PolityNCERT Class 10 · Democratic Politics II

Power-Sharing in a Democracy

How and why democracies distribute political power among communities, regions and organs of government so that diversity is accommodated and the nation stays united.

⏱ 7 min readGS-II6 sections5 memory tricks

Why this matters for UPSC

Power-sharing is the conceptual gateway to the whole Polity syllabus — separation of powers, checks and balances and Indian federalism — making it core GS-II territory. Prelims can test the forms of power-sharing (horizontal vs vertical), the prudential-versus-moral distinction, and Belgium/Sri Lanka facts, while Mains uses it for debates on managing ethnic-linguistic diversity, devolution and the dangers of majoritarianism.

Understand the chapter

What Power-Sharing Really Means

Power-sharing is the distribution of political power so that no single person, group, level or organ holds it all. The chapter continues last year's idea that legislature, executive and judiciary must each hold a share, and argues this distribution is the basic design principle of democracy. It emerged in opposition to the older belief that all power must sit in one place for quick, enforceable decisions.

People are the source of all political power and rule themselves through institutions of self-government.
Old view: concentrated power gives quick decisions; democratic view: dispersed power respects diversity.
A good democracy gives due respect to diverse groups and lets everyone shape public policy.

Belgium and Sri Lanka: Two Diverse Democracies

Both are democracies that faced power-sharing demands from linguistic and ethnic communities but responded in opposite ways. Belgium (smaller than Haryana, just over 1 crore people) is split between Dutch-speaking Flemish (59%), French-speaking Walloons (40%) and 1% German-speakers, with the twist that Brussels is 80% French even though Dutch-speakers form the national majority. Sri Lanka (an island off Tamil Nadu, about 2 crore people) has a Sinhala majority (74%) and a Tamil minority (18%).

Belgium: the minority French were richer and more powerful, which the Dutch-speakers resented (1950s-60s tensions).
Brussels paradox: Dutch-speakers are a majority in the country but a minority in the capital.
Sri Lankan Tamils (13%) are natives; Indian Tamils descend from colonial-era plantation workers.
Sinhalas are mostly Buddhist; Tamils mostly Hindu or Muslim; about 7% are Christians from both groups.

Sri Lanka: Majoritarianism and Its Costs

After independence in 1948, the Sinhala majority used its numbers to establish dominance through a series of majoritarian measures. The 1956 Act making Sinhala the only official language, pro-Sinhala policies in jobs and universities, and a constitution committed to protect and foster Buddhism deepened Tamil alienation. Repeated denial of regional autonomy pushed Tamils from autonomy demands to the demand for a separate Tamil Eelam, ending in a civil war that lasted until 2009.

1956: Sinhala made the sole official language, disregarding Tamil.
Constitution to protect and foster Buddhism; preferential jobs and university seats for Sinhalas.
1980s: organisations demand an independent Tamil Eelam in the north and east.
Lesson: forcing majority dominance can undermine the very unity of the nation.

Belgium: Accommodation through Power-Sharing

Belgian leaders recognised regional and cultural diversity and amended their constitution four times between 1970 and 1993 to build a uniquely innovative arrangement. Dutch- and French-speaking ministers are equal in the central government, many central powers were devolved to two state governments that are not subordinate to the centre, and Brussels has its own government with equal representation. A novel community government, elected by each language group, controls cultural, educational and language matters.

Equal ministers plus laws needing a majority from each linguistic group mean no community can decide unilaterally.
State governments are NOT subordinate to the Central government.
Brussels has a separate government with equal representation of both communities.
Community government: power over culture, education and language, irrespective of where members live.

Why Power-Sharing Is Desirable: Prudential vs Moral

The chapter gives two distinct sets of reasons. Prudential reasons stress better outcomes: power-sharing reduces inter-group conflict, blocks the tyranny of the majority and ensures political stability. The deeper moral reason is that power-sharing is the very spirit of democracy, because people affected by power have a right to be consulted, which gives citizens a stake and the government its legitimacy.

Prudential = careful calculation of gains and losses, yielding stability and fewer conflicts.
Moral = the act of sharing power is valuable in itself; legitimacy comes through participation.
Tyranny of the majority harms the minority and ultimately the majority as well.

Forms of Power-Sharing

Modern democracies share power in several forms. Horizontal sharing distributes power among organs at the same level — legislature, executive and judiciary — through checks and balances so each can check the others. Vertical or federal sharing distributes power among different levels — a central or union government and provincial or state governments. Power is also shared among social groups (Belgium's community government, reserved constituencies) and among political parties, pressure groups and movements such as coalitions.

Horizontal: among organs (legislature/executive/judiciary) via checks and balances; no organ has unlimited power.
Vertical/Federal: among levels (Central or Union government and State or provincial governments).
Social groups: community government and reserved seats for diverse communities.
Parties/pressure groups/movements: e.g. coalition governments and competing alliances.

Key terms

Power-sharing: Distribution of political power among organs, levels and social groups so that no one holds it all.
Ethnic group: A social division based on shared culture and a belief in common descent, not necessarily the same religion or nationality.
Majoritarianism: The belief that the majority community may rule as it wishes, disregarding the minority's wishes and needs.
Tyranny of the majority: Oppressive domination by the majority that harms the minority and, in the long run, the majority too.
Civil war: A violent internal conflict between groups so intense that it resembles a war.
Prudential reasons: Justification based on careful calculation of gains and losses, i.e. power-sharing brings better outcomes.
Moral reasons: Justification that power-sharing is valuable in itself because it is the spirit of democracy.
Community government: In Belgium, a government elected by a language community with power over culture, education and language.
Horizontal distribution: Power-sharing among organs of government at the same level, secured by checks and balances.
Federal government: A general government for the whole country (in India, the Central or Union government) that shares power with regional governments.

Must-know facts exam-ready

Belgium is smaller in area than Haryana with just over 1 crore people (about half of Haryana); Sri Lanka has about 2 crore people (about the same as Haryana).
Belgium: Flemish region 59% Dutch-speaking, Wallonia 40% French-speaking, 1% German-speaking; Brussels is 80% French and 20% Dutch.
Belgium amended its constitution four times between 1970 and 1993.
Belgium has three kinds of government: Central, State, and a unique community government based on language.
Brussels is the headquarters of the European Union (and also hosts NATO HQ).
Sri Lanka became independent in 1948; Sinhala-speakers 74%, Tamil-speakers 18% (Sri Lankan Tamils 13% plus Indian Tamils).
Indian Tamils descend from plantation workers brought from India during the colonial period.
In 1956 an Act made Sinhala the only official language, disregarding Tamil.
The Sri Lankan constitution committed the state to protect and foster Buddhism; jobs and university seats favoured Sinhalas.
By the 1980s organisations demanded a separate Tamil Eelam in the north and east; the civil war ended in 2009.
Lebanon's power-sharing pact fixes the President as a Maronite Christian, PM as a Sunni Muslim, Deputy PM as an Orthodox Christian and Speaker as a Shi'a Muslim.
Germany's grand coalition after the 2005 elections joined historic rivals, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Social Democratic Party (SPD).

Timeline

1948Sri Lanka becomes an independent country.
1950s-1960sDutch-French community tensions sharpen in Belgium, especially in Brussels.
1956Act passed making Sinhala the only official language in Sri Lanka.
1970-1993Belgium amends its constitution four times to craft its power-sharing model.
1980sOrganisations demand an independent Tamil Eelam in northern and eastern Sri Lanka.
2005Germany's CDU-SPD grand coalition formed after neither won a clear majority.
2009Sri Lanka's civil war ends.

Memory tricks remember it for good

HVSP - 'Have Very Strong Power-sharing'

H = Horizontal (legislature-executive-judiciary, checks and balances); V = Vertical (federal: Centre and States); S = Social groups (Belgium's community government, reserved seats); P = Parties, pressure groups and movements (coalitions).

💡 Recall all four forms of power-sharing in modern democracies.

Belgium numbers: 59-40-1, then Brussels flips to 80-20

Flemish/Dutch 59%, Walloon/French 40%, German 1% nationally; but Brussels is 80% French and 20% Dutch.

💡 Lock Belgium's language data and the Brussels paradox (Dutch are the national majority yet a Brussels minority).

Two reasons = PM (Prudential + Moral)

Prudential = calculation of gains and losses giving stability and fewer conflicts; Moral = power-sharing is the spirit of democracy, giving legitimacy through consent.

💡 Recall the two justifications for power-sharing without swapping them.

Lebanon ladder = Ma-Su-Or-Sh

President = Maronite Catholic; Prime Minister = Sunni Muslim; Deputy PM = Orthodox Christian; Speaker = Shi'a Muslim.

💡 Recall Lebanon's fixed confessional allocation of the four top posts.

Sri Lanka's 3 B's of majoritarianism: Buddhism, Ban-on-Tamil, Better-jobs

Constitution fosters Buddhism; the 1956 Sinhala-Only Act sidelines Tamil; preferential university and government jobs for Sinhalas.

💡 Recall the measures that alienated Sri Lankan Tamils.

Traps to avoid

Prudential vs Moral: prudential is outcome-based (gains and losses), moral is that sharing power is valuable in itself - do not swap them.
Horizontal vs Vertical: horizontal is among organs at the same level (checks and balances), vertical is among levels (federal) - aspirants often reverse these.
Belgium's community government is a THIRD type defined by language community, not territory - it is not the same as a state or regional government.
Sri Lankan Tamils (natives, 13%) and Indian Tamils (plantation-worker descendants) are distinct sub-groups; total Tamil-speakers are 18%.
Brussels paradox: Dutch-speakers are the national majority but a minority in Brussels (80% French) - easy to state backwards.
Majoritarianism is not just majority rule; it is majority rule that disregards minority rights (tyranny of the majority).

Exam focus

🧠 Prelims angles

Match the forms of power-sharing with examples: horizontal (checks and balances), vertical (federal), social groups (community government), parties (coalition).
Distinguish prudential vs moral reasons - identify which statement is which.
Belgium vs Sri Lanka data: language percentages, four constitutional amendments, independence 1948, Sinhala Only Act 1956, civil war ends 2009.
Static GK: Brussels as the EU headquarters (and NATO HQ); Belgium's three-tier government including a community government.
Lebanon's confessional allocation of the President, PM, Deputy PM and Speaker posts.
Core definitions: ethnic, majoritarianism, civil war, federal government, prudential.

✍️ Mains angles GS-II

Power-sharing is the very spirit of democracy. Discuss.Combine prudential reasons (stability, conflict-avoidance) with moral reasons (legitimacy, consent); contrast Belgium's accommodation with Sri Lanka's majoritarianism.
How does majoritarianism threaten national unity?Use Sri Lanka (Sinhala Only Act, Buddhism clause, Tamil Eelam, civil war) to show tyranny of the majority harms all; link to India's safeguards for minorities.
Compare horizontal and vertical power-sharing as devices to limit the concentration of power.Horizontal = separation of powers and checks and balances; vertical = federalism; relate to the Indian Constitution's organ separation and Union-State distribution.
What lessons does the Belgian model offer for managing linguistic and ethnic diversity?Equal ministers, non-subordinate states, Brussels parity and community government; assess applicability and limits for diverse polities like India.

Practice Polity questions from this syllabus →

Last-minute revision tick as you recall

Power-sharing = no single organ, group or level holds all power; it is the spirit of democracy.
Master contrast: Belgium = accommodation, Sri Lanka = majoritarianism.
Belgium: 59% Dutch (Flemish), 40% French (Wallonia), 1% German; Brussels 80% French.
Belgium amended its constitution 4 times (1970-1993); three governments including a community government; Brussels = EU HQ.
Sri Lanka: independent 1948; Sinhala 74%, Tamil 18%; Sinhala Only Act 1956; civil war ends 2009.
Two reasons: Prudential (better outcomes, stability) and Moral (legitimacy, consent).
Four forms: Horizontal (organs, checks and balances), Vertical (federal), Social groups (community government), Parties/pressure groups.
Lebanon: President-Maronite, PM-Sunni, Deputy PM-Orthodox, Speaker-Shi'a.
Majoritarianism = majority rule that ignores the minority = tyranny of the majority (harms all).

Next →Federalism

Distilled from NCERT Class 10 · Democratic Politics II for UPSC. Always cross-check facts with the original NCERT.