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‘Wat We Zelf Doen, Doen We Beter’; Belgian Substate Nationalisms, Congruence and Public Policy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 September 2003

Jan Erk
Jan Erk
Affiliation:
Political Science, University of Toronto
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Abstract

This study assesses the impact nationalism has on public policies in ethno-linguistically divided societies. In particular, focus is on the institutional changes from nation-wide systems to Flemish and Francophone halves in Belgian education and mass media. The explanation is a society-based one, which highlights the impact of society on institutions rather than the more common opposite. Evidence demonstrates the role played by the ethno-linguistic structure in promoting the direction of change. Many issues which divide societies and engender political partisanship were subsumed under the question communautaire until a sufficient degree of congruence between the underlying social structure and political institutions was attained.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Public Policy , Volume 23 , Issue 2 , May 2003 , pp. 201 - 224
Copyright
© 2003 Cambridge University Press

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Footnotes

Most references and quotes in English are provided in text but quotes in original languange are footnoted for verification. All translations from French and Dutch are by the author. The author acknowledges the support of the Fonds québécois de la recherche sur la sociéte et la culture (FQRSC) He also thanks Grace Skogstad and the anonymous reviews of this Journal for their comments and suggestions.