Podcast
Questions and Answers
What percentage of the population in Sri Lanka are Sinhala speakers?
What percentage of the population in Sri Lanka are Sinhala speakers?
Which group is considered to have faced discrimination in regard to government jobs and education in Sri Lanka?
Which group is considered to have faced discrimination in regard to government jobs and education in Sri Lanka?
What major political consequence occurred due to the marginalization of the Tamil community in Sri Lanka?
What major political consequence occurred due to the marginalization of the Tamil community in Sri Lanka?
When did Sri Lanka achieve independence?
When did Sri Lanka achieve independence?
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What was a demand of the Sri Lankan Tamils during their struggle for rights?
What was a demand of the Sri Lankan Tamils during their struggle for rights?
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What does power-sharing help to reduce?
What does power-sharing help to reduce?
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Which of the following statements reflects the moral reasons for power-sharing?
Which of the following statements reflects the moral reasons for power-sharing?
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In which country did the majority community's refusal to share power undermine national unity?
In which country did the majority community's refusal to share power undermine national unity?
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What misconception about power-sharing was held in the past?
What misconception about power-sharing was held in the past?
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Which form represents the horizontal distribution of power?
Which form represents the horizontal distribution of power?
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Study Notes
Overview of Sri Lanka
- Sri Lanka is an island nation with a population of 20 million, comparable to Haryana.
- Major social groups include Sinhala speakers (74%) and Tamil speakers (18%), with the Tamil community divided into Sri Lankan Tamils and Indian Tamils.
Historical Context
- Independent since 1948, the Sinhala majority formed the government and implemented preferential policies favoring their community.
- These policies led to feelings of alienation among Sri Lankan Tamils, who faced discrimination in jobs, education, and political rights.
Impact of Majoritarianism
- The Sinhala community's majority dominance worsened relations with Tamils, leading to calls for recognition of Tamil as an official language and demands for regional autonomy.
- Persistent denial of Tamil rights escalated tensions, culminating in a civil war that lasted until 2009, resulting in significant loss of life, displacement, and economic turmoil.
Lessons from Belgium and Sri Lanka
- Belgium illustrates the importance of power-sharing among diverse communities to maintain national unity.
- Sri Lanka demonstrates the dangers of a majority imposing its will without sharing power, which can lead to civil conflict and instability.
Importance of Power Sharing
- Power sharing reduces the likelihood of conflict among social groups and allows those affected by governance to participate in decision-making.
- It respects citizens' rights to be consulted about their governance, highlighting both prudential (better outcomes) and moral (valuing participation) reasons for power sharing.
Forms of Power Sharing in Democracies
- Power is distributed among different branches of government: legislature, executive, and judiciary, known as horizontal distribution.
- Modern democracies embrace diverse methods for power sharing, emphasizing collective decision-making and citizen involvement in governance.
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Description
This quiz explores the social structure and historical context of Sri Lanka, an island nation with a significant Sinhala and Tamil population. It delves into the impacts of majoritarian policies and the resulting civil conflict. Additionally, it draws lessons from comparative cases such as Belgium.
