Power Sharing is Chapter 1 of Class 10 Political Science (Civics), from the NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training) book Democratic Politics II. It is a short chapter, but a question from it comes in almost every board exam. These notes cover the full chapter in simple English: the stories of Belgium and Sri Lanka, why power sharing is good for democracy, and the four forms of power sharing.
Read the notes, then try the important questions at the end.
Chapter at a glance
- Power sharing means dividing the power of the government among different levels, organs and social groups, instead of keeping it in one hand.
- Belgium shared power and stayed united. Sri Lanka did not, and faced a civil war.
- Power sharing is good for two reasons: it reduces conflict (prudential reason) and it is the spirit of democracy (moral reason).
- Four forms: horizontal (among organs), vertical (among levels), among social groups, and among political parties and pressure groups.
The story of Belgium
Belgium is a small country in Europe, next to France, the Netherlands, Germany and Luxembourg. Its population is a little over one crore, but its ethnic (language) make-up is complex:
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- 59% live in the Flemish region and speak Dutch.
- 40% live in the Wallonia region and speak French.
- 1% speak German.
- In the capital, Brussels, 80% speak French and 20% speak Dutch.
The French-speaking community was richer and more powerful. The Dutch-speaking community, though larger in number, got the benefit of economic development much later. This caused tension between the two groups in the 1950s and 1960s. Brussels was a special problem: Dutch speakers were a majority in the country but a minority in the capital.
The Belgian model
Between 1970 and 1993, Belgian leaders changed their constitution four times so that no single community could take all the decisions. Main features:
- The number of Dutch-speaking and French-speaking ministers in the central government must be equal. Some special laws need the support of the majority of members from each language group. So no single community can decide alone.
- Many powers of the central government were given to the state governments of the two regions. The state governments are not under the central government.
- Brussels has a separate government with equal representation for both communities. French speakers accepted this because the Dutch speakers accepted equal representation at the centre.
- A third kind of government, the community government, is elected by people belonging to one language community (Dutch, French and German), wherever they live. It has power over culture, education and language issues.
The Belgian model is complicated, but it worked. It avoided civil strife, and Brussels became the headquarters of the European Union.
The story of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is an island nation just south of Tamil Nadu. Its population is about two crore. Major social groups:
- Sinhala speakers: 74%.
- Tamil speakers: 18%. Among them, Sri Lankan Tamils (13%) are natives of the country; Indian Tamils (5%) came as plantation workers during colonial rule.
- Most Sinhala speakers are Buddhists. Most Tamils are Hindus or Muslims. About 7% are Christians, from both communities.
Majoritarianism
Sri Lanka became independent in 1948. The Sinhala community, being the majority, wanted to run the country its own way. This is called majoritarianism: the belief that the majority community should rule in any way it wants, ignoring the wishes of the minority.
- In 1956, an Act made Sinhala the only official language, ignoring Tamil.
- Sinhala applicants were preferred for government jobs and university seats.
- The new constitution said the state shall protect and foster Buddhism.
The Tamils felt like second-class citizens. They demanded that Tamil be made an official language, regional autonomy, and equal opportunity in jobs and education. Their demands were denied. By the 1980s, several political organisations demanded a separate Tamil Eelam (state) in the north and east. Distrust turned into a civil war, which caused huge loss of life and ended only in 2009.
Why is power sharing desirable?
The two stories teach us that power sharing is necessary. There are two sets of reasons:
- Prudential reasons (practical benefits): power sharing reduces conflict between social groups. Social conflict often leads to violence and political instability. Majority rule that ignores others may look good in the short run, but it undermines the unity of the nation in the long run. Sharing power is the wise thing to do.
- Moral reasons (it is the right thing): power sharing is the very spirit of democracy. In a democracy, people rule themselves. Everyone affected by a decision has a right to be consulted. A legitimate government is one in which citizens take part in the working of the government.
Forms of power sharing
Earlier it was believed that all power should be in one place. Modern democracy believes power should be shared. Four forms:
1. Horizontal power sharing (among organs of government)
Power is shared among the legislature (makes laws), the executive (runs the government) and the judiciary (courts). All three are at the same level, so it is called horizontal. Each organ checks the others. This is called a system of checks and balances. Example: the courts can check the government if it misuses power.
2. Vertical power sharing (among levels of government)
Power is shared between the central government, the state governments and local governments (panchayats and municipalities). This is the federal division of power. The constitution says which subject belongs to which level.
3. Power sharing among social groups
Different religious and language groups share power. Belgium’s community government is one example. In India, reserved constituencies in assemblies and Parliament for SC, ST and women, and the representation of minority communities in government, are examples.
4. Power sharing among political parties, pressure groups and movements
In a democracy, parties compete for power. Sometimes two or more parties form an alliance and share power in a coalition government. Pressure groups (traders, farmers, workers, industrialists) also influence government decisions.
Key terms
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ethnic | A social division based on shared culture. People of one ethnic group believe in common descent, and often share language or religion. |
| Majoritarianism | The belief that the majority community should rule a country in any way it wants, ignoring the wishes of the minority. |
| Civil war | A violent conflict between opposing groups within a country that becomes so intense that it looks like a war. |
| Prudential | Based on prudence, that is, careful calculation of gains and losses. |
| Checks and balances | Each organ of government checks the others, so no organ has unlimited power. |
| Community government | A government elected by people of one language community, with power over culture, education and language. |
Important questions
- What are the different forms of power sharing in modern democracies? Give an example of each. (5 marks)
- Explain the majoritarian measures taken by the Sri Lankan government after 1956. (3 marks)
- Describe the main features of the Belgian model of accommodation. (5 marks)
- Give the prudential and moral reasons for power sharing. (3 marks)
- “Power sharing is the very spirit of democracy.” Justify the statement. (3 marks)
- How is the ethnic composition of Belgium different from that of Sri Lanka? (3 marks)
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FAQs
Why did Belgium and Sri Lanka handle diversity differently?
Belgium’s leaders recognised regional and cultural differences and shared power. Sri Lanka’s majority forced its will on the minority. Belgium stayed united; Sri Lanka went into civil war.
What is the difference between horizontal and vertical power sharing?
Horizontal sharing is among organs at the same level: legislature, executive and judiciary. Vertical sharing is among levels of government: central, state and local.
Is this chapter important for the board exam?
Yes. One 3-mark or 5-mark question from Power Sharing appears in most CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) papers, and it also comes in MCQs and assertion-reason questions.
More Class 10 Social Science notes
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