Class 10 Social Science - WEST-BENGAL
Political Science: Power-sharing
The chapter 'Power-sharing' in Class 10 Political Science explores how power is distributed among different organs and levels of government to ensure smooth democratic functioning. Through the contrasting case studies of Belgium and Sri Lanka, students learn why power-sharing is desirable and how majoritarianism can lead to conflict. The chapter details various forms of power-sharing, such as vertical division among different levels of government and horizontal division among the legislature, executive, and judiciary. For West Bengal Board (WBBSE) exams, this chapter is crucial for developing conceptual clarity on democratic governance and scoring well in descriptive questions.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
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.
Prudential Reason for Power-sharing
The argument that power-sharing is good because it helps to reduce the possibility of conflict between social groups and ensures political stability.
Moral Reason for Power-sharing
The argument that power-sharing is the very spirit of democracy, giving citizens a stake in governance where they have a right to be consulted.
Horizontal Distribution of Power
Power is shared among different organs of government, such as the legislature, executive, and judiciary, practicing a system of checks and balances.
Vertical Distribution of Power
Power is shared among governments at different levels, such as a general government for the entire country and governments at the provincial or regional level.
Community Government
A unique system in Belgium elected by people belonging to one language community, having power regarding cultural, educational, and language-related issues.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the West Bengal Board (WBBSE) Class 10 exams, this chapter typically carries around 4 to 6 marks. Questions usually include Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), Very Short Answer (VSA) questions, and 3-mark or 5-mark descriptive questions comparing the Belgium and Sri Lankan models or explaining the forms of power-sharing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is power-sharing desirable in a democracy?
Power-sharing is desirable for two main reasons: prudential reasons (it reduces social conflict and ensures political stability) and moral reasons (it upholds the true spirit of democracy by involving citizens in decision-making).
What is the difference between horizontal and vertical power-sharing?
Horizontal power-sharing occurs among different organs of government at the same level (like legislature, executive, and judiciary) with checks and balances. Vertical power-sharing occurs among different levels of government, such as central, state, and local governments.
What led to ethnic tension in Sri Lanka?
Ethnic tension in Sri Lanka arose because the democratically elected Sinhala government adopted majoritarian measures to establish Sinhala supremacy, disregarding the language, religion, and regional autonomy demands of the Sri Lankan Tamils.
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