UT1 Flashcards
(30 cards)
What is power sharing
Power sharing is the distribution of political power among different organs of government or social groups to prevent concentration of power and ensure fair governance
Why is power sharing important in democracy
Power sharing ensures that no single group or individual dominates the decision-making process and it promotes political stability by accommodating diverse interests
Which two countries are compared in this chapter
Belgium and Sri Lanka are compared to highlight different approaches to managing ethnic and linguistic diversity in democracies
What was the major ethnic tension in Belgium
The tension was between the Dutch-speaking Flemish majority and the French-speaking Walloon minority who had unequal access to economic and political power
What percentage of people in Belgium speak Dutch
59 percent of the population speaks Dutch and they are mostly concentrated in the northern region called Flanders
Where do most French-speaking Belgians live
Most French-speaking Belgians live in the southern region called Wallonia and a significant number live in Brussels
Why did tensions rise in Brussels
Tensions rose because Dutch-speaking people were the majority in the country but a minority in Brussels where French speakers dominated economically and politically
How did Belgium solve its ethnic problem
Belgium solved its ethnic problem by creating a federal structure with equal representation for different linguistic groups and special provisions for the capital Brussels
How many times did Belgium amend its constitution
Belgium amended its constitution four times between 1970 and 1993 to accommodate linguistic communities and prevent ethnic conflict
What is unique about the Belgian model
The Belgian model is unique because it provides equal power to Dutch and French-speaking groups in the central government and allows for a community government with cultural autonomy
What is community government in Belgium
A community government in Belgium is elected by members of a specific language group and has authority over cultural education and language matters regardless of region
What is majoritarianism
Majoritarianism is the belief that the majority community should have the right to make decisions for the entire country even at the cost of minority rights and interests
What was the dominant community in Sri Lanka
The Sinhala-speaking Buddhist community made up 74 percent of the population and used its majority to dominate government policies
How did Sri Lanka enforce Sinhala dominance
The Sri Lankan government passed laws such as making Sinhala the only official language and promoted Buddhism while ignoring Tamil demands for equality
What was the result of Sri Lanka’s majoritarian policies
The result was growing alienation among Tamils leading to violent conflict a civil war and demands for an independent Tamil state
When did Sri Lanka’s civil war end
The Sri Lankan civil war ended in 2009 after decades of violence which caused thousands of deaths and widespread displacement
What are prudential reasons for power sharing
Prudential reasons focus on practical benefits like reducing social conflict political instability and ensuring better governance through inclusion
What are moral reasons for power sharing
Moral reasons emphasize the value of respecting diversity and giving all citizens a voice in government because it is a fundamental democratic principle
What is horizontal distribution of power
Horizontal distribution refers to power shared among different branches of government like legislature executive and judiciary so no branch becomes all-powerful
What is vertical distribution of power
Vertical distribution means power is divided among different levels of government like central state and local to ensure better administration and regional autonomy
What is federal government
A federal government is the national level of government that shares power with lower levels like state or provincial governments as defined in a federal system
What is coalition government
A coalition government is formed when no single party gains majority in an election and multiple parties come together to share power and govern collectively
What role do pressure groups play in power sharing
Pressure groups represent various interests like farmers workers or business owners and influence government decisions through lobbying and participation in committees
What are reserved constituencies
Reserved constituencies are electoral districts where only candidates from certain underrepresented communities like Scheduled Castes or women can contest to ensure fair representation
