Democratic Politics Ii Chapter 1 Power Sharing

Different Forms of Power Sharing in Modern Democracies: These are : (i) Power sharing as existed in different organs of government, (ii) Power sharing seen at different levels of government, (iii) Power sharing seen at different social groups, (iv) The so-called power sharing among different political parties, pressure groups and movements viz.

I. Power Sharing in Governance:

(i) Legislature 

(ii) Executive 

(iii) Judiciary

II. Power sharing among governments at different levels:

 (a) Centre (b) State (c) Local self

III. Power-sharing among different social groups: Linguistic and Religious groups, e.g., Community Government in Belgium.

IV. Power sharing among political parties, pressure groups and movements:

(a) Political Parties 

(b) Pressure Groups 

(c) Movements 

(i) Prudential reason: Power sharing helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups. For example in India, Hindi has not been imposed on the southern states. 

(ii) Moral reason: Power sharing is the very soul of democracy. People have right to be consulted on how they are to be governed. In India, reservation of seats for SCs and STs in state assemblies and parliament is an example of moral reason.

(a)A, B, C and D

C.

D.

A.

A.

C.

D.

A.

A.

A.

B.

D.

C.

D.

A.

A.

59%

B.

A.

A.

B.

A.

D.

Sinhala

C.

D.

C.

Four times

C.

C.

A.

B.

C.

C.

A.

C.

A.

D.

C.

Four times

C.

Parsis

D.

01%

 (a) Ethnic: People belonging to the same ethnic groups believe in their common descent because of similarties of physical type or culture or both.

(b) Civil War: A violent and massive conflict between opposing groups within a country.

(c) Majoritarianism: A belief that the majority community should be able to rule a country in whichever way it wants.

(d) Prudential Consideration: The most factual nature of building concept.

India and Sri Lanka.

The source of all political power in a democracy are the people of that country. Ultimately the power to rule the country rests with the people.

The people exercise their franchise and elect their representatives periodically. These representatives form legislature and frame law for the governance of the country.
If the governance is not carried out according to the will of the will peolple then they tend to change the same goverment in the next elections.

The conflicting groups of people in Sri Lanka are : (i) Sinhalese and (ii) Tamils.

Three organs of the government are:
(i) Legislature (ii) Executive; and (iii) Judiciary

Democracy is the government of the people, by the people and for the people.

The provisions are: 

(i) In 1956, an Act was passed to make Sinhala as the official language.
(ii) The government followed preferential policies favouring Sinhala applicants for University positions and government jobs.
(iii) The Constitution provided for State protection for Buddhism.

Three-tier power sharing is normally seen in almost all democracies of modern times. These are distribution of power among central, state and local self-governments. In Belgium, community governments have been formed because equation of number in two regions i.e. Flemish Region (Dutch speaking) and Wallonia region (French speaking people). It was in accordance to circumstances. In the long-run, such settlements fades and new tensions are arises. 
Sri Lanka is ruled by majoritarianism because Sinhalese are in majority there. This numerical game keeps Sri Lankan Tamils away from political rights, equal status and equal access to government authorities, faculties and institutions. As communities are there arrogant and orthodox, there is a problem of accommodation once already burst out in civil war.

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. Such a separation ensures proper check and balance in their respective position.

Members to pressure groups or interest groups are traders, businessmen/houses, industrialists, farmers and industrial workers. They also will have a share in goverment power, either through participation in govermental committes or bringing influences on the decision making process.

The leaders of the Sinhala community of Sri Lanka sought to secure dominance over government by virtue of their majority.

(ii) In 1956 an Act was passed to recognise Sinhala as the only official language, thus disregarding Tamils.
(iii) The government followed preferential policies that favour Sinhala applicants for university positions and government jobs.
(iv) In Sri Lanka, maximum people believe in Buddhism. A new constitution stipulated that the state shall protect and foster Buddhism.

(i) Amendments brought in constitution to the effect that equal number of ministers from both (French and Dutch speaking) communities shall form Parliament in Central Government.

(ii) Majority of members from each linguistic group shall receive legal support to ensure equal participation in decision-making.

(iii) State governments, i.e. government of two regions (Flemish and Wallomia-region) shall be given autonomous status.

(i) By power sharing at different levels of government viz. three tiers—Centre, State and local self-government.

(ii) By power sharing ascertained among three organs of Government viz. Legislature, Executive and Judiciary.

(iii) By power sharing at local self-government or Panchayati Raj level viz. Village Panchayat/Town Committee, Panchayat Samiti/ Municipal Wards, Zila Parishad/Municipal Corporation or Committee.

Among Different Social Groups: This type of arrangement is meant to give space in the government and administration to diverse social groups, such as the religious and linguistic groups, who would otherwise feel alienated from the government.

Among Political Parties, Pressure Groups and Movements: These influence those who are in power. Since the elected representatives in a government are answerable to the electors, they cannot show indifference towards interests of political parties, pressure groups and movements.

Sri Lanka has a diverse population. The Sinhalese community forms the majority of the population (74%) with Tamils (18%) who are mostly concentrated in the north and east of the island, forming the largest ethnic minority. Other communities include the Muslims. Among, these are two sub-groups. The Tamil natives of the country are called ‘Sri-Lankan’ Tamils (13%). The Tamils, who were brought as indentured labourers from India by British colonialists to work on estate plantations are called the ‘Indian Origin Tamils’ (5%).

Most of the Sinhala speaking people are Buddhists, while most of the Tamils are Hindus or Muslims. There are about 7 per cent Christians, who are both Tamil and Sinhalese.

The three demands of the Sri Lankan Tamils included political, religious and linguistic. 

a.ABCD

3.Every society needs some form of power sharing even if it is small or does not have social divisions.

1.It allows different organs of goverment placed at the same level to exercise different powers

3.Brussels

1.Sinhalas

2.40

2.A govrment in which different social groups are given the power to handle the affairs related to their communities

2.Sri Lanka

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.

It helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups.

It led to widespread conflicts ending in civil war.

(a) Power sharing decreases the possibility of conflict between social groups.

(b) The Constitution of Sri Lanka had not clearly laid down the powers of different communities of Sri Lanka.

Three provisions of the Act passed in 1956 in Sri Lanka as part of the majoritarian measures are as under:
(i) Sinhala was recognised as the only official language discarding Tamils.
(ii) The governments followed prefrential policies that favoured Sinhala applicants for university position and government jobs.
(iii) The constitution stipulated that the state self perfect and foster Buddhism.

(i) 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.
(ii) The State Governments are not subordinate to the Central Government.
(iii) Brussels, the capital, has a separate government where both the communities have equal representation.
(iv) A third kind of government, ‘Community Government’ is elected by people belonging to one language community Dutch, French and German speaking—no matter where they live. This government can decide on cultural, educational and language related issues.

The Sri Lankan Tamils launched parties and struggle for the recognition of Tamil as an official language, for regional autonomy and equality of opportunity in securing education and jobs. But their demand for more autonomy to provinces populated by the Tamils was repeatedly denied. By 1980s several political organisations were formed demanding an independent Tamil Eelam (State) in northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka.

The distrust between the two communities turned into widespread conflict. It soon 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 last their livelihood.

1. Among Governments at Different Levels: There may be governments at different levels, i.e., at the centre, at state level and at local level. The governments at each level may be entrusted with different responsibilities and functions.

2. Among Different Organs of the State: A state has, generally, three organs, viz. (i) legislature, (ii) executive and (iii) judiciary. Each organ of the government has different responsibilities and different functions. This system is called a system of checks and balances.

3. Among Different Social Groups: This type of arrangement is meant to give space in the government and administrtion to diverse social groups, such as the religious and linguistic groups, who would otherwise feel alienated from the government.

4. Among Political Parties, Pressure Groups and Movements: These influence those who are in power. Since the elected representatives in a government are answerable to the electors, they cannot show indifference towards interests of political parties, pressure groups and movements.

(i) Switzerland: As far as Switzerland is concerned there is direct form of democracy. All adults work as legislative and they elect directly their executive and judiciary.

(ii) Canada: (i) In Canada three organs of the government i.e., legislature, executive and judiciary work and they are having their separate jurisdiction.