Evolution of National Identities and Federalism in Belgium

Abstract

National identities in Belgium have been shaped within the course of a complex historical process. The common sense of identity developed under the rule of Dukes of Burgundy and the House of Habsburg has strengthened with the short period of independence experienced following the Brabant Revolution. The French period has secured the settling of the modern state model. Having unified with Holland at the Congress of Vienna, the Belgian Provinces formed an independent state following a patriotic revolution. At a time when language differences amongst people did not constitute a factor of disassociation, French was adopted as the sole official language of Belgium. However, this choice gave rise to a “linguistic question” that triggered the development of communitarian identities. Tensions rising between Dutch-speaking Flemish and French-speaking Walloons after World War I constituted the principal division line of Belgium. The first state reform realized for bringing a lasting solution to communitarian conflict has been the start point of a long institutional transformation process resulting in the formation of an original federal system. Despite having managed this process with inter-communitarian consensus, Belgium has been going through a politico-institutional crisis recently

Keywords

• Belgium
• national identity
• federalism
• Flemish movement
• Walloon movement

Belçika'da Ulusal Kimlikler ve Federalizmin Gelişimi

Abstract

Belçika’da ulusal kimlikler karmaşık bir tarihsel süreç içerisinde şekillenmiştir. Burgonya Dükleri ve Habsburg Hanedanı’nın yönetimi altında Belçika coğrafyasında gelişen ortak kimlik algısı Brabant İhtilâli akabinde yaşanan kısa süreli bağımsızlık deneyimiyle güçlenmiştir. Fransız hâkimiyeti dönemi Belçika’da modern devlet modelinin yerleşmesini sağlamıştır. Viyana Kongresi’yle Hollanda’ya bağlanan Belçika Vilâyetleri yurtsever bir devrim sonucunda bağımsız bir devlet oluşturmuştur. Halk arasındaki dil farklılıklarının siyasal bir ayrışma faktörü teşkil etmediği bu dönemde Fransızca Belçika’nın tek resmî dili olarak benimsenmiştir. Ancak bu tercih topluluksal kimlik bilinçlerinin gelişimini beraberinde getirecek bir “dil meselesi”ni doğurmuştur. Felemenkçe konuşan Flamanlar ile Fransızca konuşan Valonlar arasında I. Dünya Savaşı’ndan itibaren giderek artan gerilimler, II. Dünya Savaşı’ndan sonra Belçika’nın temel ayrışma hattını teşkil etmiştir. Topluluklar çatışmasına kalıcı bir çözüm getirmek için gerçekleştirilen ilk devlet reformu özgün bir federal sistemin oluşumuna yol açacak uzun bir kurumsal dönüşüm sürecinin başlangıcı olmuştur. Gerilimli dönemlere rağmen bu süreci topluluklar arası konsensüsle yönetmeyi başarmış olan Belçika son yıllarda siyasal ve kurumsal bir kriz içinden geçmektedir.

Keywords

• Belçika
• ulusal kimlik
• federalizm
• Flaman hareketi
• Valon hareketi

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