QA Power Sharing

Chapter: Power Sharing

Q. Define the term Ethnic and brief about the ethnic composition of Belgium.

Answer

Ethnic means a social division based on shared culture and common descent. People belonging to an ethnic group may not necessarily share the same religion or nationality.

Belgium is a small country in Europe, having a population of a little over one crore. Its ethnic composition is as follows-

1.    59 percent of the country’s total population lives in the Flemish region and speak Dutch language.

2.    Another 40 percent of people live in the Wallonia region and speak French.The remaining one percent of the Belgians speak German.

3.    In the Belgian capital, Brussels, 80 percent of the population is French-speaking and 20 percent is Dutch-speaking.

Q. Analyze how majoritarianism has increased the feeling of alienation among the Sri Lankan Tamils?

Answer

Majoritarianism increased the feeling of alienation among Sri Lankan Tamils. This is known on account of the following-

i.    In 1956, an Act was passed to make Sinhala the official language. This disregarded the Tamil Language.

ii.    The government followed preferential policies favoring Sinhala applicants for University positions and government jobs, denying the same to the Tamils.

iii.    The Constitution provided for State protection and fostering of Buddhism.

iv.    Hence, a demand for regional autonomy emerged as Sri Lankan Tamils felt secluded.

Q.  Explain any three consequences of the majoritarian policies adopted by the Sri Lankan government. 

Answer

Sri Lanka emerged as an independent country in 1948. The democratically elected government adopted a series of majoritarian measures to establish Sinhala Supremacy. Consequences of these majoritarian policies include-

    Denial of Equal Rights- The Sri Lankan Tamils felt that none of the major political parties led by the Buddhist Sinhala leaders were sensitive to their language and culture and the government policies denied them equal political rights which led to an increased feeling of alienation among them.

    Linguistic and other subversion-The Sri Lankan Tamils felt that the constitution denied them equal rights in politics, in getting jobs and ignored their interests. The relation between the Tamil and Sinhala communities became extremely strained as a result.

    The demand or separate Eelam- The Sri Lankan Tamils launched parties and struggles for the recognition of Tamil, for regional autonomy and equality of opportunity in every field.

Q. Describe the demands of Sri Lankan Tamils. How did they struggle for their demands?

Answer:

The following were the demands of Sri Lankan Tamils.

•    Recognition of Tamil language and that Tamil should be given equal status with that of the Sinhala language and should be added as an official language.

•    There should be no discrimination between the Sri Lankan Tamils and Sinhala residents of Sri Lanka in government jobs and university posts.

•   They want the regional autonomy.

  

They struggled for their demands in the following ways.

•     By 1980, several political organizations were formed demanding an independent Tamil state.

•    Sri Lankan Tamils launched struggles for the fulfillment of their rights.

•    As a result, a civil war was proclaimed and thousands of people were killed when their legitimate demands were denied by the Sri Lankan government

Q. Explain the ethnic problem of Srilanka.

Ans. Composition of Srilanka-

1. The bulk of the population of the Sinhalese group of around 74 %

2. Tamils around 18% who are mainly concentrated in the north and east of the island, making the largest ethnic minority.

3. Among Tamils, two sub-groups exist.

The Tamil natives of the country are called Sri Lankan Tamils of around 13 per cent.

The Indian Origin Tamils are the Tamils who were brought from India by British colonists to serve on estate plantations as indentured workers of around 5 per cent.

4. Buddhists are predominantly Sinhala-speaking people, while the majority of Tamils are Hindus or Muslims.

5. Around 7% of Christians are both Tamil & Sinhalese

Q. What are the different forms of power sharing in modern democracies? Give example of each.

Ans. a). Power is shared among different organs of the government as legislature, executive and judiciary. Example: The constitution of India divides powers between the executive, legislature and judiciary.

b). Power is shared among government at different levels. Example: Indian constitution establishes a duel policy in which the powers are divided between state and union government.

c). Power is shared among various social groups. Example: Community government style as followed in Belgium.

d). Power is shared among various political parties, pressure groups and movements. Example: The multi-party system as followed in India.

Q. State the prudential reason of power sharing.

Ans. a). These resona are based on the careful calculations of gains and losses occurring due to the adoption of a particular style of governance. Power sharing reduces the possibility of conflict between the social groups and the violent upheavals that may happen otherwise.

b). It is seen as a compromise that is sought among the various groups to ensure the stability of the political leaders.

c). Power sharing is a strategy for resolving disputes over who should have the most powerful position in the social hierarchy.

Q. State the moral reason of power sharing.

Ans. a). Power sharing is the basic spirit of democracy. A Democratic rule involves giving voice and representation to all the people who would be affected by the policies and the rule made.

b). A Democratic government is legitimate government which is chosen by the people so they have the right to be consulted on how they are to be governed.

c). A legitimate government is one where people, through participation, acquire a stake in the system.

d). The moral reason emphasis the intrinsic worth of power sharing