Class 10th - Civics

Power Sharing
 Belgium and Sri Lanka

Belgium Sri Lanka

Ethnic composition Accommodation Ethnic composition Majoritarianism

-59% Dutch-speakers, 40% - In center, Dutch and French -Sinhala-speaking -The 1956 Act: Sinhala
French-speakers, 1% speaking minister will be equal. (practising Buddhism): 74% recognised as official
German-speakers. - Power to states. + Tamil-speaking(Indian & language; Tamil disregarded;
-French(80%) constituted - Brussels have separate Sri Lankan) (practising Created a feeling of distrust
the majority in Brussels government (French and dutch) Hinduism and Islam): 18% + between the ethnic groups:
and were wealthier than -Community government. Christians (Tamil and Call for creation of an
the Dutch(20%) Sinhala): 7% independent Tamil Eelam by,
leading to civil war.
Why power sharing is desirable?

Reduces the chances of conflict, stability in political order,

Prudential Reason
Prevents the domination of minority by the majority

Moral Reason Basic spirit of democracy, Ensures that all citizens are heard and consulted.
 Forms of power - sharing Need?

1. Among different organs of government.

Horizontal form of power sharing such as the executive, judiciary and legislature; ensures
that no one organ has unlimited power, create checks and balance.

2. Among government at different levels.

Vertical form of power sharing. Power shared between central, state and local
government bodies; ensures federal division of power.

3. Among different social groups.

Accommodates social diversities and gives representation to historically marginalised communities,
example reservation in India, Community government in Belgium.

4. Among political parties, pressure groups and movements.

Ensures multiplicity of views through multi party systems and pressure group, example:
Coalition government.
Class 10th - Civics

Federalism
 Federalism V/S Unitary government
Power is divide between a central Either one level of government or
authority and various constituent unit sub-unit are subordinate

Feature of federalism What makes India a federal country?

● Two or more levels.

● Each tier has its own JURISDICTION
● Jurisdiction is constitutionally guaranteed
● Fundamental provisions cannot be changed
unilaterally by one level.
● Courts have the power to settle disputes.
● Sources of revenue are specified
● Dual objective: safeguard and promote unity,
accommodate regional diversity.
● Union, state and third tier (Panchayats and Municipalities).
● Union list, state list and concurrent list (residuary subjects)
● Act as a holding together federation. (UT’s and different powers
to different state)
● Process to change the constitution (Not Unilateral)
● High court and supreme court to settle disputes.
● State and central government have power to impose taxes.

Independent states joining to form a larger nation; each

Coming together federations:
state retains autonomy; e.g. USA
A large country dividing power between smaller states;
Holding together federations: states are subordinates of the centre; e.g. India
 How is federalism practised in India?
Linguistic States
● States were created on the basis of
language.
● This was done to ensure that people
who spoke the same language lived
in the same State.
● Some States were created on the
bases of Culture, Ethnicity or
Geography.
● This made administration easy and
country united.
Language policy Center-state relations
● No national language, flexibility ● Before and after 1990
shown to accommodate different
● Coalition government after
language groups.
1990’s led to increased respect
● Hindi was identified as the
for autonomy of states,
Official Language.
strengthen federalism.
● There are 21 other languages
recognised as Scheduled
Languages by the Constitution.
 Need?
Steps taken in 1992
1. Constitutionally mandatory to
hold regular election to local bodies
2. Seats were reserved for S.C, S.T,
OBC and women (1/3)
3. An independent state election
commission was established
4. Power and revenue was shared
with local government.
Decentralisation in India Challenges
Rural local government and urban local government
Rural bodies: Each village has a Gram Urban bodies: Municipal
Panchayats (Head- Sarpanch) several Corporation (Head Mayor) in
Gram Panchayats form Panchayat big cities; Municipalities (Head
Samiti or Block or Mandal; all - Municipal chairperson) in
Panchayat Samiti or Block or Mandal small towns.
form a Zilla or District Parishad (Head
- Zilla Parishad chairperson)
Gram Sabha body of all adult voters
in a gram panchayat who supervise
the working of gram panchayat.
 Class 10th - Civics

Gender, Religion and Caste

 Sexual division of labour.
Gender and Politics Sex (Biological) V/S Gender (Social expectations) Public domain: Women’s role in public
spaces has been restricted.
Private domain: Women are expected to
take the burden of household work
Feminist movement Demanded equal rights and opportunities
Political expression of gender division and
Discrimination on various parts political mobilisation helped to improve women’s
Situation in India being
Literacy rate, jobs, wages, sex role in public life e.g Scandinavian countries.
a patriarchal society
ratio and domestic violence

Solution

It should be legally binding to have a

Women’s Political Representation It very low (12% in L.S, 5% S.L.A)
fair share of women in elected bodies
E.g 33% seats in local government
Demand for similar reservation at state and national levels.
bodies are reserved for women.
Religion, communalism and politics
Religion and Polities
● Many countries including India have followers of
different religions.
● Gandhi used to say that religion can never be
separated from politics.
● Women’s movement has argued that family laws
of all religions discriminate against women.
Religion & politics (Good or Bad)
Political acts towards religion are
not wrong as long as they treat
every religion equally.

Belief that people belonging to the same religion should form a nation, and in this process the
Communalism
power of state is used to establish domination of one religious group over the other.

Fundamentally Flawed ● Creating religious prejudices, stereotypes and domination.

● Political domination by a communal mind.
Communalism can take various form in politics
● Political mobilisation on religious lines (using sacred symbols & Colours)
● Violence riots and massacre.

Secular State A system to overcome the challenge of communalism, where all religions are treated equally.

India (No official religion, freedom of religion, constitution prohibits discrimination on the basis of
religion, state intervene in the matters of religion to ensure equality)
 ● Caste inequalities in India: Unique, based on hereditary occupational
division sanctioned by rituals, discrimination and untouchability.
Caste and Politics
● Breaking down of caste structure: Social reformer, (advocated and worked to
establish equality), Socio - economic changes (Urbanisation, Literacy and
education, Occupational mobility, etc.) and constitutional provisions.

Untouchability has not ended completely, Certain groups still lag behind, Caste
Yet caste has not disappeared totally?
continues to be closely linked to economic status.
 Bablu in Car and Car on Bablu

Caste in politics Caste as the basis of society → Takes various forms

[Caste composition of a constituency is seen during ticket distribution, appeals are made to caste
sentiments, universal adult franchise had brought new consciousness among all caste groups]

Are election all about caste only? NO Along with caste other factors also matters.

No constituency have majority of single caste, no party wins the vote of all the voters of a caste or community, many parties
may put up the candidates from the same caste, caste communities are not frozen in their voting patterns because the
ruling parties and the sitting MP or MLA frequently lose.
Politics too in fluences caste system. (It is not politics that
Politics in Caste
gets caste - ridden, it is the caste that gets politicised)

● Caste group tries to become bigger by incorporating sub - castes.

● Coalition among various caste groups.
● Emergence of new caste groups in Political Arean. “Backward” and “Forward”

Positive Caste and Politics Negative

Disadvantaged communities It divert attention from other pressing issues
gets their share of power (Poverty, Development and Corruption)
 Class 10th - Civics

Political Parties
 A Political Parties is a group of people who come together to
Political Parties
contest elections and hold power in the government Three main
(Most visible institution) components [The Leaders, the Active Members and the Followers]

Functions Necessity

● Contest elections. ● Independent candidates in the absence of

● Form and run governments. political parties.
● Form Policies and programmes. ● No laws for national policy
● Make laws. ● Forms the essence of representative democracies
● Role of opposition. ● Large scale societies need a group of people to
● Shape public opinion. represent opinions
● Provide people access to government machinery
and welfare schemes.
 This depends upon nature of society, its social and regional divisions,
How many parties should we have?
history of politics and its system of election.

One Party : When a single party exists in Two party : When power Multi party : When several equally strong
the country and control the government. oscillates between two political parties exist in a country. E.g. India.
Non democratic. E.g. China parties. E.g. USA and UK Coalitions and alliances are part of it.

Parties that secure 6% of total votes in the Lok Sabha or assembly election
National Parties
and wins 4 seats in the Lok Sabha. Also, called recognised parties.

Parties that secure 6% votes in state elections and wins at least 2 seats in state
State Parties
legislative elections. Also known as regional parties. Strengthen federalism.

Ninja Technique to
Remember the basis i.e : Founding year, Ideology, Symbol leader if given, Area/Region.
remember National Party:
 Basics BJP INC BSP AITC CPI CPI-M NCP
(Bharatiya Janata (Indian National (Bahujan Samaj Party) (All India (Communist (Communis (National
Party) Congress) Trinamool Party of India) Party of India Congress
Congress) - Marxist) Party)

Founding Year 1980 1885 1984 1998 1925 1964 1999

Ideology Ancient cultural Secularism, Welfare Aims to represents and Committed to Marxism-Lenini Marxism-Leni Advocates
values, Integral of weaker section secure power for the secularism sm, opposed nism, democracy
humanism and and minorities, Bahujan Samaj, Follows ideas and successionism Opposes new Gandhian
Antyodaya, Centrist Party of Shahu Maharaj, Phule, federalism and economic secularism
Hindutva Naicker and Ambedkar communalism, policies and demands
stand for new trade. high offices
working class, in gov. to be
farmers and confined to
poor. natural born
citizens

Symbol Lotus Hand Palm with five Elephant Flower and Sickle and Sickle and Clock
fingers Grass Grains Hammer

Leader Shyama Prasad Jawaharlal Nehru Kanshi Ram Mamta — — —

Mukherjee Banerjee

Area/Region/ Formed NDA, Formed UPA in Main base in U.P. and formal In power in Kerala, West W.B., Kerala, Maharashtra
Present presently ruling 2004, Ruled for a presence in M.P., West Bengal, Bengal, Punjab, Tripura (major
position government. major period. Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand 4th largest Andhra party),
and Punjab. party in Lok Pradesh and Meghalaya,
Sabha T.N. Manipur and
Assam
Challenges to Political Parties

● Lack of internal democracy within parties. (ordinary member do no get sufficient information, Personal loyalty to leaders)
● Challenge of dynastic succession. (Top positions are controlled by family members, Incapable people come to power)
● The growing role of money and muscle power in parties, especially during election.
● Often parties do not seem to offer a meaningful choice to the voters. (no significant difference in policies and ideologies)

How can parties be reformed?

Steps taken: ● Ban on defection of MPs and MLA’s
● Supreme court order mandating candidates to
file affidavit declaring assets and criminal cases.
● EC order mandating parties to conduct
organizational elections and file income tax
returns.
Suggestions: ● Mandating laws to regulate internal affairs.
● ⅓ of party tickets to be given to women.
● State funding of elections.
We must be careful to the legal solution, over
regulation can be counterproductive.
People’s participation
● Petitions, publicity and agitations
● Those who want reform join political
parties.
 Class 10th - Civics

Outcomes of Democracy
 How do we assess democracy’s outcomes?
● Democracy is the better form of government when
compared with dictatorship or any other alternative.
● It is good in principle, but felt to be not so good in practice.
Our perception and expectations
Democracy
[It will address all our socio
economic and political problems]
● It allows equality among citizens;
● Enhances the dignity of the individual;
● Improves the quality of decision-making;
● Provides a method to resolve conflicts;
● Allows room to correct mistakes.
Reality?
It is just a form of government, citizens
have to take the best out of it.
 Accountable, Responsive and legitimate government

Accountable An accountable government is answerable to its citizens. It is responsible for all the decisions
it makes and have an obligation to explain their decisions and actions to the citizens.

➢ There are delays in taking decision but still democracy is effective How
➢ The decisions in a democracy are taken by following a procedure and citizens know
about it, hence a democratic government is a transparent government.

Responsive A government is said to be a responsive government when it responds to the

demands of the public and considers it very much part of the government.

Democratic governments do not have a very good

record when it comes to sharing information with Non - democratic governments are also the same.
citizens and there are instances of corruption.

A democratic government may be slow, less efficient, but it is people's own

Legitimate government & people wished to be ruled by representatives elected by
them. So, a democratic government is legitimate government.
Economic growth and development Democracy or Dictatorship?

● 1950-2000 dictatorships have slightly higher rate of economic growth.

● But development depends on several factors - country's population size, global situation, cooperation
from other countries, economic priorities adopted by the country, global situation, etc.
● Democracy is not a guarantee of economic development. But it is better to prefer democracy as it has
other positive outcomes.

Reduction of Inequality and Poverty More reasonable expected outcome?

● Democracies are based on political equality but not on economic equalities.

● A small number of ultra-rich enjoy a highly Those at bottom find it difficult

disproportionate share of wealth and incomes. to meet their basic needs.
Not very successful in reducing economic inequalities:

● Though the poor makes up a large proportion of our votes & no party would like to lose their votes, yet
democratically elected government are not keen to address the question of poverty as we expect.
 Democracies should produce a harmonious social life &
Accommodation of social diversity
accommodate various social divisions.

Ability to handle social differences, divisions, and conflicts

is thus a definite plus point of democratic regimes. Two condition to achieve this

1. Majority needs to work with minority.

2. Rule by majority does not become rule by majority community in terms of religion or race or linguistic groups.

Dignity and freedom of the citizens Democracy V/S Dictatorship?

● Recognize that all individuals are equal

● All individuals are treated respect & dignity. How?

Example: Women’s claim, claims of disadvantaged and discriminated section

➢ Examination of democracy never gets over
● As people get some benefits of democracy, they ask for more making democracy even more better.
● A public expression of dissatisfaction with democracy shows the success of democratic project.
(Aware citizens have ability to expect and look critically at the power holders)
 SOMETHING BIG
Coming Soon… All
SOMETHING
FOR ALL !! The
15th March Best
#Together we can, we will
Crafted with love
BY DIGRAJ SINGH RAJPUT