Describe the similarities and differences between sri lanka and belgium ways of power sharing

  • 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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                      The answer of Vikram : Lebanon was known as the 'Switzerland of the East' and the country experienced a relative calm and renowned prosperity, driven by tourism, agriculture, commerce and banking. But in 1975, a full-scale civil war broke out in Lebanon which lasted till 1990. It divested the country's economy. The civil war was ended after sixteen years resulting in massive loss of human life, property and large-scale migration. At the end of the war, there were extensive efforts to revive the economy and rebuild the infrastructure of the country. Lebanon's political system was divided along sectarian lines, i.e. between the Christians and Muslims. So, the lebanon's leaders agreed to divide the total 128 seats of the parliament equally between Christians and Muslims. I think this is the best possible government Lebanon can have. It recognises the existence of regional differences, religious and cultural diversities of the country. The normal type of democracy is not suitable for Lebanon as the country has religious and ethnic diversity. When Lebanon got independence in 1943, it adopted 'Confessionals' i.e., power sharing mechanism based on religious communities. But the power sharing was not equal power sharing. After the civil war ended in 1990, the power sharing is equally divided between the religious communities of Lebanon. I think Lebanon's Parliament must follow this equal power sharing policy as it is working for last two decades.                       


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    • Answer:

                        In my school the class monitor changes every month. We elect our class monitor by giving votes. Most of the eases there are two or three contenders for the post.            We elect that classmate who has courage, sense of responsibility and leadership ability. He or she must be helpful and disciplined.                                 But the changing of class monitor every month cannot be called a power sharing arrangement. Because in power sharing arrangement, there are different institutions, interests groups which exercise their power and check the actions of each others. This system is also called a system  of checks and balances. But this is not present in the changing method of class monitor. 

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    • Answer:

                                        (i) This is an example of power sharing among different organs of the government. Here the power is shared between the Judiciary and the Executive. (ii) This is an example of sharing power among different social groups. According to 2011 census Aboriginal people of Canada Consists of 4.3 percent of total population and in Ontario state alone they are 2.4 percent. Here the power is shared between the aboriginals and other social groups. (iii) This is an example of power sharing arrangement between  political  parties, pressure groups and different organisations. (iv) This is an example of power sharing among the government at different levels. Here the power is being shared between federal and State Governments and also among the different State Governments.

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    • Answer:

                        Belgium shares borders with Netherlands, France, Germany and Luxemboura

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                        59 per cent of the populations lives in the Flemish region and speak Dutch language, 40 per cent live in the Wallonia region and speak French, remaining one percent of the Belgians speak German.

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    • Answer:

                        In the capital city of Brussels, 80 percent people speak French while 20 percent are Dutch speaking communities.

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    • Answer:

                        The minority French speaking community was relatively rich and powerful. This was resented by the Dutch community who got the benefit of economic development and education much later. This led to tension between the Dutch speaking and French speaking communities.

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    • Answer:

                        Brussels presented a special problem the Dutch speaking people constituted a majority in the country, but a minority in the capital.

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