Final answer:
Consociationalism refers to the sharing of power in the central government among recognized groups. It is closely related to the concept of sovereignty and is applied in federal systems where power is divided between the national and regional governments to accommodate diverse national identities.
Step-by-step explanation:
The recognition of the existence of specific groups and granting some share of power in the central government to each is known as consociationalism. A state both exercises and bestows power when it recognizes another state's sovereignty.
Exploring the concept of sovereignty, it is the right of a group, or later a country, to be free from outside interference. Federalism supports this idea by allowing regional self-governance to coexist with a central authority. Federalism implies a sharing of power between the central government and regional or local governments, which can be particularly effective in multi-ethnic or multi-national nations. This system allows ethnically or nationally distinct groups to exercise autonomy in certain areas, such as education or language, while the central government handles national defense and interstate matters.
Significantly, nations can push for various levels of autonomy or even independence, ranging from regional autonomy to secession. National identity groups often seek this kind of recognition to maintain their cultural uniqueness and have some degree of self-governance within a larger political framework.