Quick Revision Notes: Class 10 Social Science (Civics)

Chapter: Power Sharing (सत्ता की साझेदारी)

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### Concept 1: What is Power Sharing? (सत्ता की साझेदारी क्या है?)

• Definition: Power sharing is a system of political arrangement in which power is shared among different organs of government, social groups, or levels to ensure that all segments of society have a voice in governance.
• Why is Power Sharing Desirable?
  1. Prudential Reason (समझदारी भरा कारण): It helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups and ensures political stability.
  2. Moral Reason (नैतिक कारण): It is the very spirit of democracy. A democratic rule involves sharing power with those affected by its exercise and who have to live with its effects.

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### Concept 2: Case Studies - Belgium and Sri Lanka

Understanding power sharing through two contrasting examples:

1. Belgium (बेल्जियम)

• Composition: A small European country with a complex ethnic composition.
  • Flemish Region: 59% population, speaks Dutch.
  • Wallonia Region: 40% population, speaks French.
  • Brussels (Capital): 80% speak French, 20% speak Dutch.
• The Conflict: The minority French-speaking community was relatively rich and powerful, which resented the Dutch-speaking majority who got the benefit of economic development and education later.
• Belgium's Accommodation (बेल्जियम का समायोजन): The leaders amended their constitution four times between 1970 and 1993 to enable everyone to live together peacefully.
  • Equal number of Dutch and French-speaking ministers in the Central Government.
  • State governments are not subordinate to the Central Government.
  • Separate Government in Brussels with equal representation for both communities.
  • Community Government (सामudayik सरकार): Elected by people belonging to one language community (Dutch, French, and German-speaking) no matter where they live, dealing with cultural, educational, and language issues.

2. Sri Lanka (श्रीलंका)

• Composition: An island nation with a diverse population.
  • Sinhala-speakers: 74% (Majority, Buddhist).
  • Tamil-speakers: 18% (Divided into Sri Lankan Tamils 13% and Indian Tamils 5%, mostly Hindu or Muslim).
  • Christians: 7% (Both Sinhala and Tamil).
• Majoritarianism in Sri Lanka (बहुसंख्यकवाद): After independence in 1948, the Sinhala community sought to secure dominance over government due to its majority.
  • 1956 Act: Recognized Sinhala as the only official language, disregarding Tamil.
  • Preferential policies favored Sinhala applicants for university positions and government jobs.
  • State protected and fostered Buddhism.
• Result: The distrust turned into widespread conflict, leading to a Civil War (गृहयुद्ध) that caused terrible setbacks to the social, cultural, and economic life of the country.

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### Concept 3: Forms of Power Sharing (सत्ता की साझेदारी کے रूप / प्रकार)

In modern democracies, power sharing can take many forms:

1. Horizontal Distribution of Power (क्षैतिज वितरण):

   • Power is shared among different organs of government at the same level.
   • Organs: Legislature (विधायिका), Executive (कार्यकारिणी), and Judiciary (न्यायपालिका).
   • System: It places a system of Checks and Balances (नियंत्रण और संतुलन की व्यवस्था) so that no single organ exercises unlimited power.

2. Vertical Distribution of Power (ऊर्ध्वाधर वितरण):

   • Power is shared among governments at different levels.
   • Levels: Central Government (संघ सरकार / केंद्र सरकार) -> State/Provincial Government (राज्य सरकार) -> Local Government (स्थानीय सरकार - Panchayats and Municipalities).
   • Also known as Federal Division of Power (संघीय सरकार).

3. Power Sharing among Social Groups (सामाजिक समूहों के बीच):

   • Power is shared among different social groups, such as religious and linguistic groups.
   • Example: 'Community Government' in Belgium or Reserved Constituencies (आरक्षित निर्वाचन क्षेत्र) for weaker sections and women in India.

4. Power Sharing among Political Parties, Pressure Groups, and Movements (राजनीतिक दल, दबाव समूह और आंदोलन):

   • Democracy provides citizens a choice among contenders for power.
   • When two or more parties form an alliance to contest elections and win, it leads to a Coalition Government (गठबंधन सरकार).
   • Interest groups like traders, businessmen, industrialists, farmers, and workers also share governmental power through participation in governmental committees or influencing decision-making.

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### Key Terms for Quick Revision (मुख्य शब्दावली)

• Ethnic (जातीय): A social division based on shared culture. People belonging to the same ethnic group believe in their common descent because of similarities of physical type or of culture or both.
• Majoritarianism (बहुसंख्यकवाद): A belief that the majority community should be able to rule a country in whichever way it wants, by disregarding the wishes and needs of the minority.
• Civil War (गृहयुद्ध): A violent conflict between opposing groups within a country that becomes so intense that it appears like a war.
• Checks and Balances (नियंत्रण और संतुलन): A system where each organ of government checks the other, keeping the power balanced among them.
• Coalition Government (गठबंधन सरकार): A government formed by the coming together of at least two political parties when no single party gets a clear majority in elections.