Which of the following statements accurately distinguishes between Majoritarianism and Power sharing?
a. Majoritarianism emphasizes the dominance of the majority community, while Power sharing emphasizes the sharing of power among different groups.
b. Majoritarianism emphasizes the need for consensus building, while Power sharing emphasizes the exclusion of minority groups.
c. Majoritarianism emphasizes the importance of accommodating minority interests, while Power sharing emphasizes the need for majority rule.
d. Majoritarianism emphasizes the need for peaceful resolution of conflicts, while Power sharing emphasizes the use of force to impose the majority's will.
Answer
Answer by Student
The correct option that distinguishes between Majoritarianism and Power sharing is (a) Majoritarianism emphasizes the dominance of the majority community, while Power sharing emphasizes the sharing of power among different groups .
Detailed Explanation by Teachoo
Let’s check all the options and see why they are correct or incorrect:
- Option (a) Majoritarianism emphasizes the dominance of the majority community, while Power sharing emphasizes the sharing of power among different groups - This captures the essence of both concepts. Majoritarianism is a principle of democracy that gives more power and privileges to the majority community and ignores or suppresses minority groups. Power sharing is a principle of democracy that ensures that different social groups, regions, and institutions have a fair share of power and influence in decision-making. For example, in Sri Lanka, the Sinhala majority community tried to impose its will on the Tamil minority community through majoritarian policies, which led to civil war and violence. In Belgium, the Dutch-speaking and French-speaking communities agreed to share power through constitutional arrangements, which ensured peace and stability. This is correct ✅.
- Option (b) Majoritarianism emphasizes the need for consensus building, while Power sharing emphasizes the exclusion of minority groups - This reverses the meaning of both concepts. Majoritarianism does not seek consensus building but rather imposes its views on others. Power sharing does not exclude minority groups but rather includes them in governance. This is incorrect :❌
- Option (c) Majoritarianism emphasizes the importance of accommodating minority interests, while Power sharing emphasizes the need for majority rule - This also reverses the meaning of both concepts. Majoritarianism does not accommodate minority interests but rather neglects or oppresses them. Power sharing does not favour majority rule but rather balances it with minority rights. This is incorrect :❌
- Option (d) Majoritarianism emphasizes the need for peaceful resolution of conflicts, while Power sharing emphasizes the use of force to impose the majority’s will - This contradicts the reality of both concepts. Majoritarianism often leads to conflicts and violence as it creates resentment and alienation among minority groups. Power sharing promotes peaceful resolution of conflicts as it fosters trust and cooperation among different groups. This is incorrect :❌
Thus, option (a) is correct
