Class 10 Civics Chapter 1: Power-sharing Exhaustive Study Notes

The Concept of Power-Sharing in a Democracy

In a democratic system, power is not concentrated in any single organ of the government. An intelligent distribution of power among the legislature, the executive, and the judiciary is essential to the design of a functional democracy. This chapter explores how different democracies handle demands for power-sharing through the stories of Belgium and Sri Lanka. These examples provide insight into why power-sharing is necessary and the various forms it can take. The fundamental idea is that power-sharing is not about dividing or weakening a country, but rather about ensuring stability and unity by acknowledging the diverse groups within a society. By examining these two nations, we can conclude that the way a government manages ethnic and social divisions determines the long-term peace and integrity of the nation.

Ethnic Composition and Tensions in Belgium

Belgium is a small European country, smaller in area than the Indian state of Haryana, with a population of a little over $1$ crore ($10,000,000$), which is about half the population of Haryana. It shares borders with France, the Netherlands, Germany, and Luxembourg. The ethnic composition of Belgium is highly complex. Of the total population, $59\%$ live in the Flemish region and speak the Dutch language, while $40\%$ live in the Wallonia region and speak French. The remaining $1\%$ of Belgians speak German. In the capital city, Brussels, the demographic is reversed compared to the national average: $80\%$ of the people speak French, while only $20\%$ are Dutch-speaking.

The term "ethnic" refers to a social division based on shared culture where people believe in a common descent due to similarities in physical type, culture, or both, regardless of religion or nationality. In Belgium, the minority French-speaking community was relatively rich and powerful, which caused resentment among the Dutch-speaking majority who received the benefits of economic development and education much later. This disparity led to acute tensions between the two communities during the $1950s$ and $1960s$. The problem was particularly intense in Brussels, where the Dutch speakers were a majority in the country but a distinct minority in the city itself. Without a proper power-sharing arrangement, this could have led to a messy partition of the country, with both sides claiming control over the capital.

Diversity and Majoritarianism in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is an island nation located a few kilometers off the southern coast of Tamil Nadu, India, with a population of about $2$ crore ($20,000,000$). Its population is diverse, with the Sinhalas making up $74\%$ of the population and Tamil speakers comprising $18\%$. The Tamils are further divided into two subgroups: "Sri Lankan Tamils," who are natives of the country ($13\%$), and "Indian Tamils" ($5\%$), whose forefathers came from India as plantation workers during the colonial period. Sri Lankan Tamils are largely concentrated in the north and east. Most Sinhala speakers are Buddhists, while most Tamils are Hindus or Muslims. Additionally, about $7\%$ of the population is Christian, belonging to both Tamil and Sinhala groups.

After achieving independence in $1948$, the leaders of the Sinhala community sought to establish dominance through their numerical majority. This concept, known as Majoritarianism, is the belief that the majority community should rule the country however it wants, disregarding the needs of the minority. In $1956$, an Act was passed to recognize Sinhala as the only official language, disregarding Tamil. The government implemented preferential policies favoring Sinhala applicants for university positions and government jobs, and the new constitution mandated that the state foster and protect Buddhism. These measures alienated the Sri Lankan Tamils, who felt their language, culture, and political rights were being ignored. This led to the formation of political organizations demanding an independent Tamil Eelam (state). The resulting distrust escalated into a violent Civil War—a conflict between opposing groups within a country so intense it appears like a war—which caused thousands of deaths and a massive setback to the country’s social, cultural, and economic life before ending in $2009$.

The Belgian Model of Accommodation

Between $1970$ and $1993$, Belgian leaders amended their constitution four times to creates an innovative arrangement for peaceful coexistence. The Belgian model consists of several key elements. First, the Constitution prescribes that the number of Dutch and French-speaking ministers shall be equal in the Central Government, and certain special laws require the majority support of each linguistic group to prevent unilateral decisions. Second, many powers of the Central Government were devolved to State Governments in the two regions, which are not subordinate to the center. Third, Brussels has a separate government where both linguistic communities have equal representation. Finally, a unique "Community Government" exists, elected by people of one language group (Dutch, French, or German) regardless of where they live. This government handles cultural, educational, and language-related issues. While complex, this system has prevented civic strife and linguistic division, eventually leading to Brussels being chosen as the headquarters for the European Union.

Why Power-Sharing is Desirable

There are two distinct sets of reasons for the desirability of power-sharing: prudential and moral. Prudential reasons are based on a careful calculation of gains and losses. Power-sharing is prudential because it reduces the possibility of conflict between social groups, which in turn ensures political stability and prevents violence. While imposing the majority's will might seem attractive in the short term, it eventually undermines the unity of the nation and becomes oppressive even for the majority. Moral reasons emphasize that power-sharing is the "very spirit of democracy." Modern democratic rule involves sharing power with those affected by its exercise. A legitimate government is one where citizens have a stake in the system through participation. In Lebanon, for example, a power-sharing pact was established after a civil war where the President must be a Maronite Catholic, the Prime Minister a Sunni Muslim, the Deputy Prime Minister an Orthodox Christian, and the Speaker a Shi’a Muslim. Although some, like a character named Khalil in the text, find this restrictive and prefer a "normal" democracy, elders see it as a guarantee for peace.

Forms of Power-Sharing in Modern Democracies

Modern democracies exhibit four primary forms of power-sharing. The first is the Horizontal Distribution of Power, where power is shared among different organs of government like the legislature, executive, and judiciary. This creates a system of "checks and balances" where each organ ensures the others do not exercise unlimited power. The second is the Vertical Division of Power, or federal division, where power is shared among different levels of government, such as a Central (Union) government, State (Provincial) governments, and local bodies like municipalities and panchayats. In India, the Constitution clearly defines these powers, a system Belgium adopted but Sri Lanka rejected.

Thirdly, power is shared among different social groups, such as religious or linguistic groups. Belgium’s Community Government and India’s system of "reserved constituencies" for women and socially weaker sections in legislatures are examples of this. This ensures minority communities feel included in the administration. Fourthly, power-sharing is seen in the way political parties, pressure groups, and movements influence those in power. In contemporary democracies, competition between parties ensures power does not remain with one group. This is often manifested in "coalition governments," where two or more parties form an alliance to govern. Interest groups like traders, farmers, and industrial workers also share power by participating in governmental committees or influencing decision-making processes.

Questions & Discussion

Khalil’s Dilemma: In Beirut, Khalil, who has a Christian father and a Sunni Muslim mother, is frustrated by Lebanese rules that reserve specific government posts for specific religious sects. He wants a "normal" democracy where whoever gets the most votes wins. However, elders who survived the civil war believe the current pact is the only way to maintain peace. Vetal asks Vikram: "If you had the power to rewrite the rules in Lebanon, what would you do?" This poses the question of whether a fixed community-based power-sharing system is better for stability than a majoritarian election system in a deeply divided society.

Discussion on School Mediums: Annette in Belgium wants French medium instruction in a Dutch school, while Selvi in Sri Lanka wants Tamil medium. Based on the case studies, Annette’s parents are more likely to succeed because the Belgian model actively protects linguistic rights and accommodates regional differences, whereas the Sri Lankan system historically marginalized the Tamil language in favor of Sinhala supremacy.

Classification of Examples:

1. The Bombay High Court ordering the Maharashtra Government to improve children’s homes: This represents horizontal power-sharing, where the judiciary checks the executive.
2. Ontario’s land claim settlement with aboriginal communities: This is power-sharing among different social groups to accommodate minorities.
3. Russia’s Union of Right Forces and Yabloko Movement forming a coalition: This is power-sharing via political parties and alliances.
4. Nigeria’s State Finance Ministers demanding revenue formulas from the federal government: This is a vertical (federal) division of power between different levels of government.