According to your learning from Class 9, a democratic system divides government power between different branches. The government distributes its authority between three branches, which include the legislature and executive and judiciary branches, to achieve equitable power distribution. In Chapter 1 Power Sharing, this concept is explained in a simple and clear way. You will understand how power sharing works through real-life examples from Belgium and Sri Lanka, and explore the different forms of power sharing used in democratic countries.
For better learning, ToppersSky provides Class 10 Political Science Chapter 1 Power Sharing through easy 2D–3D animation videos, chapter notes, mind maps, book solutions, important questions, Q-Sky practice, podcasts and monthly quizzes. With visual learning and complete study material, ToppersSky helps Class 10 students understand the chapter faster and prepare confidently for exams.
Political Science Chapter 1 Class 10 – Quick Overview on Power Sharing
Story of Belgium
Belgium has an estimated population of 11 million people living in the tiny European nation. In Belgium various languages are spoken by people who have 59 percent of them speaking Dutch and 40 percent speaking French and a little over 1% of the population speaking German. The language map of the country shows how these communities live in different regions.
The French-speaking community used their wealth and power for many years to give themselves better educational and economic opportunities. The 1950s and 1960s saw Dutch-speaking and French-speaking groups develop tension between themselves. The story needs to be understood because it helps explain to Class 10 Social Science students why diverse nations need power-sharing arrangements.
Accommodation in Belgium
Belgium handled its community differences in a very smart and peaceful way. Between 1970 and 1993, the leaders of Belgium changed their Constitution four times to create a better system of power-sharing. This new model helped every community feel included.
Key features of the Belgian model include:
- The Constitution states that the number of Dutch-speaking and French-speaking ministers must be equal in the Central Government. For certain important laws, approval from both language groups is required. This ensures that no community can take decisions alone.
- The Central Government does not control state governments in Belgium because those governments possess their own powers.
- The capital city Brussels operates its own government which provides equal representation to both Dutch-speaking and French-speaking communities.
- Besides the Central and State Governments, Belgium also created a third type of government called the ‘community government.’ It is elected by people of the same language group—Dutch, French or German—regardless of where they live. This government manages cultural, educational and language-related matters.
Though the Belgium model seems complex, it successfully prevented conflicts and maintained harmony between the major communities.
Story of Sri Lanka
Now let’s look at the example of Sri Lanka, an island country with a population of about 2 crores, almost equal to the population of Haryana. The population of Sri Lanka consists of various language groups who make up its mixed demographic. The largest community is the Sinhala-speaking people, who make up about 74% of the population. The population of Tamil speakers exists at approximately 18% of total demographics. The Tamil community consists of two main groups which are referred to as Sri Lankan Tamils and Indian Tamils. The map below shows how different communities are spread across the country.
In Sri Lanka, the Sinhala community formed the largest majority and used its dominance to enforce its decisions on the whole country.
Majoritarianism in Sri Lanka
The Sinhala community in Sri Lanka established itself as the biggest population group and used its power to make decisions that affected the entire nation. The government systems of Sri Lanka function according to majoritarian principles. The country of Sri Lanka achieved its independence in 1948. The government came under Sinhala control because the Sinhala community formed the largest population group. They established preferential policies which granted advantages to Sinhala candidates during university admission processes and government employment selection. The decisions which they made created a growing feeling of disconnection between Sri Lankan Tamils and the rest of society.
The Tamils believed the Constitution and government regulations provided them with restricted political rights which diminished their employment possibilities while disregarding their needs. The Tamil community started to request Tamil language recognition as an official language together with regional self-government and fair educational and job access after their community gap started to widen. The government rejected their requests at multiple points throughout this time period.
The process of growing distrust between two sides eventually turned into a civil war which lasted for several years and experienced multiple violent episodes. Both groups experienced massive death tolls while thousands of families sought refuge as refugees and countless people lost their homes and means of making a living. The civil war ended in 2009 although its consequences continued to affect Sri Lankan society and culture and economic activities.
What Have We Learned from Belgium and Sri Lanka?
The power-sharing solutions which Belgium and Sri Lanka use show different approaches between the two countries despite both operating as democratic systems. The Belgian leaders understood that to keep their nation unified they had to honor the essential requirements of every community. They developed a power-sharing framework which all parties involved accepted, which resulted in peaceful coexistence and stable conditions.
The Sri Lankan system demonstrates how majoritarian thought processes create harmful results. The majority group exercises its control over all governmental functions.
Why Is Power Sharing Important?
Power sharing is essential for two main reasons:
- The process decreases disputes because it guarantees that all social groups will feel both inclusion and respect.
- The right of citizens is to take part in the decisions that impact their lives since this fundamental right promotes the democratic system of governance. A democratic government must be able to share its power with the people who feel its consequences.
The first reasons are called prudential, which focus on better outcomes, while the second are moral, highlighting that sharing power is the right thing to do in a democracy.
Forms of Power Sharing
Many people think that sharing power means dividing it and making a country weak. Earlier, it was believed that all power should remain with one person or one group so that decisions could be taken quickly. The concept experienced a transformation because democratic expansion brought new developments. The democratic system allows citizens to participate in decision-making via various governmental institutions. Political power must be shared among all citizens since everyone in society is entitled to voice their opinions.
Modern democracies follow different forms of power sharing:
- Sharing among different organs of government: Power is divided among the legislature, executive, and judiciary. This is called horizontal power sharing. All organs are placed at the same level but have different powers. Each organ checks the other to prevent misuse of authority, which creates a system of checks and balances.
- Sharing among different levels of government: Power is divided between a national government and state or regional governments. This is known as a federal structure, where each level has its own powers and responsibilities.
- Sharing among social groups: Power is shared with religious and linguistic communities so that minority groups also get fair representation. Belgium’s community government is an example of this method.
- Sharing among political parties and groups: Power is also shared through political parties, pressure groups, and movements. When parties join together before elections and form a government, they create a coalition government, which is another form of power sharing.
Conclusion
The concept of power sharing functions as an essential element of Class 10th Political Science because it demonstrates to students the practical operation of democratic systems. The case studies of Belgium and Sri Lanka demonstrate that power sharing produces peaceful and equitable and stable conditions while its absence results in fighting and social division. The practice of power sharing promotes national unity because it enables each community to feel included and treated with dignity.
For students who want clear explanations, NCERT Solutions For Class 10 Political Science Chapter 1 make learning easier by simplifying key concepts and questions. With ToppersSky’s 2D–3D animation videos, notes, mind maps and solutions, students can understand this chapter quickly and prepare well for exams.
FAQs
1. What is Power Sharing?
Power sharing refers to the division of power of the government between different parts of the government, like the executive, legislature and judiciary. This is a way of preventing a single entity or authority from monopolizing control.
2. Is there a most widely spoken tongue in Belgium?
Belgium has four languages: the Dutch-speaking region, French-speaking region, and that of German speaking regions. the Brussels-Capital region, where there is two regions where both Dutch in addition to French can be found.
3. Which country is Sri Lanka located?
Sri Lanka is an island country in the Indian Ocean. It is located in the southern part of the Indian subcontinent and has an area of approximately 65,525 square kilometers.
4. What was it that made Belgium decide to go with an intricate power-sharing system?
Belgium has implemented a complex power-sharing system to prevent conflicts between Dutch and French community members, and to keep the country united. Students can learn more about this by watching animated lessons in the ToppersSky app.
5. What was the cause of Sri Lanka face conflict between Sinhala and Tamil communities?
Sri Lanka faced conflict because the majority Sinhala community was averse to policies which provided them with greater opportunities in education and employment and triggered feelings discrimination among those belonging to Tamil communities. Tamil community.
