Chapter 1: Power-sharing
This foundational chapter introduces the core democratic principle of power-sharing, examining why it's essential in diverse societies and how different countries implement it through various institutional arrangements. We explore the theoretical justifications for power-sharing, analyze real-world models from Belgium and Sri Lanka, and understand how India's federal structure represents a sophisticated power-sharing mechanism.
1. Understanding Power-sharing: Beyond Majoritarianism
Power-sharing refers to the distribution of political power among different organs of government, different levels of government, and different social groups to ensure that no single entity can dominate decision-making. It represents a fundamental departure from majoritarian democracy where numerical majority rules without constraints.
- The Prudential Argument: Power-sharing reduces conflict potential in divided societies. By giving minority groups a stake in governance, it prevents alienation and rebellion—as demonstrated by the contrast between Belgium's accommodation and Sri Lanka's civil war.
- The Moral Argument: Power-sharing is intrinsically valuable as it respects the democratic right of all citizens to participate in governance, not just as voters but as decision-makers. It embodies the principle that all humans deserve dignity and recognition.
- The Practical Necessity: In complex modern societies, good governance requires multiple perspectives and expertise. Power-sharing brings diverse viewpoints into policy-making, leading to more balanced and sustainable decisions.
Critical Distinction: While Majoritarian Democracy assumes "winner takes all," Consociational Democracy (power-sharing model) emphasizes inclusion, proportionality, and veto rights for minorities—treating democracy as partnership rather than competition.
2. Historical Evolution of Power-sharing Concepts
The theory and practice of power-sharing have evolved through political philosophy and practical governance experiments:
- Ancient and Medieval Precedents: Republics like ancient Rome had mixed government concepts. Medieval European city-states developed power-sharing among guilds and classes, though limited to propertied elites.
- Enlightenment Contributions: Montesquieu's separation of powers (1748) established horizontal power-sharing. John Stuart Mill's "Considerations on Representative Government" (1861) argued for minority representation.
- Post-Colonial Challenges: Newly independent nations in Asia and Africa faced the dilemma of building unity while managing diversity. India's constitutional design (1950) became a landmark power-sharing experiment.
- Modern Consociational Theory: Arend Lijphart's "Democracy in Plural Societies" (1977) systematized power-sharing models, analyzing cases like Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, and Lebanon.
3. Comparative Case Studies: Belgium vs Sri Lanka
- Sri Lanka: Standardization policy (1971) reduced Tamil university admissions, leading to youth radicalization
- Belgium: Constitutional reforms (1970, 1980, 1988, 1993) progressively decentralized power
- LTTE formed (1976), civil war began (1983) claiming 100,000+ lives
- Belgium became federal state (1993) with complex power-sharing among regions and communities
- Sri Lanka civil war escalated with human rights violations on both sides
- War ended militarily (2009) but political grievances unresolved
4. Forms of Power-sharing in Modern Democracies
Four Main Forms of Power-sharing
| Form | Mechanism | Examples | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horizontal (Separation of Powers) | Executive, Legislature, Judiciary check each other | USA, India, Germany | Prevents concentration, protects liberty | Can lead to gridlock, slows decision-making |
| Vertical (Federalism) | Central, State, Local governments share power | USA, India, Belgium | Accommodates regional diversity, local governance | Can create center-state conflicts, duplication |
| Community-based (Consociational) | Power shared among ethnic/religious groups | Belgium, Lebanon, Bosnia | Prevents civil war in divided societies | Can entrench divisions, hinder national identity |
| Coalition Governments | Multiple parties share executive power | India, Germany, Netherlands | Represents diverse views, promotes consensus | Unstable, policy compromises may dilute reforms |
5. India's Power-sharing Architecture
A. Constitutional Power-sharing Mechanisms
- Federal Structure with Unitary Bias: Seventh Schedule divides powers into Union, State, and Concurrent Lists. However, during emergencies or President's Rule, center can assume state powers—creating what scholars call "quasi-federalism."
- Linguistic Reorganization: States Reorganization Act (1956) created states primarily on linguistic basis, accommodating linguistic diversity while maintaining national unity—a radical departure from "one language, one state" European model.
- Reservation System: Constitutionally mandated reservations in legislatures, government jobs, and educational institutions for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and later Other Backward Classes—ensuring representation for historically marginalized groups.
B. Extra-constitutional Power-sharing Practices
- Coalition Politics Era (1989-2014): Emergence of regional parties as kingmakers at national level. Parties like DMK, TDP, Shiv Sena influenced central policies despite small parliamentary representation.
- Judicial Activism: Supreme Court's expansion of PIL (Public Interest Litigation) and basic structure doctrine established judiciary as active power-sharer, checking executive and legislative excesses.
- Civil Society and Media: RTI Act (2005) empowered citizens to scrutinize government. Media, despite recent challenges, continues to act as informal check on power concentration.
The Basic Structure Doctrine: Established in Kesavananda Bharati case (1973), this Supreme Court innovation prevents Parliament from amending Constitution's basic features—including democracy, federalism, secularism, and judicial review. It represents ultimate power-sharing between legislature and judiciary.
6. Power-sharing Concepts Memory Aids
Forms of Power-sharing: H.V.C.C. - Horizontal, Vertical, Community, Coalition. Remember: "Happy Vehicles Create Community" for the four forms.
Belgium's Power-sharing Features: E.R.C.L. - Equal representation, Regional autonomy, Community government, Language equality. Remember: "Every Rabbit Can Leap" for Belgian model.
Sri Lanka's Majoritarian Measures: S.S.P.P. - Sinhala Only Act, State patronage, Preferential policies, University standardization. Remember: "Silly Systems Produce Problems" for what to avoid.
8. Key Constitutional Provisions and Cases
Critical Constitutional Articles for Power-sharing:
- Article 246 & Seventh Schedule: Division of legislative powers between Union and States—the foundation of Indian federalism.
- Article 370 (now abrogated): Originally provided special autonomy to Jammu & Kashmir—controversial example of asymmetric federalism.
- Articles 330-342: Provide for reservation of seats for SCs/STs in legislatures—institutionalizing social group power-sharing.
- Article 356: President's Rule provision—demonstrates center's overriding powers in "cooperative federalism."
Landmark Judicial Cases:
- Kesavananda Bharati vs State of Kerala (1973): Established basic structure doctrine limiting parliamentary amendment power.
- S.R. Bommai vs Union of India (1994): Limited arbitrary use of Article 356, strengthened federal principles.
- Indira Sawhney vs Union of India (1992): Upheld OBC reservations, established 50% ceiling—balancing representation with merit.
9. Essential Political Science Terminology
Majoritarianism: Political philosophy asserting that majority community should rule country in its own interest, potentially neglecting minority rights. Contrast with consociationalism which emphasizes inclusion and consensus.
Consociational Democracy: Power-sharing model where leaders of different social groups cooperate in governance through grand coalition, mutual veto, proportionality, and segmental autonomy. Associated with political scientist Arend Lijphart.
Asymmetric Federalism: Different constituent units have different powers and relationships with central government. Examples: Special status for Jammu & Kashmir (historically), provisions for Nagaland and Mizoram under Article 371.
Coalition Government: Government formed by multiple political parties when no single party secures parliamentary majority. Requires power-sharing through portfolio allocation and common minimum program.
Power-sharing Revision Focus
Exam Strategy: Use comparative examples (Belgium vs Sri Lanka) to illustrate theoretical points. Connect historical cases to current Indian context. For essay questions, structure as: Theory → International examples → Indian application → Current challenges → Future prospects.
Note: Power-sharing is not just theoretical but has practical implications for national integration, social harmony, and governance quality. Recent debates about federalism, decentralization, and minority rights all connect to power-sharing concepts. Stay updated on current coalition dynamics and center-state relations.
