NCERT Explained: Class X Political Science, Chapter 1 - Power Sharing

Introduction to the Topic

In a healthy democracy, power does not reside with any single person, institution, or organ of government. Instead, power is distributed across different levels and branches to maintain balance, protect minority rights, and prevent tyranny. Chapter 1 of Class 10 Political Science, titled Power Sharing, introduces students to this essential democratic principle. By examining real-world case studies from two small nations—Belgium and Sri Lanka—this chapter demonstrates how different approaches to ethnic diversity and political power can lead to either peaceful stability or catastrophic conflict.

Key Concepts Explained

1. Two Case Studies: Belgium and Sri Lanka

To understand the dynamics of power sharing, NCERT presents two contrasting examples of multi-ethnic societies handling complex demographic balances.

The Case of Belgium:

• Belgium is a small European country with a population of roughly 10 million people.
• Ethnic Composition: 59% of the population lives in the Flemish region and speaks Dutch; 40% lives in the Wallonia region and speaks French; 1% speaks German.
• The Capital City (Brussels): In Brussels, 80% of the people speak French while 20% are Dutch-speaking. This reversed the national majority, creating significant ethnic tension during the 1950s and 1960s as the French minority was relatively rich and powerful compared to the Dutch majority.

The Case of Sri Lanka:

• Sri Lanka is an island nation off the southern coast of India with a diverse population.
• Ethnic Composition: 74% are Sinhala speakers (mostly Buddhist) and 18% are Tamil speakers (Hindu and Muslim). The Tamils are further divided into Native Sri Lankan Tamils (13%) and Indian Tamils (5%).
• About 7% of the population consists of Christians, who belong to both Sinhala and Tamil ethnic groups.

2. Majoritarianism in Sri Lanka

After gaining independence in 1948, the leaders of the Sinhala community sought to secure dominance over government affairs by virtue of their majority. They established a system based on Majoritarianism—a belief that the majority community should be able to rule a country in whichever way it wants, totally disregarding the needs and wishes of the minority.

• In 1956, an Act was passed to recognize Sinhala as the sole official language, disregarding Tamil.
• The government followed preferential policies that favored Sinhala applicants for university positions and government jobs.
• A new constitution stipulated that the state should protect and foster Buddhism.

Consequences: These measures gradually increased the feeling of alienation among Sri Lankan Tamils. The Tamil political parties launched struggles for the recognition of Tamil as an official language, regional autonomy, and equality of opportunity. When their demands were repeatedly denied, political organizations emerged demanding an independent Tamil Eelam (state) in northern and eastern Sri Lanka. This distrust transformed into a widespread Civil War, causing thousands of deaths, displacement, and severe economic setbacks.

3. Accommodation in Belgium

Belgian leaders took a completely different approach. Recognizing the cultural diversity and regional differences, they amended their constitution four times between 1970 and 1993 to create an arrangement that allowed everyone to live together peacefully within the same country.

• Equal Representation: The 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.
• Devolution of Power: Many powers of the central government were transferred to state governments of the two regions. State governments are not subordinate to the central government.
• Equal Status in Brussels: Brussels has a separate government in which both ethnic communities have equal representation.
• Community Government: Apart from Central and State governments, Belgium introduced a third level called the Community Government, elected by people belonging to one language community (Dutch, French, or German). This body has power regarding cultural, educational, and language-related issues.

This innovative model avoided civic strife and prevented a possible division of the country along linguistic lines.

4. Why is Power Sharing Desirable?

Power sharing is essential in democratic societies for two distinct sets of reasons:

A. Prudential Reasons (Practical Benefits):

• Power sharing helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups.
• Since social conflict often leads to violence and political instability, power sharing is a good way to ensure the stability of political order.
• Imposing the will of the majority community over minority groups may look attractive in the short run, but it undermines the unity of the nation in the long run.

B. Moral Reasons (Ethical Principles):

• Power sharing is the very spirit of democracy. A democratic rule involves sharing power with those affected by its exercise, who have to live with its effects.
• People have a fundamental right to be consulted on how they are to be governed.
• A legitimate government is one where citizens, through participation, acquire a stake in the political system.

5. Forms of Power Sharing

In modern democracies, power sharing takes several distinct structural forms:

• Horizontal Distribution of Power: Power is shared among different organs of government placed at the same level, such as the Legislature, Executive, and Judiciary. This separation ensures that no single organ holds unlimited power. Each organ exercises checks on the others, creating a system of Checks and Balances.
• Vertical Distribution of Power: Power is shared among governments at different levels—a general government for the entire country (Central or Union Government) and governments at provincial or regional levels (State Governments). In India, this includes a third tier: Panchayats and Municipalities. This structure is called Federalism.
• Power Sharing among Social Groups: Power can be shared among different religious and linguistic groups. Examples include Belgium's Community Government and India's system of Reserved Constituencies in Assemblies and Parliament for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and women.
• Power Sharing among Political Parties, Pressure Groups, and Movements: Democracy requires that citizens have the freedom to choose among various contenders for power. In modern systems, this manifests as competition between political parties, multi-party coalition governments, and influence exerted by trade unions, business associations, and farmers' organizations on decision-making.

Summary & Key Takeaways

Power sharing is not merely a mechanism for compromising; it is the core foundation of peaceful, democratic governance.

• Belgium vs Sri Lanka: Belgium adopted accommodation, creating harmony and stability, whereas Sri Lanka adopted majoritarianism, triggering a devastating civil war.
• Prudential Reasons: Power sharing prevents civil unrest and guarantees political stability.
• Moral Reasons: Power sharing enforces the core spirit of democracy by giving every citizen a voice.
• Four Major Forms: Horizontal (Executive, Legislature, Judiciary), Vertical (Central, State, Local), Social Groups (reserved seats, community government), and Political Alliances (coalitions and pressure groups).