Describe any three forms of power sharing in modern democracies

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 

• Answer:

                    In modem democracies, power sharing arrangements can take many forms. The most common forms are (i) Horizontal Power Sharing When power is shared among different organs of government, such as the Legislature, Executive and Judiciary. It allows different organs of government placed at the same level to exercise different powers. This arrangement is called a system of checks and balances because each organ checks others to balance power. (ii) Vertical Power Sharing When power is shared among different levels of government like Central Government, State Government, Municipality and Panchayat level. In India, we have Central or Union Government,  State Governments and local governments like Municipalities and Panchayats. (iii) Power may also be shared among different social groups like women, weaker sections of society, etc through constitutional and legal arrangements.
  

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Answer:

                In modern democracies, the following are some of the important power sharing arrangements (i) Power Sharing among the Different Organs of Government (i.e. Horizontal   distribution   of power) In this form of power sharing, power is assigned by the Constitution among different organs of government such as the Legislature, Executive and Judiciary. This type of distribution ensures separation of powers among the organs at the same level, so that none of the organs can exercise unlimited power. Each organ puts a check on the others in order to maintain balance of power under the system of checks and balances. This arrangement is as below in India.

(ii) Power Sharing among Governments at Different Levels (Vertical distribution of power sharing) In this form of power sharing, power is shared at the different levels of government. The overall governing body for the country is known as 'Union Government' or 'Federal Government' and the government at the constituent units is known as State Government. The third or lowest level is local government, e.g., Municipalities and Panchayats in India. (iii) Power Sharing among Political Parties, Pressure Groups and Movements In a democracy, power is also shared among different political parties, pressure groups and movements. Democracy provides the citizens the freedom to choose their rulers. This freedom is provided by various political parties which contest elections to win them. Such competition ensures that power is not always in the hand of a single person.

In the lone run, power   is   shared   among     different       political    parties that represent   different ideologies and    social          groups.   Sometimes this kind of sharing can be direct,   when two or more parties form an alliance to contest elections. If their alliance  is  elected,  they form  a coalition government and thus share power. In a democracy, various pressure groups and movements also remain active. They will also have an indirect share in government power, either through participation in government committees or bringing influence on the decision-making process. An example is the currently running UFA Government in India, which is a coalition government. (iv) Power Sharing among Different Social Groups In a democracy, especially, in multi-ethnic society, power is also shared among social groups such as religious and linguistic   groups. 'Community government' in Belgium is a good example of this arrangement. There are constitutional and legal arrangements in India whereby socially weaker sections and women are represented in the Legislatures and administration. We have a system of 'reserved constituencies' in State Assemblies and the Parliament. This type of arrangement is meant to give proper share in the government and administration to diverse social groups who otherwise would feel alienated from the government.

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• Answer:

                     The prudential reason for power sharing is good because it helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups. In India, seats have been reserved both in Parliament and State Legislatures for the socially weaker sections of our society. One more example of power sharing for a moral reason is decentralization of powers in India. People have a right to be consulted on how they are to be governed. Thus, the citizens have a stake in governance by having the power to vote in elections for selecting the people to govern them by their representatives. They also put pressure on government to rethink its policies and reconsider its decisions. This active political participation is the moral reason for power sharing.
  

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• Answer:

                    Belgium is a small country in Western Europe with complex Ethnic composition. Of the country's total population 59 per cent lives in the Flemish region and speaks Dutch language. Another 40 per cent live in Wallonia region and speak French. Remaining 1 per cent speak German. In spite of these diversities the leaders decide to make an arrangement for power sharing. Between 1970 and 1993, they amended their Constitution four times so as to work out an arrangement that would enable everyone to live together within the same country. The Constitution provides that the number of Dutch and French-speaking ministers shall be equal in the Central Government. Contrary to it, leaders of the Sinhala community in Sri Lanka sought to secure dominance over government by virtue of their majority and refused to share power with the Tamils. The democratically elected government adopted a series of Majoritarian measures to establish Sinhala supremacy.
  

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• Answer:

                    Two reasons can be given in favour of power sharing. (i) In a democracy, people are the source of all political power. In a good democracy due respect given to diverse groups and views that exist in a society. So, political power should be distributed among as many citizens as possible. Power sharing is good because it helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups. Social conflict leads to violence and political instability. Tyranny of the majority is bad for both minority and majority as well. (ii) A Legitimate Government is one where citizens participate in the system. People have a right to be consulted on how they are to be ruled. In a democracy, people enjoy this benefit. A democratic rule involves sharing power among its citizens. Power sharing is the very spirit of democracy. It implies maximum popular participation through decentralization of powers, so that people would be consulted on how they are to be governed.
  

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• Answer:

                    Majoritarianism is a philosophy which asserts 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 means submission of the minority group to the majority group for all the decisions affecting their lives. A series of majoritarian measures were adopted by the democratically elected government in Sri Lanka after its independence in 1948. It adopted majoritarianism to establish Sinhala supremacy. In 1956, an Act was passed to recognise Sinhala as the only official language, thus disregarding Tamil. The governments followed preferential policies that favoured Sinhala applicants for university positions and government jobs. A new Constitution advocated that the state shall protect and promote Buddhism. All these measures taken by the government gradually increased the feeling of alienation among Sri Lankan Tamils.
  

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• Answer:

                      Three demands of the Sri Lankan Tamils are (i) Disillusioned by the Government's Majoritarian policy, the Sri Lankan Tamil started their struggle by launching their own political party like LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam). They wanted recognition of Tamil as an official language, regional autonomy and equality of opportunity in securing education and jobs. (ii) The demands of the Sri Lankan Tamils for more autonomy to provinces populated by the Tamils were repeatedly rejected. (iii) By the 1980s, several political organisations were formed demanding an independent Tamil Eelam (state) in Northern and Eastern parts of Sri Lanka. The conflict between the two communities turned into widespread conflict and it soon turned into a civil war. As a result, thousands of people of both the communities have been killed and this caused a terrible set back to the social, cultural and economic life of the country.
  

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• Answer:

                    The idea of power sharing has emerged in opposition to the notions of undivided political power. For a long time, it was believed that all power of a government must reside in one person or group of persons of 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 apply them. These ideas have changed with the emergence of democracy. Now, power sharing is the essential idea of democracy. It promotes the fallowing values (i) It helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups. (ii) It ensures the stability of political order. (iii) It is the very spirit of democracy. Everyone  has a voice in the shaping of public policies.
  

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• Answer:

                    Both Belgium and Sri Lanka dealt with the question of power sharing differently. (i) In Belgium, the leaders have realised that the unity of the country is possible only by respecting the feelings and interests of different communities and regions. Thus, the Belgium government does not follow any preferential policies in matters of jobs and education while in Sri Lanka the government follows preferential policies that favours Sinhala applicants for university positions and government jobs. (ii) In Belgium, there is a special government called 'community government' which has the power regarding cultural, educational and language based issues. But in Sri Lanka no major political parties are sensitive to the language and culture of 'Tamils'. (ii) In Belgium, there is no discrimination between religions. But in Sri Lanka, a new Constitution declares that the state shall protect and foster Buddhism.
  

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• Answer:

                    Power sharing has the following prudential reasons which are cited in the passage-reducing corruption by giving power into the hands of the people and thus, making them responsible for their own decisions. This increases the administrative efficiency by delegating the decision-making function to the people affected by it and also improving the efficiency of the system by reducing the number of middlemen, as well as transferring the planning and implementation to the people concerned through panchayats.
  

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• Answer:

                    There are three official languages spoken in Belgium, e.g., Dutch, French and German.
  

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• Answer:

                    Power sharing means the distribution of powers of the government between the organs of the government or sharing of power at different levels of government.
  

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• Answer:

                    Power sharing is desirable in democracy because of 1. Prudential reasons (i) Power sharing helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between different social groups. As social conflict often leads to violence and political instability, power sharing helps to ensure the stability of political order. (ii) The absence of power sharing results into imposition of will by majority community over other. In the short run, it appears attractive, but in the long run it undermines the unity of the nation. 2. Moral reason (i) Power sharing is the very spirit of democracy. (ii) In democracy people have a right to be consulted on how they are to be governed through participation, they acquire a stake in the system. Thus it is obvious that sharing of power makes us more powerful.
  

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• Answer:

                    If the parents of Annette and Selvi were to approach respective governments to realise the desire of the child, the parents of Annette is more likely to succeed. Because in Belgium, Constitution prescribes that the number of Dutch and French-speaking ministers shall be equal in the Central Government. No single community can make decisions unilaterally. Also there are 'Community government' who has the power regarding cultural, educational and language related issues. Thus the French-speaking people who are minority in Belgium, are facing no problem to formulate rules in favour of them. In case of Sri Lanka, the scene is totally different. Sri Lanka declared 'Sinhala' as the only official language of the state. The 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. But their demands were repeatedly denied. From the above discussion we can easily conclude that the parents of Annette is more likely to succeed to fulfil their child's wish.
  

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