Belgian nationalism

Belgian nationalism, sometimes pejoratively referred to as Belgicism (Dutch: Belgicisme; French: Belgicanisme), is a nationalist ideology. In its modern form it favours the reversal of federalism and the creation of a unitary state in Belgium. The ideology advocates reduced or no autonomy for the Flemish Community who constitute Flanders, the French Community of Belgium and the German-speaking Community of Belgium who constitute Wallonia and the Brussels-Capital Region which is inhabited by both Walloons and Flemings, and the dissolution of the regional counterparts of each ethnic group within Belgium.[1]

Not to be confused with Belgicism (Dutch) or Belgicism (French), which refer to distinctively Belgian words used in Dutch or French.
The Pro Patria ("For the Nation") monument, erected in honour of the Belgian Revolution of 1830, in the Place des Martyrs, Brussels

It insists on restoring total sovereignty to the level of the Belgian state by reverting Belgium to a unitary state, after decades of state structure reforms that made Belgium a federal state since the 1970s. This position is contrary to Flemish nationalists who advocate the independence of their region, and Walloon, Brussels and German-speaking regionalists who advocate more autonomy to their respective regions. Belgian nationalists advocate the unity between all language groups in Belgium, and condemn each perceived chauvinistic or linguistic discrimination, advocate the knowledge of all official languages (Dutch, French, German) and a multicultural, tolerant, strong feeling of citizenship.

Belgian nationalism is mainly supported by French-speaking politicians and certain circles in Brussels and also some sections of the far right. Because the Flanders region is by large majority regionalist (with a minority seeking independence) and because both the Wallonia and Brussels regions and the German community are also by majority regionalist, there is no popular support for Belgian nationalism in any region of Belgium, and political parties that support this ideology openly have not gained electoral support in the modern era (although the Workers' Party of Belgium, which opposes regionalism and dividing the country by language but is not nationalist, saw its support rise in the late 2010s), so it remains much weaker than the secessionist and regional nationalisms of the ethnic groups.

Advocates

Current

Past

See also
  • Flemish nationalism – an ideology calling for greater autonomy or independence for Flanders
  • Greater Netherlands – a hypothetical polity incorporating Flanders and the Netherlands.
  • Walloon nationalism – an ideology calling for greater autonomy or independence for Wallonia
  • Rattachism – an ideology calling for the separation of Wallonia and its incorporation into France
  • Flamingant – an originally pejorative term for adherents to the Flemish Movement

References
  1. Deprez, Kas (1998). Nationalism in Belgium: Shifting Identities, 1780-1995. Springer. ISBN 978-0333657379.


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