Cbse social science Notes (Political Science)



Chapter-1 Power Sharing class-10


Belgium

Geographical Position:It is small country in Europe, bordered by the Netherlands, France and Germany.

Area and Population:It is smaller in area than the indian state of haryana.Its population is a little over one crore, about half of the state of haryana of the country 's total population.

Ethnic Composition:59% live in Flemish region and speak Dutch, 40℅live in wallonia region and speak French and remaining 1℅ speak German.
Capital:Brussels where 80℅ speak  French and 20℅ speak Dutch.

→Important Point:In Brussels, the Dutch -speaking people are in a minority which is the opposite for the rest of the country, where they are in majority.

→The majority population of French -speaking people was richer than the Dutch -speaking people.The majority Community were given benefits much later.This led to tension between the two communities in the 1950s and 1960s.Tension was more acute in the capital city of Brussels.

Srilanka

Geographical Position:A small island in Asia just a few kilometres off the southern coast of Tamil Naidu.

Population:It has about two crore people, about the same as in Haryana.

Ethnic Composition:74% are Sinhalese -speaking people, 18% are Tamil -speaking people, 13% are native of sri Lanka , known as sri lankan Tamils.

The rest are called Tamil lankans who are descendants of plantation workers, who came from India during the Colonial period.

Religion:Most of the Sinhala-speaking people are Buddhists.Most of the Tamil are Hindus or Muslims.Christian Constitute 7% of the population and they belong to both sinhala and Tamilians communities.


MAJORITARIANISM IN SRI LANKA

Meaning of Majoritarianism :A belief that only the majority community should rule a country, make laws for everyone with total disregard to the wishes and need of the minority.

→DmSri Lanka became independent in 1948.It immediately adopted measures to impose Sinhala supremacy.
Example:

(i)It made Sinhalese the official language of the country(by an Act in 1956), and ignored Tamil completely.

(ii)It made a preferential policy to favour Sinhala-speaking people in all government jobs and educational institutions.

(iii)It promoted and protected Buddhism.

Result.The  Tamil felt alienated.No respect or recognition was given to their language, culture and religion.They began a struggle for equality in jobs, entry to the universities , recognition of their language and culture.Slowly the Conflict changed a demand for regional autonomy.The Tamilians were grouped  together in the North and East of sir Lanka  .Their demand were ignored,the Conflict became more severe and by the 1980s, the tamilian demand has charged.

They wanted Tamil  Elam in the North and East.A civil war ensued  , which killed thousands of people on both sides.The flourishing economy of sir Lanka has disappeared and the Conflict has given a blow to social culture  and Economy life of sri Lanka.

Accommodation in Belgium and forms of power sharing

Accommodation in Belgium

Belgium, unlike sri Lanka, has taken a totally different stand .It amended the Constitution to accommodate every ethnic community, with the result that it did not suffer from a civil war , demands for autonomy or partition of the country.

Why is Power -sharing Desirable?

→Power sharing is a must in a democracy.

→There are two sets of reasons which make power sharing desirable.

Reasons

Prudential

1.Reduces the possibility of conflicts between different social groups.Social Conflicts lead to violence , political instability.

2.Prevents groups from overstepping their rights to enhance their own power.

3.No single group can subvert the Constitution, power sharing unites the nation.

4.when power is not shared , It oppresses the minority and even the majority is ruined.

Moral

1.The spirit of democracy calls for power sharing.

2.People who are affected by the policies must have a hand in shaping those policies.

3.Citizens' participation is a must .

4.Moral reasons make power sharing essential and valuable.