Class 10 Social Science - GUJARAT
Political Science: Power-sharing
The Class 10 Political Science chapter 'Power-sharing' explores how power is distributed within a democracy to ensure stability and harmony. Through the compelling comparative case studies of Belgium and Sri Lanka, students learn why power-sharing is desirable both prudentially and morally. The chapter details various forms of power-sharing, including horizontal distribution among organs of government, vertical distribution among different levels, and arrangements involving social, linguistic, and political groups. This chapter is vital for GSEB board exams as it forms the foundational understanding of democratic design, federalism, and conflict resolution, frequently featuring in short and long answer questions.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Power-sharing
The distribution of political power among different organs, levels, or social groups of a government to prevent the dominance of a single group and ensure inclusive decision-making.
Belgian Model of Accommodation
A unique constitutional arrangement in Belgium that gave equal representation to Dutch and French-speaking ministers and created a third level of government (community government) to handle cultural and linguistic issues.
Majoritarianism
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, as seen historically in Sri Lanka.
Prudential Reason for Power-sharing
The argument that power-sharing is good because it helps to reduce the possibility of violent conflict between social groups and ensures political stability.
Moral Reason for Power-sharing
The argument that power-sharing is the very spirit of democracy, where citizens have a stake in governance and are entitled to be consulted on how they are governed.
Horizontal and Vertical Division of Power
Horizontal distribution shares power among different organs of government (Legislature, Executive, Judiciary), while vertical distribution divides power between the central government and regional or local governments.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Gujarat Board (GSEB) Class 10 Social Science examinations, this chapter typically carries around 4 to 6 marks. Questions commonly include 1-mark objective/MCQ questions, 2-mark short notes (such as prudential vs. moral reasons or horizontal power-sharing), and 3 to 4-mark descriptive questions comparing the governance situations in Belgium and Sri Lanka.
Frequently Asked Questions
Power-sharing is desirable for two main reasons: prudential reasons (it reduces social conflict and ensures political stability) and moral reasons (it upholds the core democratic principle that those affected by laws must have a voice in shaping them).
What is the main difference between the Belgium and Sri Lanka case studies?
Belgium accommodated its diverse linguistic groups by sharing power equally among them, leading to peace and stability. In contrast, Sri Lanka adopted majoritarian policies that favored the Sinhala majority, resulting in severe ethnic conflict and civil war.
What is horizontal power-sharing?
Horizontal power-sharing refers to the distribution of power among different organs of government—namely the legislature, executive, and judiciary—operating on a system of checks and balances to ensure no single organ exercises unlimited power.
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