Belgium and Sri Lanka Power Sharing Comparison
Power Sharing in Belgium:
- Belgium practices a form of consociationalism, where power is shared among different linguistic communities.
- The country has three main communities - the Flemish (Dutch-speaking), the Walloons (French-speaking), and the German-speaking community.
- Power is divided between these communities through a complex system of proportional representation in government institutions.
- The federal government is made up of representatives from each community, ensuring that all voices are heard in decision-making processes.
Power Sharing in Sri Lanka:
- Sri Lanka, on the other hand, has a unitary system of government where power is concentrated at the national level.
- The country has faced ethnic tensions between the majority Sinhalese and the minority Tamil population, leading to a civil war.
- Attempts at power sharing through devolution of power to Tamil-majority areas have been met with resistance from the central government.
- The 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which established Provincial Councils with limited powers, has not been fully implemented.
Comparison:
- Belgium's power-sharing model is based on recognizing and accommodating diverse linguistic communities, while Sri Lanka's power-sharing efforts have focused on addressing ethnic tensions.
- Belgium's system has been successful in maintaining peace and stability, while Sri Lanka has struggled to find a lasting solution to its ethnic conflict.
- Both countries have faced challenges in implementing power-sharing arrangements, but Belgium's consociational model has been more effective in ensuring representation and inclusivity.