Q4 of 9 Page 10

The Mayor of Merchtem, a town near Brussels in Belgium, has defended a ban on speaking French in the town’s schools. He said that the ban would help all non-Dutch speakers integrate in this Flemish town. Do you think that this measure is in keeping with the spirit of Belgium’s power sharing arrangements? Give your reasons in about 50words.

The measure that is being taken by the Mayor of Merchtem is not in keeping with the spirit of Belgium’s division of power sharing. Belgium’s form of government is always being considered as an example of best community government and this measure will not maintain peace between the French and Dutch speaking communities. Putting ban on speaking French will cause civil unrest. The best and better way to integrate the people of town is that both the languages should be made acceptable in the town’s schools to make it a bilingual educational system.


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2

State one prudential reason and one moral reason for power sharing with an example from the Indian context.

 3

After reading this chapter, there students drew different conclusions. Which of these do you agree with and why? Give your reasons in about 50 words.

Thomman: Power sharing is necessary in societies which have religious linguistic or ethnic divisions.


Mathayi: Power sharing is suitable is suitable only for big countries that have regional divisions.


Ouseph: Every society needs some form of power sharing even if it is small or does not have social divisions.

 5

Read the following passage and pick out any one of the prudential reasons for power sharing offered in this.

“We need to give more power to the panchayats to realize the dream of Mahatma Gandhi and the hops of the markers of our Constitution. Panchayati Raj establishes true democracy. It restores power to the only place where power belongs in a democracy- in the hands of the people. Giving power to panchayats is also a way to reduce corruption and increase administrative efficiency. When people participate in the planning and implementation of developmental schemes, they would naturally exercise greater control over these schemes. This would eliminate the corrupt middlemen. Thus, Panchayati Raj will strengthen the foundations of our democracy.”

 6

Different arguments are usually put forth in favor of and against power sharing identify those which are in favor of power sharing and select the answer using the codes given below? Power sharing:

A) reduces conflict among different communities


B) decreases the possibility of arbitrariness


C) delays decision-making process


D) accommodates diversities


E) increases instability and divisiveness


F) promotes people’s participation in government


G) undermines the unity of a country