Moral reasons for power-sharing
Topic: Power-sharing: Majoritarianism versus Accommodation · NCERT: Class 10, Ch 1 "Power-sharing"
Meaning
Moral reasons for power-sharing say that sharing power is good in itself, because it is the very spirit of democracy. People who are affected by the use of power have a right to be consulted about how they are governed. A government is legitimate, meaning rightful in citizens' eyes, when citizens gain a stake in it by taking part. Under this view, sharing power is worth doing even if it brings no extra benefit.
Example
The 73rd and 74th Amendments (1992) gave power to panchayats and municipalities. This let villagers and town residents take part in decisions about their own areas. In NCERT's Exercise 5, the statement that power should rest "in the hands of the people" is the moral reason.
Don't confuse with
- Prudential reasons for power-sharing: these value sharing for its results, such as less conflict and more stability. Moral reasons value the act of sharing itself.