CLASS-X
CHAPTER-1
POWER SHARING
Q.1. Describe the geographical and ethnic composition of Belgium.
Ans. The geographical and ethnic composition of Belgium is given below:
(a) Geographical composition:
(i) Belgium is a small country in Europe. It is smaller in area than the State of Haryana in India.
(ii) It has borders with Netherlands, France and Germany.
(iii) Its population is little over one crore. It is half of the population of Haryana state.
(b) Ethnic composition:
(i) 59 percent of the population lives in the Flemish region. They speak Dutch language.
(ii) 40 per cent people live in the Wallonia region. They speak French.
(iii) Remaining one per cent speak German.
(iv) Brussels is the capital of Belgium. Here, 80 percent people speak French and 20 per cent speak Dutch.
Thus, Belgium is a country of diversities based on languages. Dutch-speaking people are in majority in the country but in minority in the capital city of Brussels.
Q.2. Describe the geographical and ethnic composition of Sri Lanka.
Ans. The geographical and ethnic composition of Sri Lanka is given below:
(a) Geographical composition: Sri Lanka is an island nation.
(b) Ethnic composition:
(i) Its population is about 2 crore.
(ii) The major social groups are the Sinhala-speakers (74 per cent) and Tamil-speakers (18 per cent).
(iii) Tamil-speakers are further divided into two groups — Sri Lankan Tamils and Indian Tamils.
(iv) Sri Lankan Tamils are the natives of Sri Lanka. The Indian Tamils’ forefathers migrated from India as plantation workers during colonial period.
(v) Sri Lankan Tamils live in the north and east of the country.
(vi) There are different religions in Sri Lanka, namely. Buddhism, Hinduism. Islam and Christianity.
Thus, there are different social groups, different languages and religions in Sri Lanka.
Q.3. What is Majoritarianism? Describe the majoritarian measures taken by the leaders of the Sinhala community to establish their supremacy. What were its results?
Or
How did The Sri Lankan Tamils struggle for their demands?
Ans. (a) Majoritarianism is a belief 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.
(b) The Sinhala community took the following majoritarian measures to establish their supremacy.
(i) ln 1956, Sinhala was recognized as the only official language.
(ii) Preferential policies favouring Sinhala applicants for university positions and government jobs were followed.
(iii) Under new constitution, it was stated that the state shall protect and foster Buddhism.
(c) Results: (i) These measures increased the feeling of alienation among the Sri Lankan Tamils. The relations between the Sinhala and Tamil communities became worse. They felt that they were being denied equal political rights and were discriminated in government jobs and other opportunities.
(ii) The Sri Lankan Tamils started struggle with following objects—recognition of Tamil as official language, regional autonomy or formation of Eelam in the northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka, equality of opportunity in education and jobs.
(iii) By 1980’s several political organizations were formed demanding an independent Tamil Eelam in northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka. The distrust between the two communities turned into widespread conflict. It ultimately turned into a civil war. As a result of it, thousands of people of both the communities have been killed. Although Sri Lanka has an excellent record of economic development education and health, yet the civil war has caused a terrible setback to the social, cultural and economic life of the country
Q.4. Describe the path of accommodation adopted in Belgium. What were its consequences?
Ans. (a) Main features of the path of accommodation adopted by Belgian leaders were as given below:
(i) Dutch and French-speaking ministers shall be equal in the Central Government.
(ii) Some special laws require the support of majority of members from each linguistic group. No single community not even majority community (Dutch- speaking) can make decisions unilaterally.
(iii) The state governments are not subordinate to the Central Government. Many powers of the Central Government have been given to State Governments.
(iv) There is a separate government in Brussels, the capital of Belgium. Both the communities i.e., French-speaking and Dutch-speaking have equal representation in the Brussels government.
(v) A third government which is called “community government” is elected by people belonging to one language community— Dutch, French and German-speaking — no matter where they live. The community government has power regarding cultural, educational and language-related issues.
Thus, the Belgian model is based on the principle of accommodation and reciprocity. To accommodate each other there is equal representation in the Central Government as well as in the Brussels Government
(b) Consequences : The system is complicated but useful. It has avoided conflicts between the two main communities and a possible division of the country on linguistic lines. It was why the European Union has selected Brussels as its headquarters.
Q.5. How the composition of the capital city of Brussels is different from Belgium as a country?
Ans. In Belgium, the composition of different communities is as given below:
(i) Dutch-speaking — 59 per cent
(ii) French-speaking — 40 per cent
(iii) German-speaking — 01 per cent
On the other hand, the composition of Brussels is as follows
(i) French-speaking — 80 per cent
(ii) Dutch-speaking — 20 per cent
Thus, Dutch-speaking people are in majority in the country but they are in minority in the capital city of Brussels. On the other hand, French-speaking people are in minority in the country but they are in majority in the capital city of Brussels. This composition of different communities has led to the acceptance of principle of accommodation in Belgium.
Q.6.What do you learn from the principles followed in Belgium and Sri Lanka i.e., Majoritarianism in Sri Lanka and accommodation in Belgium?
Ans. We learn the following lessons from the principles of Majoritarianism and accommodation followed in Sri Lanka and Belgium:
(i) In Belgium, the leaders respected the feelings and interests of all communities and were successful in maintaining the unity of the country. They recognized the existence of regional differences and cultural diversities. They took various steps such as amendments to the constitution in order to work out an arrangement that would enable everyone to live together within the same country the arrangements such as equal number of ministers of Dutch and French speaking people has worked successfully.
(ii) On the other hand, majority community in Sri Lanka tried to force its dominance over other communities. It has brought the country nearer to a civil war and unity of the country is threatened. This shows the path of accommodation is better than that of Majoritarianism and power sharing must be followed.
Q.7. Give Prudential and Moral reasons in favour of power sharing.
Ans. (i) Prudential Reasons
They stress that power sharing will bring out better customer.
(a) They feel that power-sharing is good because it helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups.
(b) Power sharing is a good way to ensure the stability of political order.
(ii) Moral Reasons
They emphasize the very act of power sharing as valuable.
(a) They feel that power sharing is the very spirit of democracy. A democratic rule involves sharing powers with those affected by its exercise, and who have to live with its effects.
(b) So a legitimate government is one where citizens, through participation, acquire a role in the system.
Q. 8 How Majoritarianism in Sri Lanka was practiced?
Ans. (i) Sri Lanka emerged as an independent nation in 1948. The leaders of the Sinhala community sought to secure dominance over government by virtue of their majority.
(ii) As a result, the democratically elected government adopted Majoritarianism measures to establish Sinhala’s supremacy.
(iii) In 1954 an act was passed to recognize Sinhala, as the only official language, thus disregarding Tamil.
(iv) The government followed policies that favoured Sinhala applicants for university positions and government jobs.
(v) With a new constitution, Buddhism was adopted as a state religion.
Q9. What factors led to civil war in Sri Lanka?
Ans. (i) Measures taken in Majoritarianism gradually increased the feeling of alienation among Sri Lankan Tamils.
(ii) They feel that the constitution and government policies denied them equal political rights, discriminated against then in getting jobs and other opportunities and ignored their interests.
(iii) As a result the relations between Sinhalas and Tamil communities got strained over time.
(iv) The Sri Lankan Tamils launched parties and struggles for the recognition of Tamil as an official language, regional autonomy and equality of opportunities in getting education and jobs.
(v) By 1980’s several political organizations were formed demanding an independent Tamil Elam (state) in northern and north-eastern parts of Sri Lanka.
(vi) The distrust between the two communities turned into widespread conflict. It soon turned into a civil war. As a result thousands of people of both the communities have been killed.
Q.10. How Belgian government solved its ethnic problem?
Ans. In Belgium leaders recognized the existence of regiona1differencs and i1tural diversities. In the following manner Belgian government accommodated their diverse ethnic population:
(i)Constitution says that number of Dutch and French speaking ministers shall he equal in the Central government. Thus no single community can make decisions unilaterally.
(ii) Many powers of the central government have been given to state government of the two regions of the country. The State governments are not subordinate to the Central government.
(iii) Brussels has a separate government in which both the communities have equal representation.
(iv) There is a third kind of government, called ‘Community Government’. This government is elected by people belonging to one language community — Dutch, French and German speaking— no matter where they live. This government has the power regarding cultural, educational and language related issues. These arrangements helped to avoid civic strife between the two major communities and a possible division of the country on linguistic lines.
Q.11 What are the different forms of power sharing in modern democracies? Give an example of each of them.
Ans.
(i) Power shared among different organs of the government.
(a) It is called horizontal distribution of power.
(b) Here the power is shared in legislature, executive and judiciary.
(c) It allows different organs of the government placed at the same level to exercise different powers.
(d) ln this kind of government each organ checks the others. This results in a balance of VI among various institutions.
(e) This arrangement is called’ a system of checks and balances. e.g. India.
(ii) Power is shared among governments at different levels
(a) It is also called Vertical distribution of power.
(b) There is a government at the central level and the government at the state level also.
(c) This kind of government is also called as federal division of power or federal government.
(d) Here subjects or their functions are divided and they work at their own levels within their own limits. e.g. — India.
(iii) Power shared among different social groups
(a) It is practiced when power is shared in religious and linguistic groups.
(b) In some countries socially weaker sections and women are represented in the legislatures and administration.
(c) In India there is a system of reserved constituencies, to give space in the government and administration to diverse social groups.
(d) This method is used to give minority communities a fair share in power.
(iv) Power is shared in political parties, pressure groups and movements
(a) In a democracy, the citizens must have freedom to choose various contenders for power.
(b) In contemporary democracy this takes place in the form of competition among different parties. Such competition ensures that power does not remain in one hand.
(c) Sometimes the power is shared among various political parties, which is called coalition government.
(d) In a democracy, we find interest groups of traders, businessmen, industrialists, farmers and industrial workers. They also have a share in governmental powers, either through participation or bringing influence on the decision making process.
Q. 12. What are the main principles of democracy?
Ans. (i) One basic principle of democracy is that people are the source of all political power.
(ii) In a democracy people rule themselves through institution of self-governance.
(iii) In democracy due respect is given to diverse groups and views that exist in a society.
(iv) Everyone has a voice in the shaping of public policies.
Q.13. Why some Tamils are called Indian Tamils?
Ans. They are called Indian Tamils because their forefathers had migrated from India as plantation
workers during the colonial period.
Q.14. What is Majoritarianism?
Ans. It is a belief 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.
Q.15. What do you understand by civil war?
Ans. Civil war is a violent conflict between opposing groups within a country that becomes so intense that it appears like a war.
Q.16. Explain the concept of “community government” in Belgium.
Ans. Community government is elected by people belonging to one language community i.e., Dutch, French and German and has power regarding cultural, educational and language-related issues.
Q.17. Explain the principle of accommodation as followed in Belgium.
Ans. Under this arrangement, the Belgian leaders recognized the existence of differences and cultural diversities and respected the feelings and interests of all communities and regions and made mutually acceptable arrangements for sharing power.
Q.18. What is prudential?
Ans. It is based on prudence, or on careful calculation of gains and losses.
Q.11 What are the different forms of power sharing in modern democracies?
Ans. Four-- Among different organs of government; among governments at different levels; Among different social groups; and Among political parties, pressure groups and movements
