What is majoritarianism? How did the Sri Lankan government's policies after independence reflect this approach?
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-26 13:15 · grounding rag
Model Answer
Majoritarianism is the belief that the majority community should be able to rule a country in whichever way it wants, disregarding the wishes and needs of the minority.
The Sri Lankan government adopted several majoritarian measures after independence:
- In 1956, an Act was passed recognising Sinhala as the only official language, disregarding Tamil.
- Preferential policies favoured Sinhala applicants for university positions and government jobs.
- A new constitution stated that the state shall protect and foster Buddhism.
These measures alienated Sri Lankan Tamils, who felt denied equal political rights and opportunities, ultimately leading to civil war.
Source: Power Sharing, Chapter 1
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Explanation
- 1 mark for defining majoritarianism — keep it one line using the textbook definition.
- 2 marks for the three specific policies — examiners expect all three (language act, job/university preference, Buddhism). Missing any one costs marks.
- Avoid vague statements like "Tamils were treated badly." Be specific and policy-focused.
- The consequence (alienation/civil war) adds completeness but is not the main ask — mention briefly.