powersharing

Power sharing is a political arrangement in which governing authority is distributed among different social, ethnic, religious, or regional groups to prevent domination by a single faction. It often involves formal constitutional provisions or longstanding norms that guarantee minority representation and influence in key institutions, such as the executive, legislature, or public administration. Power-sharing aims to reduce conflict risks in divided societies by making participation and veto rights part of the system rather than dependent on electoral luck.

In political science, the concept is closely associated with consociational democracy, a framework articulated to explain governance in deeply divided societies. Core features typically include a grand coalition of major groups, mutual veto rights on critical policies, proportional representation in institutions, and segmental autonomy for groups in certain policy areas or territories. These elements are designed to preserve legitimacy and stability when parties or groups cannot be expected to rely on majority rule alone.

Common mechanisms include proportional representation, reserved or rotating offices, veto rights on essential decisions, formal power-sharing in cabinets and legislatures, and territorial or cultural autonomy. External guarantees, rule of law, and independent institutions are often paired with such arrangements to enforce commitments and protect minority rights.

Notable examples include Northern Ireland’s post-1998 Good Friday Agreement, which established a power-sharing executive; Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Dayton framework with rotating presidencies and complex institutional rules; and Lebanon’s confessional system. Critics argue that power-sharing can entrench divisions, foster deadlock, or undermine accountability if designed poorly. Proponents contend it can reduce violence and enhance legitimacy when tailored to a country’s specific political landscape and time-bound with sunset clauses.