“This post explains the concept of power sharing with practical examples from Belgium and Sri Lanka, showing how both countries handled language diversities and what the outcome was.”
Power Sharing – Belgium and Sri Lanka | Class 10 Notes
Power Sharing in Belgium
- Belgium – A small country in Europe
- Area: Smaller than the Indian state of Haryana
- Borders with: France, Netherlands, Germany, and Luxembourg
- Population: A little over one crore
- Ethnic composition: Very complex
Population divided into:
- Dutch-speaking – Live in the Flemish region (59%)
- French-speaking – Live in the Wallonia region (40%)
- German-speaking – 1%
Brussels (Capital of Belgium):
- 80% people speak French
- 20% people speak Dutch
Minority & majority tensions:
- French-speaking: Minority in the country, majority in Brussels
- Dutch-speaking: Majority in the country, minority in Brussels
- Tension due to economic gap and power imbalance
Accommodation of diversities (1970–1993):
- 4 constitutional amendments introduced:
- Equal ministers in the central government from both communities
- Special laws require the support of both communities
- State governments are no longer subordinate to the central government
- Brussels has a separate government – both communities have equal representation
- Community government: Elected by people of one language group, no matter where they live
- Responsible for cultural, educational, and language-related issues
Results of the Belgian model:
- Helped avoid civil strife
- Prevented division of the country on linguistic lines
- Brussels became the headquarters of the European Union
- Belgium remained united by respecting the feelings and interests of different communities
Power Sharing in Sri Lanka
- Independence: 1948
- Location: Island nation in the Indian Ocean, south of India
- Population: About 2 crore
Major ethnic groups:
- Sinhala speakers – 74% of the population
- Tamil speakers – 18% of the population
Tamils further divided into:
- Sri Lankan Tamils – Tamil natives of the country
- Indian Tamils – Whose forefathers came from India as plantation workers
Distribution:
- Sri Lankan Tamils are concentrated in the north and east of the country
Religion:
- Sinhala speakers – Buddhist
- Tamils – Hindu or Muslim
- Christians – 7% of the population; they speak both Tamil and Sinhala
Majoritarianism in Sri Lanka
- Post-independence government adopted majoritarian measures to establish Sinhala supremacy
1956 Act:
- Made Sinhala the only official language
- Declared Buddhism the official religion
Preference given to Sinhalas in:
- Government jobs
- University admissions
Impact on Sri Lankan Tamils:
- Felt alienated
- Denied equal rights
- The Sri Lankan constitution did not protect their interests
Demands of Sri Lankan Tamils:
- Recognition of Tamil as an official language
- Regional autonomy
- Equality of opportunity
By 1980:
- Political organisations were formed
- They demanded an independent Tamil Eelam in the north and east
Consequences of distrust between communities:
- Civil war broke out
- Thousands of people were killed from both sides
- Many families were forced to leave the country as refugees
- Many lost their livelihoods
Source:
NCERT
