Final answer:
Power-sharing is essential in all societies, not only those with religious, linguistic, or ethnic divisions, because it supports democracy, prevents marginalization, and ensures that governance reflects the collective will.
Step-by-step explanation:
Power-sharing is not just essential in societies with religious, linguistic, or ethnic divisions but is crucial in all societies to ensure stability and unity. While power-sharing indeed promotes unity and accommodates diversity in societies with clear divisions, it also underpins the functioning of any democratic system. In every society, there are diverse groups and interests, and sharing power helps prevent exclusion and marginalization, allowing for a balance and integration of diverse interests. For example, federal systems like the United States began with strong components of power-sharing to unite various states with different interests and identities.
Furthermore, even in unitary states such as France and Japan, where a strong national identity exists, the concept of power-sharing can still be observed to some extent. It occurs through decentralized governance, representation, or even informal means. Across all societies, power-sharing is a tool to contribute to overall governance and is instrumental in managing different ideas and interests. It supports democracy by ensuring that different groups within society have a say in how they are governed.
To conclude, while power-sharing is vital in culturally, linguistically, or ethnically diverse societies to allow for the expression of various identities, it remains an essential tool for democracy in any society. It is a means to distribute power to prevent any one entity from holding too much control and thus ensures that governance reflects the collective will and protects the rights of minorities.