Civics
Here are some examples of power sharing. Which of the four types of power sharing do these represent? Who is sharing power with whom?
- The Bombay High Court ordered the Maharashtra State Government to immediately take action and improve living conditions for the 2,000-odd children at seven children’s homes in Mumbai.
- The government of Ontario state in Canada has agreed to a land claim settlement with the aboriginal community. The Minister responsible for Native Affairs announced that the government will work with aboriginal people in a spirit of mutual respect and cooperation.
- Russia’s two influential political parties, the Union of Right Forces and the Liberal Yabloko Movement, agreed to unite their organisations into a strong rightwing coalition. They propose to have a common list of candidates in the next parliamentary elections.
- The finance ministers of various states in Nigeria got together and demanded that the federal government declare its sources of income. They also wanted to know the formula by which the revenue is distributed to various State Governments.
Answer
- The Bombay High Court ordered the Maharashtra state government to immediately take action and improve living conditions for the 2,000-odd children at seven children’s homes in Mumbai — This is an example of power sharing among different organs of the government. Here the power is shared between the judiciary and the executive.
- The government of Ontario state in Canada has agreed to a land claim settlement with the aboriginal community. The minister responsible for Native Affairs announced that the government will work with aboriginal people in a spirit of mutual respect and cooperation. — This is an example of sharing of power among different social groups. Here, the power is shared between the aboriginals and other social groups.
- Russia’s two influential political parties, the Union of Right Forces (SPS) and the liberal Yabloko movement agreed to unite their organizations into a strong right- wing coalition. They propose to have a common list of candidates in the next parliamentary elections. — Political parties pressure groups and movements control or influence power. Here, the power is being shared between SPS and the liberal Yabloko movement. This is an example of power sharing arrangements forming a coalition government.
- The finance ministers of various states in Nigeria got together and demanded that the federal government should declare its sources of income. They also wanted to known the formula by which the revenue is distributed to various state governments. — This is an example of power sharing among governments at different levels. Here, the power is being shared between federal and state governments.
Related Questions
In my school, the class monitors changes every month. Is that what you call a power sharing arrangement?
Annette studies in a Dutch medium school in the northern region of Belgium. Many French-speaking students in her school want the medium of instruction to be French. Selvi studies in a school in the northern region of Sri Lanka. All the students in her school are Tamil speaking and they want the medium of instruction to be Tamil. If the parents of Annette and Selvi were to approach respective governments to realize the desire of the child who is more likely to succeed? And why?
What are the different forms of power sharing in modern democracies? Give an example of each of these.
State one prudential reason and one moral reason for power sharing with an example from the Indian context.