WEBVTT

1
00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:05.740 
<c.S1>The 1998 Belfast, or Good Friday, Agreement
established a power sharing Assembly,</c>

2
00:00:05.740 --> 00:00:08.980 
<c.S1>based on the main principles
of consociational theory.</c>

3
00:00:09.400 --> 00:00:15.740 
<c.S1>The Dutch political scientist, Arend Lijphart,
developed consociational theory in the 1960s.</c>

4
00:00:16.740 --> 00:00:19.660 
<c.S1>This theory focuses on how to
stabilise communities</c>

5
00:00:19.660 --> 00:00:22.700 
<c.S1>that are divided
along ethnic or religious lines</c>

6
00:00:22.700 --> 00:00:25.900 
<c.S1>and develop democracy
through power sharing institutions.</c>

7
00:00:26.640 --> 00:00:30.060 
<c.S1>For this to happen,
Lijphart suggests four main ingredients:</c>

8
00:00:30.480 --> 00:00:31.680 
<c.S1>Grand coalition,</c>

9
00:00:32.320 --> 00:00:33.380 
<c.S1>proportionality,</c>

10
00:00:33.820 --> 00:00:35.120 
<c.S1>mutual veto,</c>

11
00:00:35.120 --> 00:00:36.600 
<c.S1>and segmented autonomy.</c>

12
00:00:39.460 --> 00:00:43.440 
<c.S1>Executive power-sharing is at the heart
of this consociational arrangement.</c>

13
00:00:43.820 --> 00:00:47.900 
<c.S1>The Executive Committee is made up
of Unionist and Nationalist Ministers.</c>

14
00:00:48.480 --> 00:00:52.260 
<c.S1>After an election, the largest party chooses
the First Minister</c>

15
00:00:52.860 --> 00:00:57.140 
<c.S1>and the largest party from the other community
(either Nationalist or Unionist)</c>

16
00:00:57.540 --> 00:00:59.460 
<c.S1>chooses the Deputy First Minister.</c>

17
00:01:00.220 --> 00:01:03.120 
<c.S1>Both have equal powers,
and make joint decisions.</c>

18
00:01:05.100 --> 00:01:09.980 
<c.S1>The Single Transferrable Vote (STV) system of
proportional representation</c>

19
00:01:10.400 --> 00:01:12.200 
<c.S1>is used to elect MLAs.</c>

20
00:01:13.920 --> 00:01:17.740 
<c.S1>The D’Hondt Formula is used to allocate
ministers to the Executive</c>

21
00:01:18.060 --> 00:01:20.880 
<c.S1>and Chairs and Deputy Chairs to the Committees.</c>

22
00:01:21.720 --> 00:01:25.720 
<c.S1>Membership of Committees is proportional
to party strength in the Assembly.</c>

23
00:01:26.340 --> 00:01:29.920 
<c.S1>The D’Hondt system also influences
speaking rights in the Chamber</c>

24
00:01:30.260 --> 00:01:32.740 
<c.S1>and the selection of Private Members' motions.</c>

25
00:01:34.040 --> 00:01:37.520 
<c.S1>Elected representatives are required
to designate themselves</c>

26
00:01:37.520 --> 00:01:40.200 
<c.S1>Nationalist or Unionist, or Other.</c>

27
00:01:40.780 --> 00:01:44.720 
<c.S1>Cross-community voting procedures
ensure protection of minorities.</c>

28
00:01:45.280 --> 00:01:49.000 
<c.S1>Certain Assembly decisions
require Cross-Community Support.</c>

29
00:01:49.000 --> 00:01:52.540 
<c.S1>For example, election of the Speaker
and Deputy Speakers,</c>

30
00:01:53.140 --> 00:01:56.040 
<c.S1>budget allocations, and Petitions of Concern.</c>

31
00:01:56.760 --> 00:02:00.040 
<c.S1>Each community has some distinct measure
of autonomy,</c>

32
00:02:00.040 --> 00:02:01.900 
<c.S1>particularly in cultural issues,</c>

33
00:02:01.900 --> 00:02:05.800 
<c.S1>for example, when developing Ulster Scots
and the Irish language.</c>

34
00:02:06.640 --> 00:02:11.140 
<c.S1>This consociational style of democracy
is the subject of much debate.</c>

35
00:02:11.860 --> 00:02:15.580 
<c.S1>While many believe that consociationalism
entrenches division,</c>

36
00:02:16.120 --> 00:02:18.220 
<c.S1>others argue that, over time,</c>

37
00:02:18.220 --> 00:02:22.440 
<c.S1>this power sharing model will reduce division
and increase stability.</c>