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BELGIUM'S POLITICS.
  Term Paper ID:25393
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History & development of nation, ethnicity, political accommodation, autonomy, structure, focusing on its status as a multinational state comprised of Flemish, Walloon & Brussels regions. Map.... More...
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Paper Abstract:
History & development of nation, ethnicity, political accommodation, autonomy, structure, focusing on its status as a multinational state comprised of Flemish, Walloon & Brussels regions. Map.

Paper Introduction:
BELGIUM AS A MULTINATIONAL STATE: A CASE STUDY Introduction This research develops a case study of Belgium as a multinational state. The focus of this case study is on the process of political accommodation within a multinational state. The term “state,” as it is used in this case study, refers to the jurisdiction within the country that has international recognition as a politically independent entity. The term “nation,” as it is used in this case study, refers to the population groups within the state which are recognized as distinct cultural identities. Cultural identity, in turn, may be defined on the bases of ethnicity, race, language, religion, or other traits relevant within the context of a particular state. The

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Belgium has severe linguistic tensions.[vii] Francis Delperee,constitutional expert at Belgium's Catholic University of Louvain,exclaimed that Canada was a "linguistic paradise" compared to hishomeland.[viii] In Belgium, according to Delperee, French and Dutchspeakers are openly hostile to each other, and that hostility has createdwrenching social pressures.[ix] In 197 , Belgium decided that the only way to put an end to theinterminable warring between language groups was to switch to a federalsystem and decentralize some powers. [xxii]"Belgium's Melting Fudge," 39. The Walloon Region includes the southern provinces of thestate that border France, which is where most of the French speakers inBelgium live. The federal parliament exercises power relative to (a)constitutional reform, (b) federal finance, (c) foreign affairs, (d)national defense, (e) justice, (f) internal security, (g) social security,and (h) some aspects of public health. Jaumain, "Some Features of Cultural Policies Applied inBelgium, Particularly in the French-Speaking Community," Journal of ArtsManagement, Law, and Society 27 (Fall 1997): 2 7. Kitschelt and S. The secondregional recognition in the Belgian constitution is based on language.These regions are the French-speaking Region, the Dutch-speaking Region,German-speaking Region, and the bilingual Region of Brussels-Capital.Outside of the multi-linguistic Brussels-Capital region, most Dutchspeakers live in the Flemish Region and most French speakers live in theWalloon Region, while most German speakers live in the easternmostprovinces of both the Flemish Region and the Walloon Region. The gradualimposition of such taxes is being asked in return for support by ECOLO of amovement to revise the federal structure of Belgium. The 1993 revision (signed 17 February 1994) redefined Belgium as afederal state (Article 1). Map Collection. The findings of this case study of Belgium as a multinational stateare presented in two major sections following this introduction to the casestudy. Nevertheless, strainsbetween the nations continue to exist in Belgium. The Flemish Region includes the northern provinces of thecountry that border the Netherlands, which is where most of the Dutchspeakers in Belgium live. [iii]O'Neill, 242. Thealternative-being absorbed into France and the Netherlands, and possiblyGermany, however, was even less appealing to the residents of thearea.[iii] Thus, the state of Belgium was born out of compromise andnecessity. http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/be.htmlChynoweth, E. Regional councils exercise power relative to: (a) land use,(b) town planning, (c) the environment, (d) conservation, (e) ruralrenewal, (f) housing, (g) water resources, (h) oversight of provincial andlocal authorities, (i) labor, (j) public works, (k) transport, (l) theeconomy, (m) credit, (n) foreign trade, (o) agriculture, (p) energy, (q)some aspects of scientific research, (r) and international relationswherein any of the preceding responsibilities are affected. The Walloon parties notonly oppose greater devolution, but also proposed to expand the BrusselsRegion through the addition of suburbs with French-speaking majorities tobreak the existing geographic Flemish encirclement of the BrusselsRegion.[xxii] Summary & Conclusion This research developed a case study of Belgium as a multinationalstate. Harff, Ethnic Conflict in World Politics(Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press, 1994), 2. The term "nation," as it is used in thiscase study, refers to the population groups within the state which arerecognized as distinct cultural identities. http://www.lib.utexas. Wilfried Martens,Tindemans rival within the Flemish Social Christian Party, led thesuccessful opposition to the plan. Belgium As A Multinational State: a case study Introduction This research develops a case study of Belgium as a multinationalstate. Since197 , Article 4 of the constitution acknowledges four linguistic regionsand respective communities which were, after 198 and 1988 revisions,empowered with autonomy encompassing exclusive responsibility for education(Article 24). The interests of the nations within the Belgian state have beenaccommodated through a process characterized by compromise andconstitutional protection within a federal system. Gurr and B. [xx]"Belgium's Melting Fudge," Economist 338 (16 March 1996): 39;"Belgium: The Next Identity Crisis," 6 . Ethnic Conflict in World Politics. A controversial feature of the Belgian constitution isArticle 54, which is primarily designed to protect the interest of theFrench-speaking minority in federal legislation. Martin's Press, 1998.Jaumain, M. The first regional recognition in the Belgian constitution is based onarea. [ii]M. The reigning monarch isKing Albert II. The possibility of dissolving Belgium as a sovereign state is spokenof openly by Belgians, although there are no indications that a majority ofBelgians want such an outcome. O'Neill, "Re-Imaging Belgium: New Federalism and the PoliticalManagement of Cultural Diversity," Parliamentary Affairs 51 (April 1998):242. "Belgian Greens Ease Up on Push for Massive Ecotaxes." Chemical Week 151 (11 November 1992): 2 ."Could Flanders Be Reinvented?" Economist 344 (3 September 1997): 54.Dorff, P. Hellemans, Beyond the European Left:Ideology and Political Action in the Belgium Ecology Parties (Durham, NorthCarolina: Duke University Press, 199 ), 8. This coalition won the election andsubsequently devised the Community Pact of 1978 that detailed the plans andresponsibilities of the proposed federal system. Recently, however, separatist parties (Flemish) and Greenparties (Flemish and Walloon) have emerged.[xvi] The major political parties in Belgium are as follows: (1) ChristianPeople's Party, a Flemish Christian Democratic Party; (2) Social ChristianParty, a Walloon Christian Democratic party; (3) Socialist Party, a FlemishSocialist party; (4) Parti Socialiste, a Walloon Socialist party; (5) VolksLiberal Democratic Party, a Flemish Liberal party; (6) Parti ReformationLiberal, a Walloon Liberal Party; (7) Francophone Democratic Front, aWalloon Radical party; (8) Volksunie, a Flemish Separatist party; (9)Vlaams Blok, a Flemish Separatist party; (1 ) AGALEV, a Flemish Greenparty; and (11) ECOLO, a Walloon Green party.[xvii] An outgrowth of theglobal environmental movement, Green political parties, remains arelatively recent phenomenon in Belgium. The Statesman's Year-Book 1998-1999. The chemical industryin Belgium strongly opposes ecotaxes. Grants are available from the federal budget when theregional average product is lower than the average national product.The Structure of the Political System The contemporary federal system of government in Belgium was first putforward in 1977. The second andlonger section reviews the process of political accommodation within theBelgian state. Allen, "Federalism in Flux: Around the World, CentralGovernment Is Pitted Against Regional Needs," Maclean's 1 4 (24 June 1991):32. [vi]"Belgium: The Next Identity Crisis," Economist 342 (22 February1997): 59. [xxiii]"Belgium's Melting Fudge," 39. 3. L. Eachregion was permitted to establish an elected parliament, executive branchand school system, as well as to take responsibility for a wide range ofservices and economic functions. At that time, Leo Tindemans of the Flemish SocialChristian Party put together a six-party coalition that includedrepresentatives of the nationalist parties (those parties seeking separateFlemish and Walloon states). The Brussels Region includes the state's capitalcity and a geographically defined metropolitan area surrounding Brussels.The Brussels region is multiethnic and multi-linguistic. The more right-wing politicalparties within the Flemish Region demand outright Flemish independence,while even the moderate majority Flemish party demands more devolution ofpower and the dissolution of the Brussels Region. Background on the Belgian State The state of Belgium was created in 183 as both a compromiseprimarily between the competing interests of the Great Powers of that eraand secondarily in response to the wishes of the people who at the timewere living within the area that eventually became Belgium.[i] GreatBritain, in particular, wanted a buffer state to exist between theNetherlands and France.[ii] France, Germany, and the Netherlands wouldhave preferred to absorb those areas in which their ethnic kin lived.Creating a single state by bringing together the Flemish (Dutch speakers),French, and German communities in the area that would become the Belgianstate held little appeal for the people residing in the area. R., and Harff, B. The Walloon Region, which receives a tax subsidy from the FlemishRegion through an income equalization scheme, opposes greater devolutionbecause they would lose such subsidization. The following section, the shorter of the two major sections,provides background information on the Belgian state. Cultural identity, in turn,may be defined on the bases of ethnicity, race, language, religion, orother traits relevant within the context of a particular state. The Chamber of Representativesgenerally is the initiating body, with the Senate acting as a revisingbody. Dorff, "Chronology 1992," Foreign Affairs 72 (Winter 1993):222. Durham, North Carolina: Duke University Press, 199 .O'Neill, M. The Flemish Community and the FlemishRegion operate a joint and single council. The term "state," as it is used in this case study, refers to thejurisdiction within the country that has international recognition as apolitically independent entity. Austin, Texas: University of Texas, 1998): 8 31. The proposed federal system failed to be approved by parliament,however, because Tindemans could not deliver the vote of his own party insupport of the coalition government's proposal. "Belgium." CIA Factbook. Martin's Press, 1998), 196-197. Antagonism is sharpest in Brussels, which is officiallybilingual, although 8 percent of the population of the Capital Region ofapproximately one million persons is French-speaking.[xi]Power Sharing Between the State and the Nations The federal political structure of Belgium is somewhat complex. [ix]Allen, 32. London: St. Hunter, (Ed.). [xii]B. [xviii]H. The contemporary political structure in Belgium, thus, was establishedthrough constitutional reforms initiated in 197 and completed in 1988, andby further reforms to the constitution in 1993 that transformed Belgiuminto a federal state.[xiv] Prior to 1994, Belgium was a unitary state. [xvi]"Belgium: The Next Identity Crisis," 6 . A map of the state of Belgium is presented on page four of this casestudy as an Exhibit. [xi]Allen 32. [vii]P. The major threat to Belgium's continuedexistence comes from Flemish demands for more devolution of power to thecommunities and regions, an action that, if too extensive, would reduce thestate government to a shell. The Statesman's Year-Book 1998-1999 (London:St. [x]Allen, 31. The focus of this case study is on the process of politicalaccommodation within a multinational state. The process of political accommodation focuseson the accommodation of the interests of the nations represented within thestate within the contexts of (1) the degree of political autonomy divestedto the nations, (2) power sharing between the state and the nations, (3)the structure of the political system, and (4) the nature of the conflictbetween the nations, in which issues of both insurgency and civil war areaddressed.The Degree of Political Autonomy Divested to the Nations Autonomy refers to independence of action.[v] The constitutionalrevision of 1993, which became effective in 1994, devolved power andresponsibility for education, transportation, and energy from the state tothe Flemish Region, the Walloon Region, and the Brussels Region.[vi] Theregions exercise autonomy in these and other areas specified in theconstitution. R. A summary and conclusion is presented in the final section of thiscase study. Article 99 provides for alanguage-mix of the Ministers. [iv]Central Intelligence Agency, "Belgium," CIA Factbook (Langley,Virginia: Central Intelligence Agency, 1998): Belgium 3.http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/be.html [v]T. [xxi]"Could Flanders Be Reinvented?" Economist 344 (3 September1997): 54. [xv]Hunter, 196. L. In this section, the case study is summarized briefly andconclusions drawn about the effectiveness of the process of politicalaccommodation in Belgium are presented. The Flemish Region includes the northern provinces of thecountry that border the Netherlands, which is where most of the Dutchspeakers in Belgium live. "Federalism in Flux: Around the World, Central Government Is Pitted Against Regional Needs." Maclean's 1 4 (24 June 1991): 28-32."Belgium's Melting Fudge.," Economist 338 (16 March 1996): 39."Belgium: The Next Identity Crisis." Economist 342 (22 February 1997): 59- 6 .Central Intelligence Agency. "Re-Imaging Belgium: New Federalism and the Political Management of Cultural Diversity." Parliamentary Affairs 51 (April 1998): 241-258.University of Texas at Austin. http://www.lib.utexas.edu/Libs/PCL/ Map_collection/europe/belgium.jpg The Process of Political Accommodation Within the Belgian State The process of political accommodation within the Belgian state isaddressed in this section. Asstated earlier in this case study, represented within the structure areboth "communities" and "regions," each of which are defined generallywithin the context of language. 2. The focus of this case study was on the process of politicalaccommodation within a multinational state. The Walloon Region includes the southern provinces of thestate that border France, which is where most of the French speakers inBelgium live. Traditionally, within each community, their have beenChristian Democratic, Socialist, and Liberal parties in relation topolitical philosophy, although the actual party names may not include suchdesignations. The first regional recognition in the Belgian constitution is based onarea. [xiii]Hunter, 195. These regions are the Walloon Region, the Flemish Region, and theBrussels Region. The long transition was completed in1988, with an amendment to the constitution granting some autonomy to threeregions: the Flemish of Dutch-speaking Flanders in the north, FrancophoneWallonia to the south and the cosmopolitan capital of Brussels. Community councils exercise power relative to (a) culture,(b) education, (c) the media, (d) medicine, (e) the protection of youngpeople, (f) the use of language, (g) some aspects of scientific research,(h) and international relations wherein any of the precedingresponsibilities are affected. The national government-with two housesof parliament elected for the most part by direct popular vote-also agreedto turn 4 per cent of its revenues over to the regions.[x] Nevertheless, the dispute between the Flemings (representing 55percent of the population) and the French-speaking Walloons (33 percent)has not ended. Rather, these two nations make demands on one another and makethreats to either declare independence (the Flemish) or join anothercountry (the Walloons and France) if their demands are not met.[xx] Thepremier of the Flemish Region has even proposed unification with theNetherlands.[xxi] The strongest demands for greater devolution are made by the FlemishRegion. Constitutionally, the Belgian state is structured to provide politicalaccommodation through both communities and regions. Further, theconstitution defines two different types of regions. The French Community and theWalloon Region, however, operate separate councils. (Ed.). The green parties, however,will continue to grow in prominence and influence.The Nature of the Conflict Between the Nations The Flemish and Walloon nations within the state of Belgium resort toneither insurgency nor full-scale civil war in their conflict with oneanother. [viii]F. While constitutional power is exercised in the name of themonarch, the authority to implement this power is vested by theConstitution in the Council of Ministers, which is headed by the PrimeMinister.[xv] Each of the communities within the Belgian state have their own set ofpolitical parties. Chynoweth, "Belgian Greens Ease Up on Push for MassiveEcotaxes," Chemical Week 151 (11 November 1992): 2 . The map also locates the state ofBelgium in relation to neighboring European states. [xiv]Hunter, 196. The secondregional recognition in the Belgian constitution is based on language.These regions are the French-speaking Region, the Dutch-speaking Region,German-speaking Region, and the bilingual Region of Brussels-Capital.Outside of the multi-linguistic Brussels-Capital region, most Dutchspeakers live in the Flemish Region and most French speakers live in theWalloon Region, while most German speakers live in the easternmostprovinces of both the Flemish Region and the Walloon Region. [xix]E. The federal,community, and regional parliaments each exercise governmentalresponsibilities that are specified in the Constitution.[xii] Theconstitutionally specified powers of the various levels of government inthe Belgium federal system are as follows: 1. Lastly, implications for thefuture of the Belgian state are discussed. In was not until May 1993 that the parliament approved theconstitutional reforms to create a federal state in Belgium.[xiii] Belgium unites two peoples, or nations, the Walloons and Flemings.The constitutional monarchy was first established in the form of a unitarydecentralized state with provinces and communes by the Constitution of 7Feb 1831. Constitutionally, the Belgian state is structured to provide politicalaccommodation through both communities and regions. The resulting institutional structure is highlycomplicated, comprising the federal level (House of Representatives,Senate, and Monarch), the community level (Flemish Community, FrenchCommunity, and German Community Council), the state-region level (FlemishRegion, Walloon Region, and Brussels-Capital Region), and lastly thelanguage-region level (Dutch Region, French Region, German Region, and theBrussels-Capital Bilingual Region). These regions are the Walloon Region, the Flemish Region, and theBrussels Region. The general election held in December 1978, in which the proposedCommunity Pact was the central issue, produced inconclusive results.Neither proponents nor opponents of the proposed reform could claimvictory. Reforms of 1893 (franchise), 1899, and 1921 (franchise)introduced proportional representation and linguistic equality. Most Belgians "believe that, if were not forthe huge complications posed by Brussels, their country would have split intwo long ago ...."[xxiii] Endnotes BibliographyAllen, G. Further, theconstitution defines two different types of regions. The Brussels Region includes the state's capitalcity and a geographically defined metropolitan area surrounding Brussels.The Brussels region is multiethnic and multi-linguistic. "Some Features of Cultural Policies Applied in Belgium, Particularly in the French-Speaking Community." Journal of Arts Management, Law, and Society 27 (Fall 1997): 2 5-226.Kitschelt, H., and Hellemans, S. edu/Libs/PCL/ Map_collection/europe/belgium.jpg----------------------- [i]M. The Chamber of Representatives selects thePrime Minister and the Council of Ministers. This tendency to compromise was illustrated bythe decision of ECOLO to drop demands for steep ecotaxes that would beapplied to all single-use consumer goods.[xix] The ECOLO Party has notdropped the goal of taxing single-use consumer goods, but has adopted a newstrategy calling for a gradual imposition of such ecotaxes. Neither ECOLO nor AGALEV (or even a combination of the two parties) isever likely to form a government in Belgium. Belgium has a federal parliament that is comprised of the Chamber ofRepresentatives and the Senate. Communities in the Belgian state are defined according to ethnicity.The constitutionally recognized communities are the French Community, theFlemish Community, and the German Community. Each body, however, is equally competent under the Constitution withrespect to both constitutional reform and the approval of internationaltreaties. [xvii]Central Intelligence Agency, Belgium 4. At the top of the political structure in Belgium is the Constitution.Immediately below the Constitution is the monarch. The ecology parties in Belgium learned that the realities of interestgroup politics in a parliamentary democracy militates against the tendencyof new social movements to introduce dramatic changes in a politicalsystem.[xviii] To make any headway at within a system of parliamentarydemocracy, the Belgian Green parties have had to sacrifice some ideology togain effectiveness, Thus, the functioning of these parties (AGALEV in theFlemish Region and ECOLO in the Walloon Region) has been characterized tosome extent by compromise. Regions raisetheir own revenues. Linguistically, 56 percent of the population speak Dutch, 32percent French, one-percent German, and 11 percent are legallybilingual.[iv]ExhibitMap of the State of Belgium[pic] [Source: University of Texas at Austin, Map Collection (Austin, Texas: University of Texas, 1998): 8 31. Beyond the European Left: Ideology and Political Action in the Belgium Ecology Parties. Ethnically, 55 percent of the Belgian population is Flemish, 33percent Walloon, two-percent German, one-percent mixed, and nine-percentforeign born. Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press, 1994.Hunter, B. Each community and eachregion elect their own separate councils (parliaments). This map identifies the provinces within the state ofBelgium [all capital letters], the major cities in the state [first letterscapitalized; all letters bold face], and other cities and towns in thestate [first letters capitalized]. "Chronology 1992." Foreign Affairs 72 (Winter 1993): 215-253.Gurr, T. Nevertheless, political reform, together with linguisticantagonism, continued to provide the central focus for political activityin Belgium. Langley, Virginia: Central Intelligence Agency, 1998): Belgium 3. Communities in the Belgian state are defined according to ethnicity.The constitutionally recognized communities are the French Community, theFlemish Community, and the German Community. At the communitylevel, the German Community operates a council, and at the region level,the Brussels Capital Region operates a council. The three communities are the Flemish, theFrench, and the German, while the three regions are the Flemish (thenorthern part of the country that borders the Netherlands), the Walloon(the southern part of the country that borders France), and the BrusselsCapital Region (which is in the center of the country and is bilingual).Most members of the German Community live in the eastern part of thecountry (in both the Flemish and the Walloon Communities) that bordersGermany.

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