1.power Sharing Exercises

Exercise:
I Define the following:-
a) Ethnic—
A social division based on shared culture.
b) Majoritarianism-
A belief that the majority community should be able to rule a

country in which ever way it wants by disregarding the wishes and
needs of the minority.
c) Civil War-
A violent conflict between groups within a country that becomes

so intense that it appears like a war.
d) Prudential-
Prudential reason involves careful calculation of gains and losses.
II Answer the following questions in very short-
1. To which state of India, Belgium is compared with relation

to area and population?
Ans. Haryana
2. Name the countries that borders with Belgium.
Ans. Belgium shares boundaries with France, Netherland,

Germany and Luxembourg.
3. In which region the Dutch speaking people live in Belgium?
Ans. In Flemish region, the Dutch speaking people live in

Belgium.
4. In which region the French speaking people live in Belgium?
Ans. In Wallonia region, the French speaking people live in

Belgium.
5. Which two groups of Tamils live in Sri Lanka?
Ans. Sri Lankan Tamils and Indian Tamils.

6. Name the country that opted for Majoritarian policy in the
country.
Ans. Sri Lanka
7. Name the state of India from which the Indian Tamils

migrated to Sri Lanka.
Ans. Tamil Nadu.
8. In which year Sri Lanka emerged as an independent

country?
Ans. In 1948.
9. Which Government has the power regarding cultural,

educational and language related issues in Belgium?
Ans. Community Government.
10. Name the headquarters of the European Union.
Ans. Brussels.
11. Which forms of power sharing is also referred as checks

and balance system of power sharing?
Ans. Power sharing among different organs of government or

horizontal power sharing.
12. Which government in Belgium is a good example of power

sharing among different social groups?
Ans. Community Government.
13. Which form of power sharing is also termed as Federal

division of powers?
An s. Power sharing among different governments at different

levels or vertical power sharing.
14. Coalition government is the example of

…………………….forms of power sharing.
Ans. Power sharing between political parties, pressure groups

and movements.
III Answer the following questions in brief-
1. Briefly describe the ethnic composition of Belgium.
Ans.
The ethnic composition of Belgium is very complex-
Population throughout the country:
 59% of the population lives in the Flemish region and speak

Dutch.
 40% of the population lives in the Wallonia region and they
speak French.
 1% of the population speak German.
Population in the capital city Brussels:
 80% people speak French.

 20% people speak Dutch.
2. Describe in short the ethnic composition in Sri Lanka.
Ans.
Ethnic Composition of Sri Lanka:
On the basis of language spoken-
 74% people are Sinhala speakers.

 18% people are Tamil speakers.
 Among Tamils there are two groups-
Sri Lankan Tamils (13%)
Indian Tamils (The rest % )
On the basis of Religion-
 Sinhala speakers are mostly Buddhists.

 Most of the Tamils are Hindus or Muslims.
 There are about 7% Christians who are both Tamil and
Sinhala.
3. Mention a series of Majoritarian measures adopted by Sri Lanka

to establish Sinhala supremacy.
Ans.
1. In 1956, an Act was passed to recognize Sinhala as the

only official language, thus disregarding Tamils.
2. The Government followed preferential policies that
favoured Sinhala applicants for university positions and
government jobs.
3. A new constitution stipulated that the state shall protect
and foster Buddhism.
4. Express your views related to complicated accommodation model

in Belgium.
Ans.
1. We find that the Belgian model of accommodation indeed is very

complicated, even for the people living in Belgium.
2. But these arrangements have worked well so far. They helped to

avoid civic strife between two major communities and division
based on linguistic lines.
3. When many countries of Europe came together to form the

European Union, Brussels was chosen as its headquarters.
5. Differentiate between Prudential Reason and Moral Reason of

power sharing.
Ans.
Prudential Reasons-
1. Prudential reason is based on prudence, or careful calculation of

gains and losses.
2. Power sharing is good because it helps to reduce the possibility

of conflict between social groups.
3. Social conflicts often lead to violence and political instability,

power sharing is a good way to ensure the stability of political
order.
Moral Reasons-
1. Moral reason is purely based on moral consideration.

2. Accordingly, power sharing is good for democracies because it is
the spirit of democracy.
3. A democratic rule involves sharing power with those affected by

its exercise, and who have to live with its effects.
III Answer the following questions in detail-
1. Discuss in detail the effects of Majoritarian policy in Sri Lanka.
Ans.
1. All the government measures, coming one after the other,

gradually increased the feeling of alienation among the Sri Lankan
Tamils.
2. They felt that none of the major political parties were sensitive to
their language and culture.
3. They also felt that the constitution and the government policies
denied them equal political Rights, discriminated against them in
getting jobs and other opportunities ignoring their interest.
4. The Sri Lankan Tamils launched parties and struggles for the
recognition of Tamils as an official language, for regional autonomy
and equality of opportunity.
5. By 1980s several political organizations were formed demanding

an independent Tamil Elam (state) in northern and eastern parts of
Sri Lanka.
6. The distrust between the two communities, soon turned into a

Civil War, resulting killing of thousands of people from both the
communities.
2. Explain the elements of Belgian model of accommodation.
Ans.
1. Constitution prescribes that the number of Dutch and French-

speaking ministers shall be equal in the central government.
2. Many powers of the central government have been given to the

state governments of the two regions of the country.
3. Brussels has a separate government in which both the
communities have equal representation.
4. Apart from the central and state government, there is a third kind
of government known as ‘Community Government’.
5. This government has the power regarding cultural, educational

and language-related issues.
3. What lesson do we learn from the stories of Belgium and Sri

Lanka?
Ans.
1. Both are democratic countries. Yet, they dealt with the question
of power sharing differently.
2. In Belgium, the leaders have realized that the unity of the

country is possible only by respecting the feelings and interests of
different communities and regions.
3. Such a realization resulted in mutually acceptable arrangements

for sharing power.
4. Sri Lanka shows us a contrasting example.
5. It shows us that if a majority community wants to force its

dominance over others and refuses to share power, it can
undermine the unity of the country.
4. What are the different forms of power sharing in modern

democracies? Explain with examples.
Ans.
1. Power is shared among different organs of government, such as

Executive, Legislative and Judiciary.
a) Such a separation ensures that none of the organs can

exercise unlimited powers.
b) This is known as horizontal distribution of power sharing
where each organ checks the other.
c) Although, judges are appointed by the executive, they can
check the functioning of executive or laws made by the
legislature.
d) This arrangement is called a system of checks and balances.
2. Power can be shared among governments at different levels-
a) There is a central government for the entire country, provincial

or state government at regional level and local self
government at local level.
b) This arrangement of different level of government in Belgium,
India and others is called Federal system of government in
which constitution clearly lays down the powers of each
government.
c) This division of power sharing involving higher and lower
levels of government is also called as Vertical division of power
sharing.
3. Power may also be shared among different social groups such as

the religious and linguistic groups-
a) ‘Community Government’ in Belgium is a good example of this

arrangement.
b) In some countries like in India, there are constitutional and
legal arrangements are made whereby socially weaker sections
and women are represented in the legislatures and
administration.
c) ‘Reserved Constituencies’ in assemblies and the parliament is
meant to give space in the government and administration to
diverse social groups.
4. Power sharing among political parties, pressure groups and

movements-
a) In contemporary democracies, this takes the form of

competition among different parties that ensures that power
does not remain in one hand.
b) Some times this kind of sharing can be direct, when two or
more parties form an alliance to contest election to form a
‘Coalition Government’
c) In a democracy, we also find interest groups such as those of
traders, businessmen, industrialists, farmers and industrial
workers.
d) They share power through participation in governmental
committees or bringing influence on decision- making process.
………………………………………………………………………………

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Exercise:

I Define the following:-

A belief that the majority community should be able to rule a

A violent conflict between groups within a country that becomes

Prudential reason involves careful calculation of gains and losses.

II Answer the following questions in very short-

1. To which state of India, Belgium is compared with relation

2. Name the countries that borders with Belgium.

Ans. Belgium shares boundaries with France, Netherland,

3. In which region the Dutch speaking people live in Belgium?

Ans. In Flemish region, the Dutch speaking people live in

4. In which region the French speaking people live in Belgium?

Ans. In Wallonia region, the French speaking people live in

5. Which two groups of Tamils live in Sri Lanka?

Ans. Sri Lankan Tamils and Indian Tamils.

Ans. Sri Lanka

7. Name the state of India from which the Indian Tamils

Ans. Tamil Nadu.

8. In which year Sri Lanka emerged as an independent

9. Which Government has the power regarding cultural,

Ans. Community Government.

10. Name the headquarters of the European Union.

11. Which forms of power sharing is also referred as checks

Ans. Power sharing among different organs of government or

12. Which government in Belgium is a good example of power

Ans. Community Government.

13. Which form of power sharing is also termed as Federal

An s. Power sharing among different governments at different

14. Coalition government is the example of

Ans. Power sharing between political parties, pressure groups

1. Briefly describe the ethnic composition of Belgium.

The ethnic composition of Belgium is very complex-

Population throughout the country:

 59% of the population lives in the Flemish region and speak

Population in the capital city Brussels:

 80% people speak French.

2. Describe in short the ethnic composition in Sri Lanka.

Ethnic Composition of Sri Lanka:

On the basis of language spoken-

 74% people are Sinhala speakers.

Sri Lankan Tamils (13%)

Indian Tamils (The rest % )

On the basis of Religion-

 Sinhala speakers are mostly Buddhists.

3. Mention a series of Majoritarian measures adopted by Sri Lanka

1. In 1956, an Act was passed to recognize Sinhala as the

4. Express your views related to complicated accommodation model

1. We find that the Belgian model of accommodation indeed is very

2. But these arrangements have worked well so far. They helped to

3. When many countries of Europe came together to form the

5. Differentiate between Prudential Reason and Moral Reason of

1. Prudential reason is based on prudence, or careful calculation of

2. Power sharing is good because it helps to reduce the possibility

3. Social conflicts often lead to violence and political instability,

1. Moral reason is purely based on moral consideration.

3. A democratic rule involves sharing power with those affected by

III Answer the following questions in detail-

1. Discuss in detail the effects of Majoritarian policy in Sri Lanka.

1. All the government measures, coming one after the other,