🌟 Chapter at a Glance
Power-sharing is the distribution of political power among different organs of government, levels of government, social groups, political parties, pressure groups and movements. The chapter begins with contrasting experiences of Belgium and Sri Lanka and uses them to explain why sharing power is desirable in a democracy.
What you will learn
- Ethnic composition and community relations in Belgium and Sri Lanka.
- Majoritarianism and its consequences in Sri Lanka.
- Belgium's accommodation of linguistic and regional diversity.
- Prudential and moral reasons for power-sharing.
- The four major forms of power-sharing in modern democracies.
- Examples of power-sharing in the Indian context.
🇧🇪 1. Belgium — Accommodation of Diversity
Belgium is a small country in Europe, bordering France, the Netherlands, Germany and Luxembourg. Its population contains different linguistic communities, creating a challenge of sharing political power.
Population composition
- 59% live in the Flemish region and speak Dutch.
- 40% live in the Wallonia region and speak French.
- 1% speak German.
- In Brussels, about 80% speak French and 20% are Dutch-speaking.
Why was there tension?
- The French-speaking minority was relatively rich and powerful.
- The Dutch-speaking community received the benefits of economic development and education later.
- Tensions increased during the 1950s and 1960s.
- Brussels was especially sensitive because the Dutch-speaking group was a national majority but a minority in the capital.
Belgium's solution
Belgian leaders chose accommodation rather than allowing one linguistic community to dominate. Between 1970 and 1993, the Constitution was amended four times to create arrangements for sharing power among communities and regions.
The number of Dutch- and French-speaking ministers in the central government is equal.
Certain laws require support from majorities in each linguistic group, preventing unilateral decisions.
Many powers of the central government were transferred to state/regional governments that are not subordinate to the central government.
Brussels has a separate government in which both major communities have equal representation.
A third type of government is elected by people belonging to a language community.
The community government deals with cultural, educational and language-related matters.
🇱🇰 2. Sri Lanka — Majoritarianism
Sri Lanka is an island country near the southern coast of Tamil Nadu. Its population contains major Sinhala-speaking and Tamil-speaking communities.
Ethnic composition
- 74% Sinhala-speakers.
- 18% Tamil-speakers.
- Tamils include Sri Lankan Tamils and Indian Tamils.
- About 7% are Christians, belonging to both Tamil and Sinhala communities.
- Most Sinhala-speakers are Buddhists; most Tamils are Hindus or Muslims.
Majoritarianism
Majoritarianism is the belief that the majority community should be able to rule a country in whichever way it wants, disregarding the wishes and needs of minorities.
After independence in 1948, Sinhala political leaders sought dominance through their numerical majority.
Majoritarian measures
- In 1956, the government recognised Sinhala as the only official language, disregarding Tamil.
- Preferential policies favoured Sinhala applicants for university positions and government jobs.
- The Constitution gave the state responsibility to protect and foster Buddhism.
Reaction of Sri Lankan Tamils
Tamils felt alienated because they believed their language and culture were ignored and that they were denied equal political rights and opportunities. They demanded recognition of Tamil, regional autonomy and equality in education and employment.
By the 1980s, several organisations demanded an independent Tamil Eelam in the northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka. The conflict developed into a civil war, causing large-scale loss of life, displacement and economic and social damage. The civil war ended in 2009.
⚔️ 3. Belgium vs Sri Lanka — The Key Comparison
| Belgium | Sri Lanka |
|---|---|
| Recognised linguistic and regional differences. | Majority leaders sought to establish Sinhala dominance. |
| Chose accommodation and constitutional power-sharing. | Adopted majoritarian measures. |
| Equal representation in the central government for Dutch- and French-speaking ministers. | Sinhala was made the only official language in 1956. |
| Regional/state governments received substantial powers. | Tamil demands for regional autonomy were repeatedly denied. |
| Community government handles cultural, educational and language matters. | Tamil communities experienced alienation and discrimination. |
| Power-sharing helped avoid civic conflict and possible division. | Conflict intensified and became a civil war, ending in 2009. |
⚖️ 4. Why is Power-sharing Desirable?
The chapter gives two sets of reasons in favour of power-sharing: prudential reasons and moral reasons.
🧮 Prudential Reason
Power-sharing helps reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups. Social conflict can lead to violence and political instability. Sharing power can therefore support the stability of the political order.
Key phrase: Better outcomes, stability and reduced conflict.
❤️ Moral Reason
Power-sharing is the spirit of democracy. Democratic rule involves sharing power with people who are affected by its exercise. Citizens have a right to be consulted about how they are governed.
Key phrase: Power-sharing is valuable in itself because democracy requires participation and legitimate government.
🔄 5. Four Forms of Power-sharing
Form 1 — Among different organs of government
Power is shared among the legislature, executive and judiciary. This is called horizontal distribution of power because these organs are placed at the same level. Each organ checks the others, creating a system of checks and balances.
Form 2 — Among different levels of government
Power is shared among governments at different levels—for example, the Union/Central Government, State Governments and local governments. This is called vertical division of power or federal division of power.
Form 3 — Among different social groups
Power may be shared among religious, linguistic or other social groups. Belgium's community government is an example. Reservations and other constitutional/legal arrangements can provide representation to socially weaker sections and women.
Form 4 — Among political parties, pressure groups and movements
In a democracy, competition among political parties prevents power from remaining permanently in one hand. Two or more parties may form an alliance and, if elected, a coalition government. Interest groups such as traders, industrialists, farmers and workers can also influence decision-making.
| Form | Who shares power? | Key example |
|---|---|---|
| Horizontal | Organs of government | Legislature, Executive, Judiciary |
| Vertical | Different levels of government | Union, State and Local governments |
| Social groups | Religious/linguistic/social communities | Community government in Belgium |
| Political competition | Political parties, pressure groups and movements | Coalition government and interest-group influence |
🇮🇳 6. Power-sharing in India — Exam Connections
The chapter connects the general idea of power-sharing with institutions and practices familiar from Indian democracy.
Legislature, executive and judiciary exercise different powers and can check one another.
Power is divided between the Union, States and local governments.
Constitutional arrangements provide representation for specified socially disadvantaged groups.
More than one political party may share governmental power.
Organised interests can influence public decision-making.
Different parties provide citizens with choices and prevent permanent concentration of political power.
🧩 7. A Useful Case-study Framework
| Question | Belgium | Sri Lanka |
|---|---|---|
| What was the challenge? | Linguistic and regional differences. | Strong Sinhala majority and Tamil minority. |
| What political response? | Accommodation and constitutional sharing of power. | Majoritarian measures. |
| What happened? | Power-sharing arrangements supported coexistence. | Alienation, conflict and civil war. |
📖 Key Vocabulary
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Power-sharing | Distribution of political power among different institutions, levels, groups or political actors. |
| Ethnic | A social division based on shared culture and a sense of common descent; members need not have the same religion or nationality. |
| Majoritarianism | The belief that the majority community should rule while disregarding minority wishes and needs. |
| Accommodation | Political arrangements that recognise and adjust to differences among communities or regions. |
| Civil war | Violent conflict between opposing groups within a country that becomes so intense that it resembles a war. |
| Prudential | Based on careful calculation of gains and losses or likely outcomes. |
| Horizontal distribution | Power-sharing among organs of government at the same level. |
| Vertical division | Power-sharing among different levels of government. |
| Community government | Belgian government elected by members of a language community with powers over cultural, educational and language matters. |
| Coalition government | Government formed by two or more political parties sharing power. |
🧠 Exam Focus & Quick Revision
Must-know facts
- Belgium: Dutch 59%, French 40%, German 1%.
- Brussels: about 80% French-speaking, 20% Dutch-speaking.
- Sri Lanka: Sinhala 74%, Tamil 18%.
- Sri Lanka independent in 1948.
- Sinhala Only Act: 1956.
- Belgian Constitution amended four times between 1970 and 1993.
- Sri Lankan civil war ended in 2009.
Must-know concepts
- Majoritarianism
- Prudential reason
- Moral reason
- Horizontal power-sharing
- Vertical power-sharing
- Social-group power-sharing
- Political party/pressure-group power-sharing
- Checks and balances
- Community government
- Coalition government
4 forms — one-line memory trick
5-line revision
- Power-sharing is a central principle of democratic government.
- Belgium accommodated linguistic diversity through constitutional arrangements.
- Sri Lanka adopted majoritarian policies that alienated Tamil communities and contributed to civil conflict.
- Power-sharing is desirable for both prudential and moral reasons.
- Modern democracies share power horizontally, vertically, among social groups and among political parties/pressure groups.
🎯 Interactive Chapter Quiz
20 NCERT-aligned questions. Choose one answer for each and click Check My Score.
📌 Chapter Summary
Power-sharing is an important principle of democracy because political power should not be concentrated in one organ, level, community or political group. Belgium and Sri Lanka provide contrasting examples. Belgium responded to linguistic diversity by creating constitutional arrangements that shared power among communities and regions. Sri Lanka followed majoritarian policies that privileged the Sinhala majority and contributed to Tamil alienation and a prolonged civil war. The chapter gives prudential reasons for power-sharing, especially reducing conflict and promoting stability, and moral reasons, because sharing power reflects the spirit of democracy. Modern democracies share power horizontally among organs, vertically among levels of government, among social groups, and among political parties, pressure groups and movements.