POWER SHARING ( CH-1 , CLASS - X) POL.SC.

Chapter-1

Power Sharing

Q1. Explain the ethnic composition of Belgium and Sri Lanka.

Ans. Belgium - Of the country’s total population 59% lives in the Flemish region and speak Dutch language. Another 40% people live in the Wallonia region and speak French. Remaining 1% of the Belgians speak German.  In the capital city Brussels, 80% people speak French while 20% are Dutch-speaking.

Sri Lanka - The major social groups are the Sinhala- speakers (74%) and the Tamil speakers (18%). Among Tamils there are 2 subgroups. The natives of the country are called ‘Sri-Lankan Tamils’ (13%). The rest, whose forefathers came from India as plantation workers during colonial period, are called ‘Indian Tamils’ (5%).

Q2. What is majoritarianism? State the main features of the Act 1956 taken  by the Sri Lankan government.

Or

What majoritarian measures were taken by the Sri Lankan government to establish the dominance  of Sinhalas in the country?

Ans. A belief that the majority community should be able to rule a country in whichever way it wants, by disregarding the wishes and needs of the minority is called Majoritarianism. The main features of the Act 1956   taken by the Sri Lankan government were-

a)                   Sinhala as the only official language.

b)                  The govt. followed preferential policies that favoured Sinhala applicants for university positions and govt. jobs.

c)                  Buddhism was declared as state religion.

Q3. What were the main demands of Sri Lankan Tamils?

Ans. i. For the recognition of Tamil as an official language.

ii. Regional autonomy

iii. Equality of opportunity in securing education and jobs.

Q4. What were the main causes of tension between French and Dutch in Belgium?

Ans. He minority French-speaking community was relatively rich and powerful. This was resented by the Dutch speaking community who got the benefit of economic development and education much later. This led to tensions b/w the Dutch-speaking and French-speaking communities.

Q5. What was the result of the majoritarian measures taken by Sinhala govt. on Sri Lankan Tamils in Sri Lanka?

Ans  i. All the govt. measures gradually increased the feeling of alienation among the Sri       Lankan Tamils.

        ii. They felt that none of the major political parties led by the Buddhist Sinhala leaders was sensitive to their language and culture.

       iii. They felt that the constitution and govt. policies denied them equal political rights and discriminated against them.

      iv. As a result, the relations b/w the Sinhala and Tamil communities strained over time.

Q6. State the main features of the Belgium model of power sharing.

Ans. 1. Constitution of Belgium prescribes that the no. of Dutch and French speaking ministers shall be equal in the central govt.

         2. Some special laws require the support of majority of members from each linguistic   group.

         3. Many powers of the central govt. have been given to the state govt. and the state govts. are not subordinate to the central govt.

         4. Brussels has a separate govt. in which both the communities have equal representation.

Q7. What factors led to the emergence of civil war in Sri Lanka?

Ans. 1. The majoritarian measures taken by the Sri Lankan govt. lead to a feeling of alienation among Sri Lankan Tamils.

         2. They put up their demands of regional autonomy or equality in front of the Sri Lankan govt.

         3. However, when the Sri Lankan govt. did not accept these demands, the Sri Lankan Tamils demanded a separate state as independent Tamil eelum.

         4. The distrust b/w the Sinhala community and Sri Lankan Tamils lead to a wide spread conflict which soon turned into a civil war.

Q8. Write a note on community government in Belgium?

Ans.  The local government in Belgium was called the community government which is elected by the people belonging to one language community- Dutch French or German. This community government had power to make laws on cultural, educational and language related issues.

Q9. How was the power sharing arrangement in Belgium different from that of Sri Lanka? What was its result?

Ans. In Belgium, leaders have realised that the unity of the country is possible only by respecting the feelings and interests of different communities and regions. Sri Lanka shows that if a majority community wants to force its dominance over others and refuses to share power, it can undermine the unity of the country as the Sinhala govt. did. As a result, Belgium has peace and democracy till date and in Sri Lanka people started the feeling of alienation which caused the civil war.

Q10. What are the prudential and moral reasons for power sharing?

Or

Why is power sharing necessary in a democracy? Explain.

Ans. Prudential- Power sharing is good because it helps to reduce the possibility of social conflict b/w social groups. It is a good way to ensure the stability of political order.

Moral- Power sharing is he very spirit of democracy. A democratic rule involves sharing power with those affected by its exercise, and who have to live with its effects.

While prudential reasons stress that power sharing will bring out better outcomes, moral reasoning emphasize the very act of power sharing as valuable.

Q11. Define power sharing .

Ans. Power sharing implies sharing of political power among all ethanic groups in a country where by every group gets a chance to be the part of the govt. in one way or the other.

Q12. Why was some countries of the world was not in favour of power sharing ?

Ans. For a long time it was believed that all power of a government must reside in one person or group of persons located 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.

Q13. Justify that in a democracy political power should be distributed among as many citizens as possible?

Ans. 1. One basic principle of democracy is that people are the source of all political power.

2. In a democracy, people rule themselves through institutions of self – govt.

3. In a good democratic govt. , due respect is given to diverse group and views that exist in a society.

4. Everyone has a voice in the shaping of public policies.

5. Therefore, in a democracy political power should be distributed among as many citizens as possible.

Q14. State the main features of horizontal power sharing ? or

How is power sharing done among different organs of the government ? or

Why is horizontal power sharing also called a system of checks and balance?

Ans. 1. In this system power is shared among different organs of government.

2. It allows different organs of government placed at the same level to exercise different powers.

3. Such a separation ensures that none of the organs can exercise unlimited power.

4. Each organ checks the other. This results in a balance of power among various institutions.

5. Hence, this arrangement is also called a system of checks and balance.

Q15.  State the main features of Vertical ower sharing ? or

Write the main features of federal power sharing.

Ans. In this system power can be shared among governments at different levels.

2. There is a general government for the entire country and governments at the provincial or regional level.

3. The constitution clearly lays down the powers of different levels of govt. This is called federal division of power.

4. This division of power involves higher and lower levels of govt. Hence it is called vertical division of power.

Q16. Give 2 examples of power sharing among social groups ? Why is such kind of power sharing important?

Ans. Community government in Belgium.

2. ‘Reserved Constituencies’ in assemblies and the parliament in India.

This type of arrangement is meant to give space in the govt. and administration to diverse social  groups who otherwise would feel alienated from the govt. This method is used to give minority communities a fair share in power.

Q17. How is power sharing done among political parties and interest groups ?

Ans. Political Parties –

1.                  In a democracy, the citizens have freedom to choose among various contenders for power.

2.                  This takes the form of competition among different parties.

3.                  Such competition ensures that power does not remain in one hand.

4.                  In the long run, power is shared among different political parties that represent different ideologies and social groups.

Interest Groups-

1.                  In a democracy there are interest groups such as those of traders, businessmen, industrialists, farmers and industrial workers.

2.                  They also will have a share in governmental power, either through participation in governmental committee or bringing influence on the decision making process.

Q18. Explain the various forms of power sharing in modern democracies ?

Ans. In horizontal power sharing, power is shared among different groups of government, placed at the same level to exercise different power.This is also called the system of checks and balances

3.                  In the system where power is shared among govt. at different levels is called vertical power sharing. This division of powers involves higher and lower levels of govt. ( central govt., state govt., local govt.).

4.                  Power may also be shared among different social groups such as the religious and linguistic groups. This method is used to give minority community a fair share in power.

5.                  In a democracy, power is also shared among different political parties that represent different ideologies and among different interest groups such as traders, businessmen, farmers etc.