Question

power sharing mechanism in democracy

Answer 1

Consociationalism is often viewed as synonymous with power-sharing, although it is technically only one form of power-sharing.

Consociationalism is often seen as having close affinities with corporatism; some consider it to be a form of corporatism while others claim that economic corporatism was designed to regulate class conflict, while consociationalism developed on the basis of reconciling societal fragmentation along ethnic and religious lines.

The goals of consociationalism are governmental stability, the survival of the power-sharing arrangements, the survival of democracy, and the avoidance of violence. When consociationalism is organised along religious confessional lines, it is known as confessionalism, as is the case in Lebanon.

Lijphart identifies four key characteristics of consociational democracies:

Grand coalition:Elites of each pillar come together to rule in the interests of society because they recognize the dangers of non-cooperation.
Mutual veto:Consensus among the groups is required to confirm the majority rule.Mutuality means that the minority is unlikely to successfully block the majority. If one group blocks another on some matter, the latter are likely to block the former in return.
Proportionality:Representation is based on population. If one pillar accounts for 30% of the overall society, then they occupy 30% of the positions on the police force, in civil service, and in other national and civic segments of society.
Segmental autonomy:Creates a sense of individuality and allows for different culturally-based community laws.

Consociational policies often have these characteristics:

1.Coalition cabinets, where executive power is shared between parties, not concentrated in one. Many of these cabinets are oversized, meaning they include parties not necessary for a parliamentary majority;
2.Balance of power between executive and legislative;
3.Decentralized and federal government, where (regional) minorities have considerable independence;
4.Incongruent bicameralism, where it is very difficult for one party to gain a majority in both houses. Normally one chamber represents regional interests and the other national interests;
5.Proportional representation, to allow (small) minorities to gain representation too;
6.Organized and corporatist interest groups, which represent minorities;
7.A rigid constitution, which prevents government from changing the constitution without consent of minorities;
8.Judicial review, which allows minorities to go to the courts to seek redress against laws that they see as unjust;
9.Elements of direct democracy, which allow minorities to enact or prevent legislation;
10.Proportional employment in the public sector;
11.A neutral head of state, either a monarch with only ceremonial duties, or an indirectly elected president, who gives up his or her party affiliation after being elected;
12.Referendums are only used to allow minorities to block legislation: this means that they must be a citizen's initiative and that there is no compulsory voting.
13.Equality between ministers in cabinet, the prime minister is only primus inter pares;
14.An independent central bank, where experts and not politicians set out monetary policies.
Advantages:
In a consociational state, all groups, including minorities, are represented on the political and economic stage. Supporters of consociationalism argue that it is a more realistic option in deeply divided societies than integrationist approaches to conflict management. It has been credited with supporting successful and non-violent transitions to democracy in countries such as South Africa.