Unit 1: Power Sharing1. Power-sharing mechanisms in democracies

1. Power-sharing mechanisms in democracies:

   a. Forms of power-sharing - There are two main forms of power-sharing in democracies:

      i. Horizontal Power-sharing: In this form, power is shared among different organs or institutions of the government. It includes the separation of powers between the legislature, executive, and judiciary, where each branch has specific roles and responsibilities to prevent the concentration of power in one authority.

      ii. Vertical Power-sharing: In this form, power is shared between different levels of government. It involves the distribution of powers between the central government and regional or local governments. This type of power-sharing ensures that decision-making authority is shared between different levels to accommodate regional and local aspirations.

   b. Different forms of power-sharing in different countries - The syllabus mentions three countries as examples:

      i. Belgium: Belgium practices a form of power-sharing known as consociationalism. It is characterized by the recognition of different linguistic and regional groups within the country. The major communities, Flemish and Walloons, have their own regional governments, and power is shared between them at the federal level.

      ii. Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka practices a form of power-sharing based on ethnic and regional divisions. The country has faced ethnic conflicts between the majority Sinhalese community and the Tamil minority. Efforts have been made to establish power-sharing mechanisms to address the concerns of the Tamil community, such as devolution of powers to regional councils.

      iii. Nepal: Nepal adopted federalism as a power-sharing mechanism after the end of the monarchy. The country is divided into provinces, and power is shared between the central government and provincial governments. This system aims to accommodate the diverse ethnic and regional identities within Nepal.

   c. Overview of the need for power-sharing in diverse societies: The syllabus emphasizes the need for power-sharing in diverse societies. Power-sharing mechanisms are crucial to ensure that different groups and communities have a say in decision-making processes and are adequately represented. It helps to prevent the domination of one group over others, reduces conflicts, promotes inclusivity, and strengthens the democratic fabric of a society.