14 Questions
What is the primary focus of the chapter on power-sharing?
The design of a democracy
Why is an intelligent sharing of power among different organs important in a democracy?
To maintain a system of checks and balances
Why is Belgium cited as an example in the context of power-sharing?
Due to its complex ethnic composition
What conclusion can be drawn from the stories of Belgium and Sri Lanka?
Power-sharing is important in handling demands for power-sharing
What is the approximate population of Belgium, as mentioned in the text?
Over one crore
Which neighboring countries does Belgium share its borders with?
France, the Netherlands, and Germany
What percentage of people in the Wallonia region of Belgium speak French?
40%
Which community in Sri Lanka is predominantly concentrated in the north and east of the country?
Sri Lankan Tamils
What percentage of people in the capital city of Brussels, Belgium speak Dutch?
20%
Which community in Sri Lanka has a significant population who are Hindus or Muslims?
Sri Lankan Tamils
What is the percentage of Sinhala-speakers in Sri Lanka?
74%
Which community in Belgium could take advantage of its numeric majority according to the text?
Dutch-speaking community
What is the percentage of Christians in Sri Lanka?
7%
In which region of Sri Lanka are most of the Sinhala-speaking people concentrated?
South and West
Study Notes
Power-Sharing in Democracy
- Intelligent sharing of power among different organs is important in a democracy to prevent the dominance of one group over others.
Belgium as an Example of Power-Sharing
- Belgium is cited as an example of power-sharing because of its unique system of government, where power is shared among different communities.
- Belgium has a population of approximately 11 million people.
- The country shares its borders with the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, and France.
Language and Community in Belgium
- In the Wallonia region of Belgium, around 80% of people speak French.
- In the capital city of Brussels, around 20% of people speak Dutch.
Sri Lanka: A Different Story
- In Sri Lanka, the Tamil community is predominantly concentrated in the north and east of the country.
- The Tamil community in Sri Lanka has a significant population who are Hindus or Muslims.
Demographics of Sri Lanka
- Around 74% of the population in Sri Lanka are Sinhala-speakers.
- Most of the Sinhala-speaking people are concentrated in the western and central regions of Sri Lanka.
- Christians make up around 7% of the population in Sri Lanka.
Comparative Analysis
- In Belgium, the Flemish community has a numeric majority, which could have led to dominance over other communities if power-sharing was not practiced.
- In contrast, the Sinhala-speaking community in Sri Lanka has a significant numeric majority, which has led to tensions with the Tamil community.
Explore the concept of power-sharing in democracies through the stories of Belgium and Sri Lanka. Learn about the significance of distributing power among the legislature, executive, and judiciary for the effective functioning of a democracy.
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