Power Sharing

A Keynote presentation by Jyoti Sharma

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E-Lesson Plan
Political Science
Democratic Politics II

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• CLASS: X

• TOPIC: Power Sharing

• SUB TOPICS:

• Belgium and Sri Lanka

• Majoritarianism in Sri Lanka

• Accommodation in Belgium

• Why Power Sharing is desirable?

• Forms of Power Sharing

• DURATION: 9 Periods (40 minutes each)

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 Learning Outcomes
On completion of this unit, learners will be able to:

• Appreciate, respect and accept differences

• Demonstrate belief in peaceful coexistence of diverse

groups and communities

• Acknowledge the need for sharing political power in a

democratic setup.

• Exhibit clear understanding of various forms of power

sharing
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 Learning Objectives
Teaching of this unit will enable the learners to:

• Describe the basic features of political systems of Belgium and Sri

Lanka and the challenges faced by them with regard to power
sharing

• Critically analyse the problems that arise in a country due to non-

acceptance of diversity and lack of power sharing

• Explain the merits of accommodation of social diversity in a

democratic country

• Evaluate the working of various forms of power sharing in

democratic countries

• Highlight the comparison and contrasts between a majoritarian

society and an accommodating society through a role play
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Tools, Aids & Resources
• Prescribed NCERT Textbook - “Democratic Politics- II”

• Students’ Atlas/Maps

• Library and internet resources

• PPTs/Charts/Graphic Organisers/Pictures

• Newspaper Clippings/Journals

• White boards/Smart boards

• Documentaries/Video clippings

• Worksheets

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 Teaching Strategies
A. Brainstorming
B. Thinking Techniques
• Think Pair Share
• Alternatives, Possibilities
and Choices
• Consider All Factors
• Plus- Minus- Interesting
• Consequence and Sequel
 •


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C. Interactive Lectures
• Class Discussion/Group
Discussion
• Question/Answer session
D. Activity Methods
• Questioning Technique
• Pose-pause -pounce-
bounce
Explanation Techniques
• Comparison and contrast
• Cause and effect
 Unit Matrix
TOPIC KNOWLEDGE UNDERSTANDING APPLICATION

Implementation in family,
Power Sharing: A Meaning and the Sharing Power =
society and political
Concept ideology Gaining Power
system

Acceptance of diversity
Need for Power Requirements for which Moral and prudential
in real life and aiming for
Sharing power sharing is desired reasons
national integration

Social differences lead to Application of principle

Political systems of divisions, & accommodation
Case Study leads to innovation &
in other cases like -
Belgium & Sri Lanka
national integration USA, Canada, India etc.

Power sharing Observation & analysis

Searching examples
Forms of Power arrangements at in horizontal and vertical
from the country of
Sharing different levels & of systems among social
origin/residence
various types groups and pol. parties

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 Let’s Warm-up!
Observe the picture and discuss with your partner about
the message it gives
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10
• Let students discuss and brainstorm on the
pictures

• The picture represents diversity and its acceptance

as well as accommodation by others. It also
symbolise the ideas - unity/integrity, collaboration
and team spirit

• Discuss the significance of all these ideas in daily

life as well as in the political system of the country
and relate them to the concept of power sharing

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 Previous Knowledge Testing &
Brainstorming Session on Diversity
The teacher will ask a few questions to introduce the
chapter:

• How many states does India have?

• How are people of these states different from each

other?

• What is diversity?

• Do these diverse communities have any share in

enjoying political power?
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 Content Flow
TEACHING STUDENT RESOURCES
TOPIC TEACHER ACTIVITY
METHOD RESPONSE /AIDS USED

The teacher will announce by

saying, “All the countries of the
world have social diversities. Let
us take up the case study of Students will
Belgium and Sri Lanka to see listen intently
how these diversities are treated and try to find
Announcement with regard to sharing political Interactive out the
Smart Board/
of the Topic - power.” The teacher will display Lecture location and
PPT/Maps
Power Sharing the PPT slide on the smart board Method size of
flashing the topic and ask the Belgium and
students to find out the location Sri Lanka in
and size of Belgium and Sri their Atlases
Lanka in the world in their Atlas.
(before showing the location on a
map in PPT)

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 TEACHER TEACHING STUDENT RESOURCES
TOPIC
ACTIVITY METHOD RESPONSE /AIDS USED

The teacher will Students will:

discuss the 

Interactive Lecture
demographic structure Listen attentively
Method

of both the countries 

through the PPT. She Think and discuss
Discussion Method
 PPT
would ask the in pairs
Case Study: 

following question:
 

Questioning Text Book

Belgium and
 
 Answer questions
Technique: 

Sri Lanka - If sharing power and participate
Pose-pause -pounce- Demographical
Demographic among diverse groups actively in the
bounce 
 data from the
Structure means dividing power discussion
internet
then why do we ask for 

Think Pair Share

power sharing?
 Write important

 points in their note
Explanation Technique
Would dividing power books or prepare a
not weaken the mind map
system?

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 TEACHER TEACHING STUDENT RESOURCES
TOPIC
ACTIVITY METHOD RESPONSE /AIDS USED

The teacher can ask Interactive Lecture

the following Method

Students will:
questions PPT


(developing and Discussion Method
 

Listen attentively
probing) – What Text Book



were the aspirations Questioning 

Think and discuss
of the Sinhala Technique: Internet and
in pairs
Community which Pose-pause -pounce- library


was in majority in Sri bounce 
 resources to
Answer questions
Majoritarianism Lanka? Why didn’t get information
and participate
in Sri Lanka they want to share Think Pair Share on ethnic
actively in the
political power with conflict in Sri
discussion
the Tamils? Consider all factors Lanka in order



 to develop the
Write important
What problems did Consequences & lesson further
points in their note
Tamils have to face Sequel

books or prepare a
due to lack of Work sheet
mind map
accommodation? Explanation Technique
How did this conflict
impact the nation? Concept mapping

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 Powerpoint Presentation
The teacher will introduce the concept of democracy and power sharing in the class
through the PPT. He / She will -

• Describe the meaning of important terms like ethnic diversity, social conflict, civil war, etc.

• Prepare the room, if required, for showcasing the PowerPoint presentation

• Play the presentation in parts, and pause in between to explain the important topics, one
after another, with the help of brainstorming on power sharing as a concept and continue
with class discussion

• In order to re-enforce the concept of power sharing, give examples from various countries
and ask the students to note the important points in their notebooks as the presentation
progresses

• Draw the attention of students towards the relation between power sharing and conflict
resolution

• Ask the students to brainstorm amongst them for 10 minutes on the situation in Belgium and
Sri Lanka and come up with their own suggestions

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 Power Sharing
in Sri Lanka

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 Ethnic Communities of

Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan
Tamils
 Sinhalese

Hindus & Muslims 74%

Buddhists

Tamils
 Both Sinhalese

18% & Tamil

7%

Christian

Indian Tamils

Hindus & Muslims
Muslims

1%
 Reasons for Alienation of

Sri Lankan Tamils
• Dominance of Sinhalese Community (Majority)

• 1956 Act made Sinhala as the only official

language

• Preferential policies favouring Sinhalese in

University positions and jobs

• State to protect and foster Buddhism

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Position of Sri Lankan Tamils
• Launched political parties and struggled for
recognition of Tamil as an official language

• Demanded autonomy

• Equal opportunity in education and jobs

• Political organisation was formed demanding an

independent ‘Tamil Eelam’ in North and East Sri
Lanka

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 Civil War
Both sides started
distrusting each other which
led to social, cultural and
economic setbacks

Image: Tamil Eelam Tigers


Source: Aljazeera
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 Power Sharing
by
Accommodation
in Belgium

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 Communities & Regions of
Belgium
Flemish
59%

Dutch - Benefit of
Brussels
 education and
Capital Region economic
- Dutch were a development
minority

Wallonia
40%
 German
French - Rich &
Powerful 1%

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 Power Sharing in Belgium
• Equal number of ministers from Dutch and French speaking areas in
the Central Government

• No single community can make decisions unilaterally

• Transfer of power from the Centre to the State & State Government will
not be a subordinate to the Centre

• Separate Government in Brussels with equal representation from the

French and the Dutch

• Formation of Community Government elected by the people belonging

to one language community (Dutch/French/German) which has the
power regarding culture, language and education related issues
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 Power Sharing
Result
The country united
respecting the feelings of
different communities and
regions

Image: Bilingual Signboard in Brussels


1st line in French, 2nd in Dutch


Translation: Zone (Bus Stop)


Expected Loading & Unloading

from 6 to 11 hrs
Taxi Point
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 Belgium and Sri Lanka
• Similarity: Both are democracies

• Difference: Power sharing arrangement is different

• What is Unique about Belgium?


Leaders realised that the unity of the nation is possible only
by respecting the feelings and interests of different
communities and regions

• What was the drawback in the system followed by

Sri Lanka?

Dominance of Majority Community - Sinhalese refusing to
share power with Tamils
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 Why is Power Sharing
desirable in Democracy?

Prudential Moral

1. Reduces conflicts between 1. It is the spirit of Democracy

social groups
2. People have the right to be
2. Stability of political order consulted for governing
practices
3. Better outcome

3. Power sharing is valuable

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 Why Political Power should
be Distributed in Democracy?
• People are the source of all power

• People rule themselves through institutions of

self-governance

• Due respect is given to diverse groups and

views

• Everyone has a say in shaping public policies

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 Forms of

Power Sharing

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 Results in
balance of
power
Judges can
also check Each organ
the working checks the
of other other
organs

Amongst
different organs
of Government
- Legislature, Horizontal
Judiciary & distribution
A system of
- allows diff.
checks and Executive
organs to
balances
exercise diff.
powers

All ministers/
No organ Govt. officials
gets are responsible
unlimited to parliament/
powers state
assemblies
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 Central Govt.
and Federal
Govt.

Vertical
division of State Govt.
power Amongst
Governments
at different
levels

Same with Constitutional

distribution
Panchayat of power to
and the State and
Municipality Centre
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 Accommodates
Different social
Social groups – diversities who
Religious/ would feel
otherwise
Linguistic alienated

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 Influence of
interest groups
– businessmen,
industrialists,
farmers

Political parties,
pressure groups
& movements
influence those
in power

Formation of
Coalition
Govt. when
diff. parties
form alliances
 Summary
Amongst diff.
 Amongst 
 Amongst diff.
 Political Parties &
Organs of Govt. Govts. at diff. Levels Social Groups Pressure Groups

Accommodates social
Horizontal Distribution Central & Federal Govt. Formation of Coalition Govt.
diversities who feel alienated

No organ gets unlimited Influence of Interest Groups -

State Govt.
powers businessmen/industrialists

Distribution of power to State

Each organ checks the other
and Centre

Same with Panchayat and

Results in balance of power
Municipality

All Govt. officials responsible

Vertical division of power
to State assemblies

Judges can check the

working of other organs

A System of checks and

balances
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 Vocabulary/Key Words
• Diversity • Prudential Reasons

• Majoritarianism • Ethnicity

• Accommodation • Civil War




• Social strife

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 Values intended to be
inculcated

• Sharing

• Acceptance of differences

• Respect for Diversity

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 Assessment
• MCQs

• Pen and Paper Tests/One-minute Paper

• Worksheets (Interdisciplinary)

• Data-based Worksheet

• Reading through the Picture

• Project/Photo Story followed by a questionnaire/viva

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 Remedial measures and
Follow-up

• Extra time/class to be provided

• Special Assignments

• Parents to be informed if there is no

improvement

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Thank You

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