Complete Civics Revision Class 10 SST | Full Political Science One Shot (Animation)
Summary
This video explains the concept of power sharing using historical examples and contrasts different forms of government, focusing on federalism. It details the ethnic composition and power-sharing struggles in Belgium and Sri Lanka, highlighting the importance of accommodation. The video then delves into federalism, defining its features, and contrasting it with unitary government. It elaborates on the Indian federal structure, including union, state, and concurrent lists, special status for certain regions, and the practice of federalism through linguistic states and language policy. Finally, it discusses decentralization and local governance in India and explores the functions, necessity, and challenges of political parties, along with their various forms and reforms, concluding with the outcomes of democracy in political, economic, and social spheres.
Key Insights
Belgium amended its constitution four times between 1970 and 1993 to accommodate differences and ensure peace.
Belgian leaders recognized the need to coexist despite differences. They amended the constitution to create equality between Dutch and French ministers in the central government, requiring majority support from both linguistic groups for special laws. Power was devolved to state governments, and Brussels received a separate government with equal representation. A community government was formed to handle cultural, educational, and language-related issues.
Majoritarianism led to the marginalization of the Tamil minority.
Majoritarianism, where the majority community dominates and disregards the minority, characterized post-independence Sri Lanka. The democratic government favored the Sinhala speakers by enacting laws like making Sinhala the sole official language (1956), favoring Sinhala speakers in government jobs and university admissions, and constitutionally promising to protect and promote Buddhism.
Power sharing is desirable for two main reasons: prudential (logical) and moral.
Prudential reasons include reducing the possibility of conflict between social groups, ensuring political stability, and maintaining national unity. Moral reasons stem from the spirit of democracy, promoting people's participation, and respecting minority rights.
Sections
Introduction to Power Sharing
Historical absolute power of kings contrasted with modern power sharing in governments.
In the past, kings held absolute power, making laws, enforcing them, and punishing individuals, leading to public subjugation. Today, power is shared among different branches of government: the legislature (law-making), executive (law enforcement), and judiciary (punishment). This chapter focuses on how power is shared.
Power can be broadly categorized into horizontal and vertical distribution, and shared among social groups and political actors.
Power sharing occurs in several ways: horizontally among government organs (legislature, executive, judiciary), vertically among different levels of government (central, state, local), among different social groups (ethnic, religious), and among political parties, pressure groups, and movements.
Case Study: Belgium's Power Sharing
Belgium's ethnic composition: Dutch-speaking majority, French-speaking minority, and a small German-speaking population.
Belgium is a small European country bordering France, Netherlands, Germany, and Luxembourg. Its population is divided ethnically: 59% Dutch-speaking in the Flemish region, 40% French-speaking in the Wallonia region, and 1% German-speaking. The capital, Brussels, has an 80% French-speaking population and 20% Dutch-speaking.
Tensions arose from the economically and politically powerful French-speaking minority favoring themselves over the Dutch-speaking majority.
The French-speaking minority was wealthier and more powerful, leading to economic and educational benefits for them, while the Dutch-speaking majority felt neglected, causing tension and insecurity between the communities from the 1950s to the 1960s, especially in Brussels.
Belgium amended its constitution four times between 1970 and 1993 to accommodate differences and ensure peace.
Belgian leaders recognized the need to coexist despite differences. They amended the constitution to create equality between Dutch and French ministers in the central government, requiring majority support from both linguistic groups for special laws. Power was devolved to state governments, and Brussels received a separate government with equal representation. A community government was formed to handle cultural, educational, and language-related issues.
Accommodation in Belgium led to peace and the establishment of the European Union's headquarters in Brussels.
These constitutional changes fostered peace and unity in Belgium, making Brussels the symbolic center of peace and the headquarters of the European Union.
Case Study: Sri Lanka's Majoritarianism
Sri Lanka's ethnic composition: Sinhala-speaking Buddhist majority, Tamil-speaking Hindu/Muslim minority, and Christians.
Sri Lanka, an island nation of about 2 crore population, is ethnically diverse. 74% are Sinhala speakers (mostly Buddhist), 18% are Tamil speakers (Hindu and Muslim), comprising 13% Sri Lankan Tamils and 5% Indian Tamils. 7% speak both languages and are mostly Christian.
Majoritarianism led to the marginalization of the Tamil minority.
Majoritarianism, where the majority community dominates and disregards the minority, characterized post-independence Sri Lanka. The democratic government favored the Sinhala speakers by enacting laws like making Sinhala the sole official language (1956), favoring Sinhala speakers in government jobs and university admissions, and constitutionally promising to protect and promote Buddhism.
Discrimination against Tamils led to demands for autonomy and a separate state, resulting in civil war.
Tamil speakers felt their language, culture, and religion were ignored. Their political parties demanded Sinhala be made an official language, regional autonomy, and equal opportunities in education and jobs. Government rejections led to the formation of political organizations demanding a separate nation, 'Tamil Eelam', in the northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka. This escalated into a brutal civil war from the 1980s until 2009, causing thousands of deaths and displacement.
Belgium's power sharing fostered peace, while Sri Lanka's majoritarianism led to conflict.
The contrast between Belgium and Sri Lanka illustrates that accommodating differences through power sharing promotes peace, whereas majoritarianism leads to conflict and destruction.
Why Power Sharing is Desirable
Power sharing is desirable for two main reasons: prudential (logical) and moral.
Prudential reasons include reducing the possibility of conflict between social groups, ensuring political stability, and maintaining national unity. Moral reasons stem from the spirit of democracy, promoting people's participation, and respecting minority rights.
Forms of Power Sharing
Horizontal distribution: power shared among legislature, executive, and judiciary (checks and balances).
Power is divided among different organs of government, like the legislature, executive, and judiciary, with each organ having distinct powers and acting as a check on others, preventing any single branch from becoming too powerful.
Vertical distribution: power shared between central, state, and local governments (federalism).
Power is divided across different levels of government, typically central, state, and local governments, as seen in federal systems.
Power sharing among different social groups, like ethnic or linguistic communities.
Power is allocated to various social groups, such as linguistic or religious communities, ensuring their representation and participation in governance, as exemplified by Belgium's community government.
Power sharing among political parties, pressure groups, and movements.
Power is shared through alliances and coalitions among political parties, and influenced by pressure groups and social movements that engage in debates and decision-making processes.
Federalism Explained
Federalism is a system where power is divided between a central government and constituent political units (states).
Federalism is a system of government in which power is divided between the center and various constituent units or states. This system is adopted by large countries or countries with significant regional diversity to ensure local problems get local solutions.
Key features of federalism include multiple government levels, distinct jurisdictions, constitutional division of powers, and dispute resolution mechanisms.
Federal systems have at least two levels of government, with each level having its own jurisdiction. Powers are constitutionally defined and divided. Fundamental provisions of the constitution cannot be unilaterally changed by one level of government; changes require consent from both levels. Courts can settle disputes between different levels of government. Both central and state governments have specified sources of revenue.
Federalism aims to safeguard and promote national unity while accommodating regional diversity.
The dual objectives of federalism are to uphold and enhance the country's unity and to accommodate its diverse regional, cultural, and ethnic identities.
Unitary vs. Federal Government
Unitary governments centralize power, while federal governments divide it between central and regional levels.
In a unitary government, the central government holds most or all power, and subordinate units exist only at the discretion of the center. In a federal government, power is constitutionally divided between the central government and regional governments.
Examples: England and France are unitary; India and USA are federal.
Countries like England and France exemplify unitary government systems, whereas India and the USA are prominent examples of federal systems.
Types of Federalism
Coming Together Federalism: Independent states unite to form a larger whole.
In this model, sovereign states come together voluntarily to form a larger unit, retaining significant power but pooling sovereignty for common goals. Power is equally shared between the union and constituent states. Examples include the USA, Switzerland, and Australia.
Holding Together Federalism: A large country divides power between center and states unequally.
Here, a large country decides to divide power between the central government and constituent states to accommodate diversity. Power distribution is often unequal, with the center typically holding more power. Examples include India, Spain, and Belgium.
India as a Federal Country
Although the Indian constitution doesn't explicitly declare India a federal country, it functions as one.
The Indian constitution refers to India as a 'Union of States', implying a unitary bias. However, it establishes a federal system with power divided between the Union government and State governments, reflecting the 'holding together' model.
Evidence of federalism in India: three levels of government, constitutional division of powers, and independent judiciary.
India has three tiers of government: central, state, and local. Powers are clearly demarcated in Union, State, and Concurrent Lists. The constitution is supreme, and amendments require special procedures involving both central and state consent. The judiciary acts as an independent arbiter of disputes between the center and states.
Constitutional provisions for power distribution: Union, State, Concurrent, and Residuary Lists.
The Union List includes subjects of national importance (defense, foreign affairs). The State List covers subjects of regional interest (police, agriculture). The Concurrent List includes subjects of common interest (education, forest), where both can legislate. Residuary powers lie with the Union government.
Special provisions and Union Territories reflect India's unique federal structure.
Some states have special status under Article 371 to protect local culture and indigenous rights (e.g., land ownership). Union Territories are administered by the central government through an appointed administrator, due to their small size and unique identity.
Practice of Federalism in India: Challenges and Solutions
Creation of linguistic states: Initially feared to divide the nation, it ultimately strengthened unity.
The reorganization of states based on language, starting with Andhra Pradesh, strengthened national unity by allowing linguistic groups to coexist within a federal framework and improved governance. States were also later formed based on culture, ethnicity, and geography.
Language policy: No national language, Hindi as official language, English retained as an associate official language.
The constitution recognizes 22 scheduled languages. Hindi is the official language but not a national language. English remains an associate official language due to demands from non-Hindi speaking states. The policy aims to promote Hindi without imposing it.
Center-State Relations: Evolved from single-party dominance to coalition governments and increased state autonomy.
Initially, the dominance of one party (Congress) at the center and states led to center's control. The rise of coalition governments in the 1990s empowered regional parties and increased state autonomy, fostering better center-state relations.
Decentralization: Transferring power to local governments through constitutional amendments.
Constitutional amendments in 1992 made local government elections mandatory, reserved seats for SC/ST/OBC and women, established State Election Commissions, and mandated revenue sharing between states and local bodies, strengthening grassroots democracy.
Local governments: Panchayati Raj (rural) and Municipalities (urban) operate at village, block, and district levels.
Rural local governments (Panchayati Raj) include Gram Panchayats (village), Panchayat Samitis (block), and Zila Parishads (district). Urban local governments include Municipal Corporations (large cities), Municipalities (towns), and Nagar Panchayats (areas between village and town).
Political Parties Explained
Political parties are groups aiming to contest elections and form government.
A political party is an organized group of people who share similar views and aim to contest elections to win political power and form a government.
Common features: Leaders, active members, and followers sharing party ideology.
Parties typically have leaders who make key decisions, active members who promote the party's agenda, and followers who support the party.
Functions: Contest elections, form and run government, make policies, pass laws, and act as a responsible opposition.
Political parties perform various functions, including contesting elections, forming governments, introducing policies and programs, making laws, and holding the ruling party accountable as the opposition.
Necessity of political parties for democracy: providing uniform governance and facilitating collective decision-making.
Political parties are essential for democracy as they provide a platform for collective action, ensure uniformity in governance, and prevent the chaos of independent candidates acting solely on self-interest.
Role of opposition: To scrutinize government actions and ensure accountability.
The opposition plays a crucial role in critiquing government policies and actions, ensuring the ruling party remains accountable to the public, and safeguarding public interest.
Types of Political Systems and Parties
One-party system (e.g., China) is non-democratic, while two-party systems (e.g., USA, UK) offer stable governments.
In a one-party system, power is concentrated with a single party, limiting choices. A two-party system usually presents two major parties, offering more stability but potentially limited choice. Both are distinct from multi-party systems.
Multi-party systems (e.g., India) often lead to coalition governments and potential instability.
Multi-party systems allow for diverse political representation but can lead to coalition governments where alliances are fragile, potentially causing governmental instability if parties withdraw support.
Alliances and coalition governments form to gain majority power in multi-party systems.
In multi-party systems, parties often form alliances or coalitions to secure a majority and form a government, as seen in India.
Elections and Role of Election Commission
Election Commission classifies parties as National or State/Regional parties based on electoral performance.
The Election Commission sets criteria for parties to be recognized as National or State parties based on their vote share and seats won in Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections.
Criteria for National Party: 6% votes in Lok Sabha/State Assembly elections plus 4 seats in Lok Sabha OR 6% votes in 4 states and 4 seats in Lok Sabha.
To be a National Party, a party must secure at least 6% of votes in Lok Sabha or State Assembly elections and win at least 4 seats in Lok Sabha, or secure 6% of votes in four states and win at least 4 seats in Lok Sabha.
Criteria for State/Regional Party: 6% votes in state assembly election and 2 seats in the assembly.
A party becomes a State party if it secures at least 6% of the valid votes polled in an election to the State Legislative Assembly and wins at least two seats in the Assembly.
Key National Parties in India: INC, NCP, BJP, BSP, CPI, CPI(M), TMC.
Notable national parties in India include the Indian National Congress (INC), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)), and All India Trinamool Congress (TMC).
Challenges and Reforms in Political Parties
Challenges: Lack of internal democracy, dynastic succession, use of money and muscle power, and changing ideologies for power.
Political parties often lack internal democracy, are dominated by a few families (dynastic succession), resort to unethical means like bribery and intimidation (money and muscle power), and may shift ideologies to gain power.
Reforms: Anti-defection law, mandatory disclosure of candidate assets and criminal cases, and party-internal elections and audits.
Reforms include the Anti-defection Law preventing MPs/MLAs from changing parties, mandatory affidavits for candidates detailing assets and criminal records, and requirements for parties to hold internal elections and file income tax returns.
Further reforms needed: Laws to control party funding, mandatory tickets for women, and government funding for elections.
Further reforms could involve laws to regulate party funding, mandating parties to allocate a certain percentage of tickets to women, and establishing a government fund to finance elections, reducing reliance on private funding.
Democracy: Outcomes and Ideals
Democracy promotes equality, dignity, freedom, and peaceful resolution of conflicts.
Democracy's core values include equality, respect for individual dignity and freedom, and the ability to peacefully resolve conflicts and correct mistakes through future elections.
Political outcomes of democracy: Accountable, responsible, and legitimate government.
Democracy aims for governments that are accountable to the people, responsible for their actions, and legitimate because they derive their authority from the consent of the governed.
Economic outcomes: Debate on whether democracy or non-democracy leads to better economic growth and reduced inequality.
While non-democratic regimes might show faster economic growth due to quick decision-making, democracy provides a framework for addressing inequality through welfare programs and respects economic rights, though it doesn't guarantee economic equality.
Social outcomes: Accommodation of diversity, reduction of tension, and promotion of dignity and freedom.
Democracy is best suited to manage social diversity, reduce tensions between different groups, and uphold individual dignity and freedom, which are often neglected in non-democratic systems.
Democracy is not a perfect system but is superior to other forms of government due to its inherent values and mechanisms for self-correction.
Despite its flaws, such as slow decision-making or occasional corruption, democracy is superior because it values individual dignity, freedom, and equality, and allows citizens to correct past mistakes through electoral processes.
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