Question

Write five merits and demerits of Belgian model.

Answer 1

Answer:

merits:

Power sharing among different social groups: Power can be shared among social groups such as linguistic and religious groups. For instance, Community government' in Belgium. Other types of power-sharing: Power sharing is also seen in political parties, pressure groups and movements control or influence those in power.

demerits:

no demerits

Answer 2

Democracy in Belgium is an accommodation process. The Belgian leaders had created an "innovative pacifying path" by recognizing the existence of "regional differences" & "cultural diversities".

Explanation:

Advantages of the Belgian Model

• The Belgian model had suggested  the number of French- & Dutch-speaking ministers must be equal in the central govt.
• Many powers of the central govt is given to state govt of the 2 regions (Dutch- & French-speaking) of the nation.
• Some special laws needed the help of "large number" of "members" from each "linguistic group". Therefore, no single community can take/make decisions individually/separately.
• There was a 'community govt'  which  belonged to one "language community" of French, German, & Dutch-speaking irrespective of the regions they lived.
• This model managed to alleviate local conflicts and language separation between the 2 regional communities.

Disadvantages of the Belgium Model

• A weak central govt may show the autonomous position of the states. It is a source of political instability.
• Brussels, Belgium's capital, has a separate govt. with the same level of representation for both communities. Government dichotomy is a source of confusion in the states and the center