What are the two main reasons for power sharing?

The prudential reason — it reduces conflict between social groups and ensures stability — and the moral reason — power sharing is the very spirit of democracy.

Why is Sri Lanka used as an example in this chapter?

To show how majoritarianism — making Sinhala the sole official language and favouring the Sinhala community — denied the Tamil minority a fair share of power and led to alienation and civil war.

What is the difference between horizontal and vertical power sharing?

Horizontal sharing is among organs of government at the same level (legislature, executive, judiciary); vertical sharing is among different levels (central, state and local governments).

What is the Belgian model of power sharing?

An arrangement where the central government has equal numbers of Dutch and French ministers, power is shared between central and state governments, and a separate community government handles cultural, educational and language issues.

CBSE Class 10 Civics · Chapter 1

Power Sharing

Why sharing power is the very spirit of a democracy

Summary

The chapter opens with two contrasting stories — Belgium, which carefully shared power among its Dutch, French and German-speaking communities, and Sri Lanka, where a majoritarian agenda denied the Tamil minority a fair share, leading to civil war.

From these cases it draws two reasons for power sharing: the prudential reason (it reduces conflict and ensures stability) and the moral reason (power sharing is the very spirit of democracy, since those affected by power should have a say in it).

It then classifies the main forms of power sharing — among different organs of government (horizontal), among different levels (vertical/federal), among social groups, and among political parties, pressure groups and movements.

Key points to remember

Belgium accommodated its Dutch, French and German-speaking communities through careful constitutional arrangements.
In the Belgian model, central government has equal Dutch and French ministers, and a community government handles cultural and language affairs.
Sri Lanka adopted majoritarian policies — Sinhala as sole official language, preference to Buddhism — alienating Tamils and leading to civil war.
Prudential reason: power sharing reduces conflict between social groups and ensures political stability.
Moral reason: power sharing is the very spirit of democracy; people have a right to be consulted.
Horizontal distribution: power shared among legislature, executive and judiciary at the same level, with checks and balances.
Vertical distribution: power shared among central, state and local governments.
Power is also shared among social groups (community government) and among parties, pressure groups and movements.

Important questions (board pattern)

3 marksDistinguish between the prudential and moral reasons for power sharing.
How to answer: Prudential = reduces conflict and ensures stability (about results); moral = the very spirit of democracy (about principle). One line each plus an example.
5 marksHow did Belgium and Sri Lanka deal with their ethnic differences differently? Explain.
How to answer: Contrast Belgium's accommodation (equal ministers, community government) with Sri Lanka's majoritarianism (Sinhala-only, Buddhism preference) and its consequence — civil war.
5 marksExplain the different forms of power sharing in modern democracies with an example of each.
How to answer: Horizontal, vertical, social-group and party/pressure-group sharing — one clear example each.
1 markWhat is majoritarianism?
How to answer: The belief that the majority community should rule as it wishes, disregarding the wishes and needs of the minority.
3 marksWhy is power sharing desirable? Give the two reasons.
How to answer: State the prudential reason and the moral reason briefly with the core idea of each.

Common exam traps

Don't swap the two cases — Belgium = accommodation, Sri Lanka = majoritarianism.
Prudential vs moral is a frequent 3-marker — keep the distinction crisp (results vs principle).
Horizontal = same level (organs); vertical = different levels (centre/state/local) — never reverse them.
Sri Lanka's Tamils are a minority; do not call them the majority community.

Frequently asked questions

What are the two main reasons for power sharing?: The prudential reason — it reduces conflict between social groups and ensures stability — and the moral reason — power sharing is the very spirit of democracy.
Why is Sri Lanka used as an example in this chapter?: To show how majoritarianism — making Sinhala the sole official language and favouring the Sinhala community — denied the Tamil minority a fair share of power and led to alienation and civil war.
What is the difference between horizontal and vertical power sharing?: Horizontal sharing is among organs of government at the same level (legislature, executive, judiciary); vertical sharing is among different levels (central, state and local governments).
What is the Belgian model of power sharing?: An arrangement where the central government has equal numbers of Dutch and French ministers, power is shared between central and state governments, and a separate community government handles cultural, educational and language issues.