Synonyms
More meanings
Tip: select a single word for meaning & synonyms.
Select multiple words normally to copy text.
Power Sharing: TBSE Class 10 Political Science answers, extras
Get here the notes, questions, answers, textbook solutions, summary, extras, and PDF of TBSE (Tripura Board) Class 10 Social Science (Political Science/Democratic Politics II) Chapter 1 “Power-Sharing.” However, the provided notes should only be treated as references, and the students are encouraged to make changes to them as they feel appropriate.
Summary
The chapter compares and contrasts the racial and linguistic diversity of Belgium and Sri Lanka, highlighting potential conflicts between various communities. Tensions between the two communities in Belgium resulted from the Dutch-speaking population’s resentment of the French-speaking population’s wealth and power. The Tamil-speaking minority was oppressed by the majority Sinhala in Sri Lanka, which resulted in a protracted and bloody conflict. The chapter makes the argument that these conflicts can develop when one group tries to rule over another based on their numerical superiority, and that if these tensions are not resolved, division or violent conflict may happen.
The Sinhala community in Sri Lanka sought to establish dominance in the government after the country attained independence in 1948 by passing laws that declared Sinhala supremacy. Due to the alienation and discrimination experienced by the Tamils in Sri Lanka as a result of these actions, political organisations were created to call for autonomy and the recognition of Tamil as an official language. In response to the government’s repeated denials of their demands, organisations in the north and east advocating for a separate Tamil Eelam state were formed. Eventually, the mistrust between the two communities erupted into a civil war that left a large number of people homeless and violent. Despite the nation’s prior stellar record of development in the fields of education and health, this conflict has had a devastating impact on its social, cultural, and economic life.
The examples of Belgium and Sri Lanka are used in the chapter to illustrate two different approaches to power sharing in democracies. An example of a nation where a majority community attempted to impose its dominance over others is Sri Lanka, which resulted in civil unrest and raised the possibility of the country being divided along linguistic lines. On the other hand, Belgium acknowledged the existence of regional variations and cultural diversity and came up with a creative solution that would allow everyone to live together in the same nation. The Belgian model, which shared authority between the federal, state, and local governments, contributed to preventing civil unrest between the two main communities.
The chapter makes the case that having equal access to power is preferable for both prudential and moral reasons. Power sharing will produce better results, according to prudential arguments, while sharing power itself is valuable, according to moral arguments. Conflict between social groups, which can result in violence and political instability, is made less likely with the sharing of power. Power sharing is also fundamental to democracy because every democratic rule involves sharing authority with those who will be impacted by it and will have to live with its consequences.
The idea of power sharing has developed as a result of democracy’s expansion, which emphasises how power should be shared among citizens. Power sharing in contemporary democracies can take many different shapes, including horizontal power sharing among various governmental agencies, vertical power sharing among various tiers of government, power sharing among various social groups, and power sharing among political parties and interest groups. The shared power principle is essential to ensuring that various groups and viewpoints are represented in government and that no group or person has unrestricted power.
Textual questions and answers
1. What are the different forms of power sharing in modern democracies? Give an example of each of these.
Answer:The forms of power sharing in modern democracies include horizontal distribution of power, which allows different organs of government placed at the same level to exercise different powers, and power sharing among different organs of government, such as the legislature, executive and judiciary. An example of horizontal distribution of power would be the separation of powers between the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government. An example of power sharing among different organs of government would be the checks and balances system in the United States, which allows each branch of government to limit the power of the other branches.
2. State one prudential reason and one moral reason for power sharing with an example from the Indian context.
Answer: A prudential reason for power sharing is that it helps to ensure the stability of political order, as it prevents any one group from having too much power. This can be seen in India, where power is shared between the federal government and the state governments. A moral reason for power sharing is that it allows citizens to have a say in how they are governed, which is an important part of democracy. In India, this is seen in the way that power is shared between the central government and the various state governments.
3. After reading this chapter, three students drew different conclusions. Which of these do you agree with and why? Give your reasons in about 50 words.
Thomman – Power sharing is necessary only in societies which have religious, linguistic or ethnic divisions.
Mathayi – Power sharing is suitable only for big countries that have regional divisions.
Ouseph – Every society needs some form of power sharing even if it is small or does not have social divisions.
Answer: I agree with Ouseph’s conclusion that every society needs some form of power sharing, even if it is small or does not have social divisions. This is because power sharing allows different groups to have a say in how they are governed, which is an important part of democracy. It also helps to ensure the stability of political order, as it prevents any one group from having too much power. This is important for a just and equitable society.
4. The Mayor of Merchtem, a town near Brussels in Belgium, has defended a ban on speaking French in the town’s schools. He said that the ban would help all non-Dutch speakers integrate in this Flemish town. Do you think that this measure is in keeping with the spirit of Belgium’s power sharing arrangements? Give your reasons in about 50 words.
Answer: No, I do not think that this measure is in keeping with the spirit of Belgium’s power sharing arrangements. This is because power sharing is meant to ensure that all citizens have a say in how they are governed, regardless of their language or ethnicity. By banning the speaking of French in the town’s schools, the Mayor is denying the French-speaking citizens of Merchtem the right to express themselves in their own language. This is not in keeping with the spirit of Belgium’s power sharing arrangements.
5. Read the following passage and pick out any one of the prudential reasons for power sharing offered in this.
“We need to give more power to the panchayats to realise the dream of Mahatma Gandhi and the hopes of the makers of our Constitution. Panchayati Raj establishes true democracy. It restores power to the only place where power belongs in a democracy – in the hands of the people. Giving power to Panchayats is also a way to reduce corruption and increase administrative efficiency. When people participate in the planning and implementation of developmental schemes, they would naturally exercise greater control over these schemes. This would eliminate the corrupt middlemen. Thus, Panchayati Raj will strengthen the foundations of our democracy.”
Answer: One of the prudential reasons for power sharing offered in this passage is that it can reduce corruption and increase administrative efficiency. This is because when people participate in the planning and implementation of developmental schemes, they would naturally exercise greater control over these schemes. This would eliminate the corrupt middlemen, thus strengthening the foundations of democracy.
6. Different arguments are usually put forth in favour of and against power sharing. Identify those which are in favour of power sharing and select the answer using the codes given below? Power sharing:
A. reduces conflict among different communities
B. decreases the possibility of arbitrariness
C. delays decision making process
D. accommodates diversities
E. increases instability and divisiveness
F. promotes people’s participation in government
G. undermines the unity of a country
Answer: (a) A B D F
7. Consider the following statements about power sharing arrangements in Belgium and Sri Lanka.
A. In Belgium, the Dutch-speaking majority people tried to impose their domination on the minority French-speaking community.
B. In Sri Lanka, the policies of the government sought to ensure the dominance of the Sinhala-speaking majority.
C. The Tamils in Sri Lanka demanded a federal arrangement of power sharing to protect their culture, language and equality of opportunity in education and jobs.
D. The transformation of Belgium from unitary government to a federal one prevented a possible division of the country on linguistic lines.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Answer: (d) B, C and D
8. Match List I (forms of power sharing) with List II (forms of government) and select the correct answer using the codes given below in the lists:
| List I | List II |
| 1. Power shared among different organs of government | A. Community government |
| 2. Power shared among governments at different levels | B. Separation of powers |
| 3. Power shared by different social groups | C. Coalition government |
| 4. Power shared by two or more political parties | D. Federal government |
Answer: 1-B, 2-D, 3-A, 4-C
9. Consider the following two statements on power sharing and select the answer using the codes given below:
A. Power sharing is good for democracy.
B. It helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups.
Which of these statements are true and false?
(a) A is true but B is false
(b) Both A and B are true
(c) Both A and B are false
(d) A is false but B is true
Answer: (b) Both A and B are true.
Additional/extra questions and answers/solutions
1. What is the ethnic composition of Belgium?
Answer: The ethnic composition of Belgium is complex. 59 percent of the population in the Flemish region speaks Dutch, 40 percent in the Wallonia region speaks French, and 1 percent speaks German. In the capital city Brussels, 80 percent speak French and 20 percent speak Dutch.
2. What is the situation in Sri Lanka in terms of ethnic diversity?
Answer: Sri Lanka has a diverse population with major social groups being Sinhala-speakers (74 percent) and Tamil-speakers (18 percent). Among Tamils, there are Sri Lankan Tamils (13 percent) and Indian Tamils (5 percent). Most Sinhala-speaking people are Buddhists and most Tamils are Hindus or Muslims, with about 7 percent being Christians who are both Tamil and Sinhala.
3. What happened in Belgium due to the ethnic tensions between the Dutch and French communities?
Answer: The tensions between the Dutch-speaking and French-speaking communities in Belgium were resolved through federalization of the country and recognition of both languages as official languages.
4. What was the outcome of the ethnic tensions in Sri Lanka?
Answer: The ethnic tensions in Sri Lanka resulted in a civil war lasting from 1983 to 2009 between the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tigers, a separatist militant organization. Despite attempts at reconciliation, the country continues to face ethnic tensions and issues with minority rights.
5. What was the majoritarian measure adopted by the democratically elected government in Sri Lanka?
Answer: The democratically elected government in Sri Lanka adopted a series of majoritarian measures to establish Sinhala supremacy.
6. Why were Sri Lankan Tamils feeling alienated?
Answer: Sri Lankan Tamils were feeling alienated due to the series of government measures that gradually increased the feeling of alienation among them. These measures denied them equal political rights, discriminated against them in getting jobs and other opportunities and ignored their interests.
7. What was the 1956 act that disregarded the Tamil language?
Answer: In 1956, an Act was passed to recognise Sinhala as the only official language, thus disregarding Tamil.
8. What was the demand of the Sri Lankan Tamils?
Answer: By 1980s, several political organisations were formed demanding independent Tamil Eelam (state) in northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka.
9. How did the Belgian leaders recognise the existence of regional differences and cultural diversities?
Answer: The Belgian leaders recognised the existence of regional differences and cultural diversities by amending their constitution four times between 1970 and 1993 to work out an arrangement that would enable everyone to live together within the same country.
10. What was the arrangement worked out by the Belgian leaders?
Answer: The arrangement worked out by the Belgian leaders was a very innovative one, different from any other country. It gave many powers of the central government to the state governments of the two regions of the country and prescribed equal representation of both linguistic communities in the central government and the government of Brussels.
11. What was the impact of the civil war on Sri Lanka’s social, cultural and economic life?
Answer: The civil war in Sri Lanka had a terrible setback on the country’s social, cultural and economic life, causing thousands of deaths and forcing families to leave the country as refugees and many more losing their livelihoods.
12. What are the two reasons given in favor of power sharing?
Answer: The two reasons given in favor of power sharing are: (1) to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups and ensure stability of political order and (2) it is the spirit of democracy and involves consultation and participation of citizens in how they are governed.
13. What is power sharing?
Answer: Power sharing according to the text involves sharing power with those affected by its exercise and who have to live with its effects, and involves consultation and participation of citizens in how they are governed.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What is the primary language spoken in the Flemish region of Belgium?
A. Dutch
B. French
C. German
D. English
Answer: A. Dutch
2. What is the primary religion among Sinhala-speaking people in Sri Lanka?
A. Hindu
B. Muslim
C. Christian
D. Buddhist
Answer: D. Buddhist
3. What was the result of the ethnic tensions in Sri Lanka?
A. Federalization
B. Civil War
C. Partition
D. None of the above
Answer: B. Civil War
4. What language was recognised as the only official language in Sri Lanka in 1956?
A. Sinhala
B. Tamil
C. English
D. None of these
Answer: A. Sinhala
5. What is the type of government in Belgium?
A. Community
B. Central
C. State
D. Combined
Answer: A. Community
6. Why was Brussels chosen as the headquarters of European Union?
A. Location
B. Unity
C. Historical significance
D. Linguistic diversity
Answer: D. Linguistic diversity
7. What is the principle of democracy?
A. People rule
B. One leader
C. Undivided power
D. Quick decisions
Answer: A. People rule
8. Power sharing in India through reserved constituencies is an example of
A. Provincial Division
B. Vertical Division
C. Community Government
D. Representation of Minorities
Answer: D. Representation of Minorities
9. The division of powers among higher and lower levels of government is called
A. Provincial Division
B. Vertical Division
C. Community Government
D. Federal Division
Answer: B. Vertical Division
10. The competition among political parties in a democracy is an example of
A. Direct Sharing
B. Political Competition
C. Interest Group Power
D. Ideological Diversity
Answer: B. Political Competition
