Power Sharing

Arrangement in Belgium

and Sri Lanka

What is Power Sharing?

Power Sharing is the distribution of decisive powers at different levels.

Power can be shared among:

• Different Organs of Government

• Governments at Different Levels

• Different Social or Ethnic Groups

• Political parties, pressure groups or movements

Ethnic Composition of Sri Lanka

• Sinhalese: 73.8%

• Sri Lankan Moors: 7.2%

• Tamils: 18.5%

Sri Lankan Tamils: 70%

Indian Tamils: 30%

• Others: 0.5%

Ethnic Composition of Sri Lanka

Sinhalese Tamils Sri Lankan Moors Others

Ethnic Composition of Belgium

• Flemings (Dutch) : 59%

• Walloons (French): 40%

• Others (German): 1%

Ethnic Composition of Belgium

Flemming Walloons Germans

Past Political Setup of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka was ruled by a

strong native dynasty

from 12th century but was

successively dominated by

the Portuguese, Dutch

and British from the 16th

century; It was finally

annexed by British in

1815. It became

independent republic in

1972.

Past Political Setup of Belgium

Belgium became

independent from the

Netherlands after a

nationalist revolt in

1830. Occupied and

devastated during both

world wars. Flemish is

spoken mainly in the

north and French and

Walloon are spoken in

south.

Rights of the People and The role of

Government in Sri Lanka

The Government of Sri Lanka adopted Majoritarionism. In 1956, Sinhala was recognised as the only official language of Sri Lanka; thus, disregarding Tamil. A new constitution stipulated that the state shall protect and foster Buddhism.

Policies of the Government in Sri Lanka

The governments followed

preferential policies that

favoured Sinhala applicants

for university positions and

government jobs. This in

result denied equal Political

Rights to the Tamils in the

country. A feeling of

alienation was seen among

the Sri Lankan Tamils.The Parliament of Sri Lanka

Struggle for Power: Demanding for Tamil

Eelam

By 1980s, several

political organizations

were formed demanding

an independent Tamil

Eelam (state) in northern

and eastern parts of Sri

Lanka. One of them was

LTTE. These differences

in the two different

communities pushed Sri

Lanka into the state of

civil war.

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam

was a major separatist militant

organisation that was based in

northern Sri Lanka.

LTTE Leaders at Sirumalai Camp

LTTE was Founded in May

1976 by Velupillai

Prabhakaran, it waged a

secessionist nationalist

campaign to create an

independent state in the

north and east of Sri Lanka for

Tamil people. This campaign

evolved into the Sri Lankan

Civil War, which ran from

1983 until 2009, when the

LTTE was defeated by the Sri

Lankan Military.

Vellupillai Prabhakaran

Effect of the Civil War on Sri Lanka

The war was finally over in

2009 with a decisive victory

if the Sri Lankan

Government. For over 25

years, the war caused

significant hardships for the

population, environment

and the economy of the

country, with an estimated

80,000-100,000 people killed

during its course. It caused a

great loss to the nation.

Struggle for Power in Belgium

The Minority French were rich and powerful with political

influence. The tensions between the communities of Belgium

arose around a struggle between the two main language

communities of the country, Dutch and French. This resulted in

extensive language legislation, but which did not solve the

conflicts between Flanders and Wallonia, the two main regions

of the country. Due to the then widespread discrimination

against Flemings, symbolized by the bad treatment of Flemish

soldiers during World War I, the Flemish organized themselves

against the mostly French-speaking government.

This system later evolved giving equal rights to all the

communities whether it is major or minor.

Rights of the People and Role of

Government in Belgium

After 4 Amendments, The current Political system of Belgium is so evolved and innovative. It shares Power among different sectors of the society thus reducing possibility of social conflict. Belgium has recognised the existence of regional differences and cultural diversities.

Parliament of Belgium

Power Sharing in Belgium

The constitution of Belgium prescribes that the number of

French speaking and Dutch speaking ministers should be equal

in central government. State government are not the

subordinate to the central govt. Brussels have a separate

government which have both communities representation

equally. Other than state and central government they made

new form of government called community government which

have powers regarding cultural, educational, and language

related issues.

All The communities of Belgium, minor or major enjoy equal

rights everywhere in the society.

Solutions for existing problems

There are many solutions to

settle the disputes between

ethnic communities in Sri Lanka.

Just as the Belgium, Sri Lanka can

adopt vertical power sharing and

there should be reservation for

the Tamils and Tamil Language

should be recognised by the

government. This will settle the

ethnic disputes among the

people. Tamils Should get equal

rights which are given to sinhalas.

Comparing Power Sharing

Arrangements

Belgium

They adopted a policy

of power sharing.

They gave equal

powers to all

communities. minor or

major doesn't matter.

It solved all the

disputes.

Sri Lanka

They adopted a policy

of Majoritarionism.

They gave preferences

to the majority Sinhala

group alone,

disregarding the

minority.

It led a civil war lasting

25 years.

Conclusion Belgium and Sri Lanka are democratic countries having diverse

social setups. Yet, both took completely different approaches

when it came to sharing of power.

Belgium accommodated the interests of its two main ethnic

groups i.e., Dutch and French by formulating a power-sharing

arrangement that gave both an equal opportunity in the

working of the government. The Belgians realized that the only

way of securing the country's political stability and unity was by

giving both the communities an equal representation in the

government. In this manner, feelings of resentment towards the

other community were not allowed to flourish in Belgium. The

power-sharing arrangement in Belgium, although complex, has

been running smoothly over the years.

Sri Lanka, on the other hand, took a different stand with respect to power sharing. The government in Sri Lanka was completely dominated by the majority Sinhala-speaking population, thereby ignoring the Tamil people. Power was concentrated in the hands of only one community, thereby undermining the interests of the others. This approach proved catastrophic for the unity of Sri Lanka. Over the years, Sri Lanka has been riddled with civil wars and political instability. Refusal to share power has resulted in the weakening of the country.