Question

What is meant by power-sharing? Explain the major forms of power sharing in modern democracies.

Answer 1

Hint: Power sharing is an effective way to minimize the likelihood of conflict between the country's social classes. Political leaders' unity is also ensured by power-sharing. The spirit of democracy is power-sharing.

Complete answer:
Power-sharing is a term used to describe a form of governance in which all major divisions of society are given a permanent share of power, as opposed to government vs opposition regimes, in which governing coalitions rotate among different social groups over time.

Power-sharing arrangements- In modern democracies, there are various types of power-sharing, which are described below.
i) Power is distributed horizontally. Different government organs, such as the legislature, executive, and judiciary, share power. India is an example. This distribution means that no organ has limitless power
to exercise and use. Every organ keeps a close eye on the others. A system of checks and balances is the name given to this arrangement.
ii) Power delivery in the vertical direction. At different stages, power can be shared. Governments at the local, federal, and regional levels, as well as a central government that governs the entire country. The Union Government of India, for example, is made up of both the Central and State governments.
iii) Local government- Power can also be shared among various socially active groups, such as religious
and linguistic communities. Belgium is an example.

Note: Power-sharing competition ensures that power does not remain in the hands of a
single individual. For a longer period of time, power is shared among various political parties representing various ideologies and social groups.