Power-sharing

Why power sharing matters, how Belgium shared power among its language groups, what majoritarianism means, and the four forms of power sharing.

Key ideas

• Belgium changed its constitution four times between 1970 and 1993 to share power among its language groups.
• It gave equal numbers of Dutch- and French-speaking ministers at the Centre, powers to the regions, a Brussels government with equal representation, and community governments for culture, education and language.
• Majoritarianism is the belief that the majority community may rule as it likes, ignoring minorities; the book’s example is Sri Lanka’s 1956 Act making Sinhala the only official language.
• The prudential reason for power sharing: it reduces conflict and brings stability. The moral reason: it is the spirit of democracy, since people have a right to be consulted.
• Horizontal sharing is among the legislature, executive and judiciary, with checks and balances.
• Vertical sharing is among the levels of government: Centre, States and local bodies.
• Power is also shared among social groups (community governments, reserved constituencies) and among parties and pressure groups (coalitions).

Remember

Watch out

• Swapping horizontal sharing (organs) and vertical sharing (levels).
• Thinking democracy is simply majority rule.
• Mixing the prudential reason (less conflict) with the moral reason (the spirit of democracy).

Worked example