Power Sharing and Federalism

Principles of Power Sharing

• Horizontal Power Sharing: distribution of power among different branches of government (legislative, executive, and judiciary)
• Vertical Power Sharing: distribution of power between central and local governments
• Institutional Power Sharing: distribution of power among different institutions, such as the president, prime minister, and parliament
• Constitutional Power Sharing: distribution of power as outlined in a country's constitution

Forms of Power Sharing

• Consociational Power Sharing: power is shared among different groups or communities, often to promote stability and minority rights
• Centripetal Power Sharing: power is shared among different groups or communities, but with a focus on building a strong central government
• Proportional Representation: power is shared among different groups or parties based on their proportion of the population or electorate

Coalition Governments

• Definition: a government formed by two or more political parties that work together to govern a country
• Types of Coalitions:
  • Grand Coalition: a coalition of two or more major parties
  • Minority Coalition: a coalition of smaller parties that form a government with the support of other parties
  • Single-Party Dominant Coalition: a coalition led by a dominant party with one or more smaller parties
• Advantages: promotes stability, represents diverse interests, and increases legitimacy
• Disadvantages: can be slow to make decisions, may lead to conflict between parties, and can be unstable

Decentralization

• Definition: the transfer of power and authority from a central government to local governments or regional authorities
• Types of Decentralization:
  • Administrative Decentralization: transfer of administrative power and authority
  • Fiscal Decentralization: transfer of financial power and authority
  • Political Decentralization: transfer of political power and authority
• Advantages: promotes local participation, increases efficiency, and improves accountability
• Disadvantages: can lead to inequality, may create confusion over responsibilities, and can be difficult to implement

Federalism

• Definition: a system of government where power is divided between a central government and smaller regional governments (states, provinces, or territories)
• Types of Federalism:
  • Dual Federalism: a system where the central government and regional governments have separate and distinct powers
  • Cooperative Federalism: a system where the central government and regional governments work together to achieve common goals
  • Competitive Federalism: a system where the central government and regional governments compete for power and resources
• Advantages: promotes regional autonomy, increases representation, and provides a system of checks and balances
• Disadvantages: can lead to conflict between governments, may create inefficiencies, and can be difficult to manage