Civics
The Mayor of Merchtem, a town near Brussels in Belgium, has defended a ban on speaking French in the town’s schools. He said that the ban would help all non-Dutch speakers integrate in this Flemish town. Do you think that this measure is in keeping with the spirit of Belgium’s power sharing arrangements? Give your reasons in about 50 words.
Power Sharing
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Answer
No, this measure is not in keeping with the spirit of Belgium’s power sharing arrangements. These arrangements aim to maintain peace between the French-speaking and Dutch-speaking communities without offending any of them. By banning French, the mayor risks causing civil unrest. Accepting both languages in the town’s schools through bilingual education would be a better way to integrate the people of the town, avoid clash amd maintain peace.
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Related Questions
State one prudential reason and one moral reason for power sharing with an example from the Indian context.
After reading this chapter, three students drew different conclusions. Which of these do you agree with and why? Give your reasons in about 50 words.
- Thomman - Power sharing is necessary only in societies which have religious, linguistic or ethnic divisions.
- Mathayi – Power sharing is suitable only for big countries that have regional divisions.
- Ouseph – Every society needs some form of power sharing even if it is small or does not have social divisions.
Read the following passage and pick out any one of the prudential reasons for power sharing offered in this.
“We need to give more power to the panchayats to realise the dream of Mahatma Gandhi and the hopes of the makers of our Constitution. Panchayati Raj establishes true democracy. It restores power to the only place where power belongs in a democracy – in the hands of the people. Giving power to Panchayats is also a way to reduce corruption and increase administrative efficiency. When people participate in the planning and implementation of developmental schemes, they would naturally exercise greater control over these schemes. This would eliminate the corrupt middlemen. Thus, Panchayati Raj will strengthen the foundations of our democracy.”
Different arguments are usually put forth in favour of and against power sharing. Identify those which are in favour of power sharing and select the answer using the codes given below? Power sharing:
A. reduces conflict among different communities
B. decreases the possibility of arbitrariness
C. delays decision making process
D. accommodates diversities
E. increases instability and divisiveness
F. promotes people’s participation in government
G. undermines the unity of a country
(a) A, B, D, F
(b) A, C, E, F
(c) A, B, D, G
(d) B, C, D, G