Power Sharing(BELGIUM & SRILANKA)

By

Alent Cheria Vargehse

POWER SHARING IN :

l BELGIUM

l SRILANKA

Engross.in Sri Lanka

• About the same as Haryana• Just a few kms away off

the southern coast of Tamil Nadu

Size

Ethnic Communities of Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan Tamils –

Occupy N & E – Hindus & Muslims

Sinhalese – 74% - Buddhist

–

Indian Tamils – Hindus & Muslims

Muslims – 1%

Tamils – 18%

Both Sinhalese & Tamil – 7% -

Christian

Engross.in Majoritarianism in Sri Lanka

• After independence in 1948, Sri Lanka adopted a series of majoritarian measures to establish Sinhalese supremacy over the Tamils• In 1956, an Act was

passed to recognise Sinhala as the only official language

Engross.in Majoritarianism in Sri Lanka

• In 1956 an Act was passed which recognised Sinhala as the only official language.• Sinhala speakers were

preferred both for university positions and Govt. jobs.

Sinhala

Lanka

Reasons for Alienation of Sri Lankan Tamils / Majoritarianism in

Sri Lanka

Reasons…

•Dominance of Sinhalese community due to majority • 1956 Act made Sinhala as the only official

language• Preferential policies favouring Sinhalese in

university position and jobs• State to protect and foster Buddhism

Position of Sri Lankan Tamils…

• Launched political parties and struggles for recognizing Tamil as an official language • Demanded autonomy • Equal opportunity in education and jobs • Political organization was formed demanding an

independent TAMIL EELAM in North & East Sri Lanka

Engross.in Effect on Tamils• The Tamils felt isolated • They thought that even

the constitution was against them.• None of the Political

parties ever considered their needs.• The Tamils formed

groups,organisations and parties to fight for rights

Engross.in Effect on Tamils• Their demands for

recognition to their language and separate state with autonomous status were repeatedly neglected.• This made some groups

like the LTTE to take violent actions.

Civil War…Causes

Both sides started distrusting each other

Effects Social,Cultural &Economic

setback

Engross.in Belgium

• Smaller than Haryana• Borders with France,

Netherlands, Germany and Luxembourg

Size and Ethnic Composition

Communities & Regions of BelgiumBrussels –

Capital Region – Dutch were a

Minority

Wallonia – 40% - French –

Rich & Powerful

Flemish – 59% - Dutch – benefit of

education and economic

development.

German – 1%

Power Sharing

by

Accommodation

in

Belgium

Engross.in Reasons for tension between the two

communities

• The minority French were rich and powerful• The majority Dutch got

the benefit of economic development much later.

Power Sharing - Belgium• Equal number of Ministers from Dutch and French speaking areas in

the Central Govt.• No single community can make decisions unilaterally • Transfer of power from the centre to the state. State govt. will not be

a subordinate to the centre.• Separate govt. in Brussels with equal representation for the French

and the Dutch.• Formation of COMMUNITY Govt elected by the people belonging to

one language community Dutch, French and German wherever they live. This has power regarding

• Culture, education and language related issues.

Power Sharing - Result

The country united respecting the feelings of different communities and regions.

Belgium & Sri Lanka• Similarities: Both are democracies.• Differences: Power sharing arrangement is different.• What is unique about Belgium?• Leaders have realized that unity of the country is possible

only by respecting the feelings and interests of different communities and regions.• What was the drawback in the system followed by Sri

Lanka?• Dominance of majority community - Sinhalese by refusing

to share power with Tamils resulting in disunity.

Why is Power Sharing desirable in a Democracy?

Prudential1.Reduces conflicts

between social groups.2. Stability of political order.3. Better outcome.

Moral1. It is the spirit of democracy.2.People have the right to beonsulted for governing practices.3. Power sharing is valuable.

Why in a democracy should political power be distributed?

• People are the source of all power.• People rule themselves through institutions of • self governance.• Due respect is given to diverse groups and views.• All have a voice in shaping public policies.

Engross.in

The Legislature The Executive The Judiciary

Forms of Power Sharing• Horizontal OR Check and Balance System

• Each of these organs is placed at the same level to exercise different powers• None of them has unlimited power thus maintains

balance.• Each one of them keeps watch on the functioning of

the other two.• Hence it is called Check and Balance System

Engross.in Central Govt.

State Govt.

Local Bodies

• The Central Govt. is set up for the whole nation.• The state/provincial govt. is set up for each provinces/states.• The central govt. transfers/shares some of the powers to/with the

state govt. (as in Belgium)• In a big country like India, this type of two tier system is not

sufficient.• So we have the third tier – the Local Self Govt.• Both the Central and State govt. have transferred power and

resources to the Local bodies.

Vertical Power Sharing

Engross.in

SCs

STs• Socially weaker sections also have to have share in

power.• Community govt. in Belgium is one example for this type

of power sharing.• In India, it is done by way of reservation.• Constituencies and seats are reserved for women, SCs

and STs.• Thus power is shared among different social groups.

Power Sharing among different social groups Women

STs

SCs

Engross.in

Power Sharing among Political parties, pressure groups and

movements

• No political party enjoys power for ever.• It is for the people to decide who should be in power.• With the emergence of coalition govt. many parties share

power at the same time.• Pressure groups and movements have share in power by

exerting pressure on the govt.• They exert pressure by various means and get policies

framed in their favour.

Summary…Amongst different organs of

Govt. legislature, executive and judiciary

Amongst Govts. at different levels

Different Social groups, religious/

linguistic

Political parties ,pressure groups

and movements influence those in power

Horizontal distribution as it allows different organs to exercise different powers

A general govt. for the entire country-called Centre and govts. at the provincial/regional level. Federal Govt.

Accommodates social diversities who would feel otherwise alienated.

Formation of coalition Govt. when different parties form alliances

No organ gets unlimited powers State Govt. Influence of interest groups-businessmen, industrialists, farmers and industrial workers.

Each organ checks the other Constitutional distribution of power to the state and centre

Results in balance of power Same with Panchayat and Municipality

All ministers /Govt. officialsare responsible to parliament/state assemblies

Vertical division of power

Judges can also check the work of other organs

A system of checks and balances