Important questions and answers from Democratic Politics

1. How were the ethnic problems solved in Belgium ? Mention any four steps which were taken by the government to solve the problems?

        (i)More powers to state governments : Under the proper power sharing arrangement, many                  powers of the central government were given to state governments for the two regions of the                country. The state governments were not subordinate to the central government. •
       (ii) Equal representation at the state and the central level : A separate government has been set           up at Brussels in which both the communities have equal representation.
     (iii) Formation of community government : Apart from the central and the state government, there       is a third kind of government, i.e., ‘community government’. This ‘community government’ is             elected by the people belonging to one language community – Dutch, French and German                   speaking     no matter where they live. This government has the powers regarding cultural,                     educational and           language related issues.

     

    2 Why is Power sharing desirable ?

    1. Prudential reasons: (i) Prudential reasons are based on careful calculations of gains and losses. For example in the Nepal movement for democracy even the Maoists, an armed _ revolutionary group, was given some share after the formation of government. The major gain for this was peace in Nepal. (ii) Prudential reasons help to reduce the possibility of conict between social groups. (iii) Prudential reasons are good way to ensure political stability. (iv) Imposing the will of majority community over the minority may look like an attractive option in the short run, but in the long run, it undermines the unity of the nation. Tyranny of the majority is not just oppressive for the minority; it often brings ruin to the majority as well. 2. Moral reasons: (i) Power sharing is the basic spirit of democracy. A democratic rule involves the sharing of power with those affected by its exercise, and those who have to live with its effects. (ii) A democratic government is chosen by the people. So they have the right to be consulted on how they are to be governed. A legitimate government is one where groups, through participation, acquire a stake in the system. (iii) Decentralisation of power, i.e., formation of state governments, local governments is an example of moral reason.