Federalism: a Lifeline for Belgium?

After the June 2010 federal elections in Belgium, a fractured federal parliament revealed deepening political divisions, triggering a crisis which reached a solution only after 541 days, in December 2011. And yet, the collapse of Belgium is far from inevitable, as it is a case of federalism rife with contradictions. The Belgian federal system does reflect a complex balance among the different entities that constitute this country. At the same time, the six successive waves of reform that have federalised Belgium have also institutionalised socio-cultural fault lines which today run deeper than ever. As we provide an overview of some of the key features of the origins and functioning of federalism in Belgium, we shall also try to highlight some of its paradoxes. In addition to the tensions between enabling unity and deepening divides, we will look at the contradictions that are inherent to combining a devolved system with a consensus democracy at the federal level. We will also consider what the implications are in the context of an ever more important relationship with the European Union (‘EU’ or ‘Union’). We will begin with a brief historical overview which will help explain the rise of federalism in Belgium. We will then delve into key aspects of the six state reforms that have gradually transformed Belgium into a federal system. We will then focus on the current functioning of this system and highlight some of its peculiarities, both internally and vis-à-vis the international and EU levels of governance.

Publication year:2021

Accessibility:Open