Introduction:

The power sharing in federalism is essential to ensure a balanced and efficient governance system. It prevents the concentration of authority in a single entity, promotes local autonomy, and accommodates diverse regional needs and interests

Why is Power Sharing in Federalism needed?

• Different forms of diversity in nations necessitate power sharing between different organs; opposition to this leads to conflicts and instability in society. 

Understand through Examples: Power Sharing in Federalism

What lessons can be learned from the importance of power sharing in federalism?

• Influence of the Majority Community: In both above cases, the majority community’s ability to influence governance and policies has raised concerns about fairness and representation.
• Managing Diversity: These situations illustrate the challenges of managing diversity and ensuring the rights and interests of all communities within a nation. 
• Power-Sharing Arrangements: Effective governance and solutions often require delicate negotiations, power-sharing arrangements, and efforts to address historical grievances and inequalities.
• Insights from Belgium and Sri Lanka: The experiences of Belgium and Sri Lanka offer insights into the complexities of managing diverse societies and the importance of inclusive governance and conflict resolution strategies. 

Case Study of Nigeria:

• The Case Study of Nigeria is an example of the overlap of religious, ethnic and economic differences among the units.

What is the Horizontal Distribution of Power Sharing in Federalism?

• Historical belief in concentrated political power in few hands was challenged by Democracy. 
• It led to the establishment of a basic democratic principle: people are the source of political power. 

What are the different forms of power sharing in federalism?

• Horizontal Distribution of Power Sharing in Federalism

• • Power shared among government organs: legislature, executive and judiciary.
  • It ensures checks and balances and prevents unchecked authority.
  • Ministers and officials accountable to Parliament/Assemblies, judges monitor executive and legislative actions.

• Vertical Distribution of Power Sharing in Federalism

• • Power shared among different levels of government (federal or central and regional or provincial).
  • The Constitution defines powers of different government levels. 
  • Example: In India, Central/Union Government and State Governments have defined powers.

• Social Group Power Sharing in Federalism

• • Power shared among religious, linguistic, and minority groups.
  • Representation of weaker sections and women in legislatures/administration to ensure inclusion.
  • Reserved constituencies to empower minority communities. 
  • Example: Belgium’s ‘community government’. 

• Political Parties and Pressure Groups:

• • Democracy allows freedom to choose among power contenders.
  • Competition among political parties for sharing power. 
  • Coalitions formed by parties in alliance result in shared governance.
  • Parties represent diverse ideologies and social groups.
  • Interest groups (traders, industrialists) influence decision-making.

What principles guide modern democracies & Power Sharing in Federalism?

• • Concentration Of Power: Democracy challenges the concentration of power, prioritizing power sharing in Federalism Format. 
  • Horizontal Distribution: Among government organs,  it prevents unchecked authority.
  • Vertical distribution encompasses central and regional levels.
  • Power Sharing: Social, minority, and interest groups, along with political parties, contribute to power sharing.
  • Ensures Accountability: Democratic power sharing fosters inclusivity, responsiveness, and dynamic governance.

How is power sharing implemented in various federations around the world?

• • USSR’s Disintegration: The USSR was one of the world’s superpowers, but after 1989 it simply broke up into several independent countries. 
  • Division of Countries: Some other countries like Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, and Pakistan also had to face a division of the country. 
  • Excessive Centralization: One of the major reasons for their break up was the excessive centralization and concentration of power and the domination of one region over other regions with independent languages and cultures of their own.

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