Power Sharing

    Cards (22)

    • In a democracy, power is not concentrated in one organ of the government
    • Belgium and Sri Lanka stories highlight how democracies handle demands for power-sharing
    • Power-sharing among legislature, executive, and judiciary is important for the design of a democracy
    • Belgium:
      • Complex ethnic composition with Dutch, French, and German-speaking communities
      • Tensions between Dutch-speaking and French-speaking communities
      • Special problem in Brussels with Dutch-speaking majority in the country but minority in the capital
    • Sri Lanka:
      • Sinhala community sought dominance over government
      • Majoritarian measures established Sinhala supremacy
      • Discrimination against Tamil community in language, jobs, and political rights
      • Resulted in civil war and thousands of casualties
    • Belgian model of power-sharing:
      • Equal number of Dutch and French-speaking ministers in central government
      • State governments have significant powers
      • Separate government in Brussels with equal representation for both communities
      • Community government for cultural, educational, and language-related issues
    • Benefits of power-sharing:
      • Reduces conflict between social groups
      • Ensures stability of political order
      • Upholds the spirit of democracy by sharing power with those affected
    • Prudential reasons for power-sharing:
      • Better outcomes and stability in the long run
      • Tyranny of the majority can undermine national unity
    • Moral reasons for power-sharing:
      • Democracy involves sharing power with those affected
      • Citizens have a right to be consulted on governance
    • In Lebanon, power sharing among different communities is based on specific rules:
      • The country's President must belong to the Maronite sect of Catholic Christians
      • The Prime Minister must be from the Sunni Muslim community
      • The post of Deputy Prime Minister is fixed for the Orthodox Christian sect
      • The Speaker must be from the Shi’a Muslim community
    • The Christians agreed not to seek French protection and the Muslims agreed not to seek unification with the neighbouring state of Syria
    • The power sharing agreement in Lebanon was established when Christians and Muslims were nearly equal in population, even though now Muslims are in the clear majority
    • Khalil, a popular man with political ambition in Lebanon, questions the power sharing system and advocates for a more 'normal' democracy with open elections
    • Power sharing in modern democracies can take various forms:
      • Power shared among different organs of government (horizontal distribution of power)
      • Power shared among governments at different levels (federal government)
      • Power shared among different social groups
      • Power sharing arrangements seen in political parties, pressure groups, and movements
    • In India, power sharing involves State Governments and a federal division of power
    • Community government in Belgium is an example of power sharing among different social groups
    • Power sharing arrangements can also be seen in the way political parties, pressure groups, and movements control or influence those in power
    • Examples of power sharing:
      • Bombay High Court ordering the Maharashtra State Government to improve living conditions for children
      • Ontario state in Canada agreeing to a land claim settlement with the aboriginal community
      • Russia's political parties forming a right-wing coalition
      • Finance ministers of states in Nigeria demanding transparency in revenue distribution
    • Prudential reasons for power sharing include reducing conflict among different communities and accommodating diversities
    • Arguments in favor of power sharing:
      • Reduces conflict among different communities
      • Decreases the possibility of arbitrariness
      • Accommodates diversities
      • Promotes people's participation in government
    • Power sharing is essential for democracy and helps reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups
    • Forms of power sharing:
      1. Power shared among different organs of government - Separation of powers
      2. Power shared among governments at different levels - Federal government
      3. Power shared by different social groups - Community government
      4. Power shared by two or more political parties - Coalition government
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