Power-Sharing
📌 Overview
This lesson introduces the concept of power-sharing as a cornerstone of democratic governance. Students will explore why power is not concentrated in a single authority and how distributing it among various institutions, social groups, and political entities ensures stability, inclusivity, and justice.
🎯 Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson, learners will be able to:
- ⚖️ Understand the meaning and importance of power-sharing in a democracy.
- 🌍 Compare different forms of power-sharing across countries like Belgium and Sri Lanka.
- 🧩 Recognize the role of community governments, federal systems, and social group representation.
- 🔍 Distinguish between prudential and moral reasons for power-sharing.
- 🏛️ Identify key democratic principles like checks and balances and federalism.
📚 Key Concepts Covered
- Definition and need for power-sharing
- Forms & arrangements of power-sharing in modern democracies
- Ethnic and linguistic diversity and its political implications
- Majoritarianism and its impact on national unity
- Comparative study of Belgium and Sri Lanka’s approaches
- Community Government as a model of representation
- Principles of Federal Government and Checks & Balances
- Difference between Federation and Union
🧠 Skills Developed
- Analytical thinking on governance structures
- Comparative evaluation of political systems
- Understanding constitutional principles
- Relating real-world examples to theoretical concepts
📌 Assessment & Activities
- 📝 MCQs & short-answer questions
- 📊 Case-study analysis of Belgium and Sri Lanka
- 💬 Group discussions on the pros and cons of different power-sharing methods