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PJM Groningen: Tensions between the Dutch-speaking and French-speaking regions in Belgium have never been higher. Michael van der Galiën contends that this will result “in an independent Flanders in the long run.”
by Michael van der Galiën
Several months ago, elections were organized in Belgium. The outcome of these elections was that a center-right coalition would be formed. After months of negotiations, however, a crisis broke out. Now it seems possible that the tiny country of Belgium could split apart into two separate states.
Belgium is, in many ways, a strange country. It is young; it only came into being in the 19th century. And it consists of two very different parts: one part is in the south where people speak French, the other part is the north where people speak Dutch. Until 1830 Belgium as a whole was part of the Netherlands, but Belgians wanted independence, fought for it and got it.
Language, though, is not where the differences between the two parts end. The northern region does not just speak Dutch, it is also much richer than the south. The south of Belgium is less developed and has a smaller population. While 58% of the Belgian people live in Flanders (Dutch speaking), only 32% live in Wallonia (the French-speaking part).
The relationship between the two regions has always been troubled. They have always fought about who should hold the most power and why. Furthermore, the two main groups have always lived independent from each other: neither side communicates with the other. One famous saying is that the only things all Belgian have in common are “the king, the football team, and some beers.”
Belgium proves how difficult it is to have two different peoples (with two different histories and with two different cultures) make up one country. This year the arguments (about power and influence) have escalated, and some are now calling on Flanders to separate from Wallonia. Some experts have already stated that if Belgium were to split up, nobody would notice and everybody would be better off.
Belgium’s leaders – ministers, experts and even the King himself (after, believe it or not, taking a vacation) – have tried to come up with a solution but have failed. The two sides seem to be incapable or unwilling to compromise. Put another way, the two sides have, over the years, already become de facto independent; the only thing of which they are both dependent is the central government, but Belgians refer to themselves as ‘Vlaming’ (from Flanders) or ‘Walloniër’ (from Wallonia) first, Belgian second. Belgians from Flanders especially, often do not have a strong bond with the rest of the country.
Furthermore, the federal system adopted in Belgium no longer works: elections are organized just about constantly and the political elites of the different parts have nothing in common anymore and do not communicate with each other about the direction the country as a whole should take. Moreover, the country has two completely different economies: the one in the north is growing relatively rapidly while the southern economy is suffering from very high unemployment rates.
Since Wallonia and Flanders have little, if anything, in common, and since attemps to solve the problems have failed and are likely to fail in the future as well, quite a few people expect the country to divide into two different states. Polls are conducted in Flanders asking the people whether they believe Flanders should declare its independence. Luckily for the King, most Belgians still seem to favor a united Belgium.
For now, the most likely outcome seems to be that Belgium will abolish its federal system and become a confederation. This means that the central government will have even less power than it has now. Furthermore, from this observer’s point of view, it seems likely that such a system will result in an independent Flanders in the long run nonetheless. The likely results of a confederational system are that the two sides will have even less contact with each other than they have now, that the economies of Flanders and Wallonia will become even more disconnected and different, and that people will feel even less of a bond with the greater country than they feel at this point in time. As Americans know full well, it is extremely difficult for a confederation to survive for a long time.
There has also been suggestions that Flanders may reunite with the Netherlands. Being Dutch, I have to say that even if they would want this, it would not happen. Flanders might be richer than Wallonia, but it is not very rich compared to the Netherlands, to say the least. Reuniting with Flanders does not in any way serve the interests of the Netherlands. The only thing that is attractive about Belgium is Antwerp Harbor, but we have our own major harbor (Rotterdam). Besides, the people of Flanders themselves do not want to reunite with the Netherlands: the bond between the Netherlands and Flanders is not stronger, as far as I can tell, than the one between Flanders and Wallonia.
Will Flanders and Wallonia split? No one knows. But whatever happens, you will be updated at Pajamas Media — because if we do not report it for you, chances are, you will not even notice that a country has ceased to exist.
Michael van der Galiën
founder and editor of The Van Der Galiën Gazette and Chief Political Reviewer at Monsters and Critics.He can be contacted at mpfvandergalien@gmail.co
http://pajamasmedia.com/2007/09/belgium_splitting.php
by Michael van der Galiën
Several months ago, elections were organized in Belgium. The outcome of these elections was that a center-right coalition would be formed. After months of negotiations, however, a crisis broke out. Now it seems possible that the tiny country of Belgium could split apart into two separate states.
Belgium is, in many ways, a strange country. It is young; it only came into being in the 19th century. And it consists of two very different parts: one part is in the south where people speak French, the other part is the north where people speak Dutch. Until 1830 Belgium as a whole was part of the Netherlands, but Belgians wanted independence, fought for it and got it.
Language, though, is not where the differences between the two parts end. The northern region does not just speak Dutch, it is also much richer than the south. The south of Belgium is less developed and has a smaller population. While 58% of the Belgian people live in Flanders (Dutch speaking), only 32% live in Wallonia (the French-speaking part).
The relationship between the two regions has always been troubled. They have always fought about who should hold the most power and why. Furthermore, the two main groups have always lived independent from each other: neither side communicates with the other. One famous saying is that the only things all Belgian have in common are “the king, the football team, and some beers.”
Belgium proves how difficult it is to have two different peoples (with two different histories and with two different cultures) make up one country. This year the arguments (about power and influence) have escalated, and some are now calling on Flanders to separate from Wallonia. Some experts have already stated that if Belgium were to split up, nobody would notice and everybody would be better off.
Belgium’s leaders – ministers, experts and even the King himself (after, believe it or not, taking a vacation) – have tried to come up with a solution but have failed. The two sides seem to be incapable or unwilling to compromise. Put another way, the two sides have, over the years, already become de facto independent; the only thing of which they are both dependent is the central government, but Belgians refer to themselves as ‘Vlaming’ (from Flanders) or ‘Walloniër’ (from Wallonia) first, Belgian second. Belgians from Flanders especially, often do not have a strong bond with the rest of the country.
Furthermore, the federal system adopted in Belgium no longer works: elections are organized just about constantly and the political elites of the different parts have nothing in common anymore and do not communicate with each other about the direction the country as a whole should take. Moreover, the country has two completely different economies: the one in the north is growing relatively rapidly while the southern economy is suffering from very high unemployment rates.
Since Wallonia and Flanders have little, if anything, in common, and since attemps to solve the problems have failed and are likely to fail in the future as well, quite a few people expect the country to divide into two different states. Polls are conducted in Flanders asking the people whether they believe Flanders should declare its independence. Luckily for the King, most Belgians still seem to favor a united Belgium.
For now, the most likely outcome seems to be that Belgium will abolish its federal system and become a confederation. This means that the central government will have even less power than it has now. Furthermore, from this observer’s point of view, it seems likely that such a system will result in an independent Flanders in the long run nonetheless. The likely results of a confederational system are that the two sides will have even less contact with each other than they have now, that the economies of Flanders and Wallonia will become even more disconnected and different, and that people will feel even less of a bond with the greater country than they feel at this point in time. As Americans know full well, it is extremely difficult for a confederation to survive for a long time.
There has also been suggestions that Flanders may reunite with the Netherlands. Being Dutch, I have to say that even if they would want this, it would not happen. Flanders might be richer than Wallonia, but it is not very rich compared to the Netherlands, to say the least. Reuniting with Flanders does not in any way serve the interests of the Netherlands. The only thing that is attractive about Belgium is Antwerp Harbor, but we have our own major harbor (Rotterdam). Besides, the people of Flanders themselves do not want to reunite with the Netherlands: the bond between the Netherlands and Flanders is not stronger, as far as I can tell, than the one between Flanders and Wallonia.
Will Flanders and Wallonia split? No one knows. But whatever happens, you will be updated at Pajamas Media — because if we do not report it for you, chances are, you will not even notice that a country has ceased to exist.
Michael van der Galiën
founder and editor of The Van Der Galiën Gazette and Chief Political Reviewer at Monsters and Critics.He can be contacted at mpfvandergalien@gmail.co
http://pajamasmedia.com/2007/09/belgium_splitting.php
