laws made by the Legislature.
2. Vertical Division of Power
Levels: Power is shared among governments at different levels: Union (Central), State (Regional), and Local (Municipality/Panchayat).
Constitutionality: The Constitution clearly lays down the powers of different levels of government.
Direction: Power flows from the higher level to the lower level.
3. Among Social Groups
Diversity: Power is shared among different religious and linguistic groups.
Example: "Community Government" in Belgium or reserved constituencies in assemblies and parliament in India to provide space for weaker sections and minorities.
4. Among Political Parties, Pressure Groups, and Movements
Political Competition: Competition among parties ensures that power does not remain in one hand.
Coalition Governments: When no single party gets a clear majority, two or more parties form an alliance to share power.
Interest Groups: Businessmen, farmers, and industrial workers exercise power through participation in governmental committees or influencing the decision-making process.
Practical Examples and Discussion
Case: The Grand Coalition in Germany
Context: Following the elections, the Christian Democratic Union and the Social Democratic Party (rivals) formed a "Grand Coalition" because neither achieved a clear majority.
Challenge: The coalition government highlighted the disadvantage that rivals may take divergent positions on policy matters, potentially affecting the country's progress.
Rationale: Despite rivalries, parties choose coalition to ensure the center can enforce decisions and maintain a functioning government.
Comparative Analysis: Belgium vs. Sri Lanka
Approach: Belgium adopted "Accommodation," while Sri Lanka adopted "Majoritarianism."
Outcome: Belgium avoided civil strife through four constitutional amendments and equal representation. Sri Lanka experienced a -year civil war due to the isolation of the minority community.
Stability: Sharing power made Belgium more united; refusing power sharing in Sri Lanka threatened national unity.
Specific Application Examples
Judiciary vs. State (India): The Bombay High Court ordering the Maharashtra government to improve children's homes is an example of horizontal power sharing (Judiciary checking the Executive).
State vs. Social Groups (Canada): The Ontario government settling land claims with the aboriginal community represents power sharing among social/ethnic groups.
Political Coalitions (Russia): The Union of Right Forces and the Liberal Yabloko Movement uniting for a common list of candidates illustrates power sharing between political parties.
Federalism (Nigeria): State finance ministers demanding income distribution formulas from the federal government is an example of the vertical form of power sharing.