Power Sharing
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So, here i am with a new chapter that is 1st chapter of civics (class 10).
Notes:-
Introduction : Intelligent sharing of power among Legislature,Executive and Judiciary is very important for the design of democracy. The vertical division of power among different levels of government is one of the major forms of power sharing in modern democracies.
Forms of Power Sharing :-
• Power is shared among different organs of government, such as the legislature, executive and judiciary. This is called horizontal distribution of power because it allows different organs of government, placed at the same level to exercise different powers. It results in checks and balance of power.
• Power can be shared among governments at different levels, a general government for the entire country called Federal government and governments at the provincial or regional level. In India, we refer to it as the Central or Union government. The governments at the provincial or regional level are called State governments. The constitution clearly lays down the powers of different levels of government.
• Power may also be shared among different social groups , such as the religious and linguistic groups. For example, -'Community government' in Belgium. In some countries there are constitutional and legal arrangements, where by socially weaker sections and women are represented in the legislatures and administration.
• Power sharing arrangements can also be seen in the way political parties, pressure groups and movements control or influence those in power. Power is shared among different political parties that represent different ideologies and social groups.
• In a democracy, we find interest groups such as those of r taders, businessmen, industrialists, farmers and industrial workers. They have a share in governmental power, through participation in governmental committees or bringing influence on the decision making process.
Accommodation in Belgium :-
• Belgium is a small country in Europe. It has borders with Netherlands, France and Germany and a population of little over one crore. The ethnic composition of this small countryis very complex.
• Of the country’s total population, 59 percent lives in the Flemish region and speaks Dutch language. Another 40 percent people lives in the Wallonia region and speaks French. Remaining 1 percent of the Belgians speak German.
• In the capital city Brussels, 80 percent people speak French,while 20 percent are Dutch speaking.
• The minority French speaking community was relatively powerful. This was resented by the Dutch speaking community who got the benefit of economic development and education much later, which led to tension between them during the 1950s and 1960s.
• Brussels presented a special problem - the Dutch speaking people constituted a majority in the country but minority in the capital.
• The Belgian leaders recognized the existence of regional differences and cultural diversities so they amended their constitution four times between 1970 and 1993.
• Constitution prescribes that the number of Dutch and French speaking ministers shall be equal in the central government. No single community can take decisions unilaterally.
• Many powers of the central government have been given to state governments of the two regions of the country. The state governments are not subordinate to the central government.
Brussels has a separate government in which both the communities have equal representation.
• Apart from the A 'community government' is elected by the people belonging to one language community; Dutch, French and German speaking in this case, in which the government has the power regarding cultural, educational and language related issues.
• This Belgian model has worked well so far and helped to avoid civic strife between the two major communities and a possible division of the country on linguistic lines.
Majoritarianism in Sri Lanka :-
• Sri Lanka is an island nation, just a few kilometers off thes outhern coast of Tamil Nadu. It has about 2 crore people.
• Sri Lanka has a diverse population. The major social groups are the Sinhala speakers (74 percent), and the Tamil speakers(18 percent).
• Among Tamils, there are two sub groups. Tamil natives of the country are called 'Sri Lankan Tamils' (13 percent). The rest, whose forefathers came from India as plantation workers during colonial period are called 'Indian Tamils'.
• Most of the Sinhala speaking people are Buddhist, while most of the Tamils are Hindus or Muslims. There are about 7 percent Christians, who are both Tamil and Sinhala.
• Sri Lanka emerged as an independent country in 1948. The democratically elected government adopted a series of majoritarian measures to establish Sinhala supremacy.
• In 1956, an Act was passed to recognize Sinhala as the only official language, disregarding Tamil. Sinhala applicants were favoured for university positions and government jobs. A new constitution stipulated that the state shall protect and foster Buddhism.
• Sri Lankan Tamils felt that move of the major political parties led by the Buddhist Sinhala leaders, were sensitive to the language and culture.
• They felt that the constitution and government policies denied them equal political rights, discriminated against them in getting jobs and other opportunities and ignored their interests.
• As a result, the relations between the Sinhala and Tamil communities strained over time.
• Sri Lankan Tamils launched parties and struggles for the recognition of Tamil as an official language, for regional autonomy and equality of opportunity in securing education and jobs.
• By 1980s, several political organizations were formed demanding an independent Tamil Eelam (state) in northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka.
• The distrust between the two communities turned into a Civil War. As a result, thousands of people of both the communities have been killed. Many families were forced to leave the country as refugees and many more lost their livelihood.
• Sri Lanka has an excellent record of economic development, education and health. But the Civil War has caused a terrible setback to the social, cultural and economic life of the country.
• Thus in Belgium, the leaders have realized that the unity of the country is possible by mutually acceptable arrangements for sharing power, whereas in Sri Lanka, it shows that a majority community wants to force its dominance and refuses to share power by undermining the unity of the country.
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