Flanders was well known for its textile sector, and became a major exporter of textile goods. However it became outshined during the industrial revolution by the incredible peak of Wallonia’s economy.

While Wallonia’s economy grew, its Flemish counterpart started having slower growth rates in output and yielded decreasing levels of benefit. Its inflection point came when Wallonia’s economy started its downfall.

Flanders was able to adapt to change and technological evolution, and managed to take the reins of Belgian economy. Its rise to power began with the transition to Service economies. As strategic planning and communication infrastructure began taking importance in the business world, Flanders was considered as a key localization for trade.

 

This has to do with Belgian geography more than with the economic progress of its regions. Flanders is located in an area which favors the movement of people and goods. Its terrain is plane which allows for great terrestrial transport; its shore gives access to the North sea, and for that reason the region of Flanders has four of the most influential harbors in Western Europe (Antwerp; Ghent; Zeebrugge; Ostend).

 

 

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The previous photo clearly shows that the region of Flanders is closer to sea level and less mountainous than the region of Wallonia, which geographically coincides with the Ardennes.

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This strategic location has attracted foreign multinationals, something which has helped improve Flemish economy vastly. Since Belgium’s economy is focused on the production of semi-finished goods, Flanders’ main activities are: the chemical sector, the automobile sector, and the aforementioned textile sector.

 

 

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IMAGES:

1. Jacobsen, R., Willeghems, G., Gellynck, X., & Buysse, J. (2014, April). Figure 1. Retrieved from Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Map-of-Belgium-Flanders-is-the-northern-part_fig1_263285449
2. Ginkgomaps. (n.d.). Belgium. Retrieved from Ginkgo Maps: http://www.ginkgomaps.com/maps_belgium.html

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

1. Berentsen, W. H., Danta, D., Diem, A., Hoffman, G., Malmström, V., Poulsen, T. M., . . . ZumBrunnen, C. (2000). Bélgica. In W. H. Berentsen, D. Danta, A. Diem, G. Hoffman, V. Malmström, T. M. Poulsen, . . . C. ZumBrunnen, Europa Contemporánea: Un análisis geográfico (pp. 345-354). Barcelona: Ediciones Omega, S.A.

 

 

 

 

Belgium was one of the countries which, with Britain, initiated the industrialization process. Since it industrialized so fast, Belgium had periods of great economic growth before World War One and during the interwar period.

This was mainly reflected in the economic development of the region of Wallonia. It became a structural pillar of Belgian economy, since the region had most of the materials necessary for the industrial sector to prosper, such as coal, glass and steel mines.

 

(Coal miners in Wallonia XIXth century. Photo: Rosewood Scrub Historical Society. Picture Ipswich, Ipswich City Council).

 

 

However, the substitution of coal by other energy sources such as petrol, initiated the downfall of Wallonia. Wallonia ceased to be the hub of Belgian trade, leaving the road free to other areas such as Flanders.

Nowadays, it has progressed thanks to EU aids, its capacity to attract foreign companies, and the evolution of the axis composed by the cities of Charleroi, Namur, and Liège (Charleroi-Namur-Liège). Out of these three we should highlight the city of Charleroi and the evolution of the area surrounding the Aeropole airport.

Nonetheless, in a world of constant evolution and change, having a great initial phase of progress does not guarantee eternal economic growth. The previous conditions considered as  prosperity warranting have become outdated and archaic. If one does not adapt to the modern world, it will be replaced by those who do.

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IMAGE:

1. Mattes-Harris, A. (2010, November 11). Proud legacy of Queensland’s coal mining heyday. Retrieved from Dvision 10 News: https://councillordavidpahlkenews.com/2010/11/11/proud-legacy-of-queenslands-coal-mining-heyday-2/

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

1. Berentsen, W. H., Danta, D., Diem, A., Hoffman, G., Malmström, V., Poulsen, T. M., . . . ZumBrunnen, C. (2000). Bélgica. In W. H. Berentsen, D. Danta, A. Diem, G. Hoffman, V. Malmström, T. M. Poulsen, . . . C. ZumBrunnen, Europa Contemporánea: Un análisis geográfico (pp. 345-354). Barcelona: Ediciones Omega, S.A.

 

 

Like most European countries, Belgium initiated a colonization process during the reign of Leopold II, which resulted in the colonization of three African territories: The Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi. They all reached their independence throughout the 1960’s.

 

                                     (Johnson, 2018)            (ThoughtCo.com; Newsela, 2017)

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Belgium’s Colonial Possesions

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Looking back, we can say that Belgium treated its colonies in a very paternalistic manner. It took advantage of these territories for economic purposes given the vast amount of raw materials that could be found there.

We will now speak of the colonization and decolonization of The Congo, which was the most relevant colony of Belgium. Its independence affected Belgium politically and economically.

In spite of the fact that some African and Asiatic colonies had initiated a decolonization process, The Congo’s independence was something unforeseen by Belgium. The reason for this was that Belgium and The Congo had a narrow economic relationship. Despite that, the Belgian government had not taken care of the social needs of its citizens (as an example, we can talk about their educational needs; very few citizens were schooled), which led to their wish for independence.

In 1956, the Movement National Congolaise was created. Its main objective was the independence of The Congo. In 1960, a meeting was set in Brussels in order to establish elections in The Congo and allow for the independence of the colony. Its outcome was the presidency of Kasavubu and the establishment of Lumumba as Prime Minister.

   

                                       (Public Domain)                    (Black History Heroes, 2011)

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Movement National Congolaise flag and its leader: Prime Minister Lumumba

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The ministry of Lumumba was very important for the History of The Congo. During the time he was in office the country started dividing itself, with the creation of independent regions such as Katanga and Zaire. Lumumba, however fought for a unified Congo. He was killed for that reason.

Nowadays, Burundi and Rwanda exist as independent States. The Congo, which later turned into Zaire, is now known as The Democratic Republic of Congo. It must not be confused with its neighboring territory, the Republic of the Congo, which previously was a French colony. In this article we have only talked about the Belgian colony.

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IMAGES:

1. Black History Heroes. (2011, February). Patrice Émery Lumumba: First Prime Minister of the Congo. Retrieved from Black History Heroes: http://www.blackhistoryheroes.com/2011/02/patrice-lumumba-first-prime-minister-of.html
2. ThoughtCo.com; Newsela. (2017, October 24). Belgian Colonialism in Africa. Retrieved from NEWSELA: https://mrquesinberry.weebly.com/uploads/8/8/5/0/88505898/lib-belgian-colonialism_-_grade_8.pdf
3. Johnson, B. (2018, April 26). Why Are There Two Congos in Africa. Retrieved from ThoughtCo.: https://www.thoughtco.com/why-two-congos-in-africa-3555011

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

1. Witte, E., Craeybeckx, J., & Meynen, A. (2009). Decolonisation, Relations with Zaïre-Congo and Foreign Affairs. In J. Craeybeckx, & A. Meynen, Political History of Belgium From 1830 Onwards (pp. 393-396; 399-400). Brussels: Academic and Scientific Publishers nv.

WEBGRAPHY:

1. TeleSUR – HR. (2018, June 30). Se cumplen 58 años de la independencia del Congo. Retrieved December 2018, from TeleSUR HD: https://www.telesurtv.net/news/independencia-congo-belga-aniversario-20180630-0006.html
2. Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre. (2018, September 25). Crisis del Congo. Retrieved November 2018, from Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crisis_del_Congo
3. Wikipedia,la enciclopedia libre. (2018, December 5). Congo Belga. Retrieved December 2018, from Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congo_Belga

 

 

The unity of Belgium has been put to question by several affairs. One of them, and perhaps the most important one, is the linguistic issue. Belgium is a State which has a vast cultural diversity. This is reflected in the several languages which are spoken inside its territory (German, French and Dutch).

 

 

                         (Jansson, 2016)                        (Encyclopædia Britannica, 2018)

As we can see, according to the graph obtained from Britannica, practically half of the population speaks Flemish or Dutch, 36.4 percent French, and only around 1% of the population speaks German, which makes sense, given the small size of the German-speaking part of Belgium. Other languages are spoken in Belgium, the most important one being Luxembourgish, which is spoken in the area of Wallonia which borders with the County of Luxembourg (the State), which is also called the region of Luxembourg.

This linguistic diversity has been the source of many conflicts. It mainly originated with the fact that French was, for a long time, the only official language of the country. Those regions of Belgium which did not speak French were thought to have a lower social status.

The constant rejection of Flemish identity and the Dutch language led to a very separated Belgium. Society started splitting into completely separate social structures.

By the time Dutch started the path of officialization (at the end of the XIX th century), it was too late to mend historical differences. Walloons kept rejecting the establishment of Dutch at an official level, partly because of the social division, and partly because they felt threatened. While the Flemish had been forced to acquire knowledge of both languages, Walloons had never felt the need to learn Dutch. This could allow Flanders’ inhabitants to have better access to administrative positions.

Although the evolution of the linguistic conflict has seen different periods, the crucial event was the modification of the Constitution of 1831 (for further information see: 3.2. BELGIUM: FROM CENTRALIZATION TO DECENTRALIZATION.).

Nowadays, the federalization of Belgium has distanced linguistic communities even more, through the delegation of competences and the decentralization of the Belgian government.

This video explains why Belgium is so divided.

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IMAGES:

1. Jansson, B. (2016, December 27). What is Wallonia? Belgium’s Unusual Federal System. Retrieved from Political Geography Now: https://www.polgeonow.com/2016/12/what-is-wallonia-in-belgium.html
2. . Encyclopædia Britannica. (2018, December 3). Ethnic groups and languages. (Britannica, Encyclopædia) Retrieved December 2018, from Encyclopædia Britannica:                                                  https://www.britannica.com/place/Belgium/Ethnic-groups-and-languages

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

1. Benz, W., Graml, H., Henke, K.-D., Loth, W., Raulff, H., Robel, G., & Woller, H. (1986). Los Estados del Benelux. In W. Benz, H. Graml, K.-D. Henke, W. Loth, H. Raulff, G. Robel, & H. Woller, Historia Universal Siglo XX: el siglo XX; II. Europa después de la segunda guerra mundial 1945-1982. Tomo 1 (pp. 150-154). España: Siglo XXI de España Editores, S.A.

2. Berentsen, W. H., Danta, D., Diem, A., Hoffman, G., Malmström, V., Poulsen, T. M., . . . ZumBrunnen, C. (2000). Bélgica. In W. H. Berentsen, D. Danta, A. Diem, G. Hoffman, V. Malmström, T. M. Poulsen, . . . C. ZumBrunnen, Europa Contemporánea: Un análisis geográfico (pp. 345-354). Barcelona: Ediciones Omega, S.A.

WEBGRAPHY:

1. Escuela de Periodismo UAM – El País. (2012, December 17). Flandes y Valonia: un matrimonio que no se separa por los hijos. Retrieved from El País: https://elpais.com/elpais/2012/12/31/masterdeperiodismo/1355227676_045611.html

The scholar debate has no clear beginning, but it defined the political evolution of Belgium during the XX th century.

During the postwar period, the need to educate society resulted in the creation of more schools. However, these schools were predominantly Catholic. The Liberals, who supported the creation of more public schools, challenged the Catholic government of the time (which governed from 1884 to 1950).

This tension started what are commonly called ‘Guerre Scolaires’, or School Wars. The dispute between whether schools should be of  Catholic or Public nature agitated the Belgian public. The First School War lasted from 1879 to 1884, while the Second School War lasted from 1950 to 1959.

In 1954, this problem heightened. The Belgian government was now composed mainly of Socialists and Liberals. This government tried to establish a law (the ‘Loi collard’) which put the Catholic Church at an economic disadvantage through the reduction of State aid to Catholic schools, and the construction of more public schools.     

 

The Catholic population showed their discontent through two civil demonstrations ( one in 1955 and another in 1958) of large attendance.

 

The conflict was solved with the ‘Pacte Scolaire’ of 1958. In hindsight, we can conclude that this Pact benefited the Catholics, who nowadays have a greater share of students in their schools. It also  recognized both education systems in an official  government  document.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY:

1. Benz, W., Graml, H., Henke, K.-D., Loth, W., Raulff, H., Robel, G., & Woller, H. (1986). Los Estados del Benelux. In W. Benz, H. Graml, K.-D. Henke, W. Loth, H. Raulff, G. Robel, & H. Woller, Historia Universal Siglo XX: el siglo XX; II. Europa después de la segunda guerra mundial 1945-1982. Tomo 1 (pp. 150-154). España: Siglo XXI de España Editores, S.A.

2. Varin, Caroline, ‘Education in a federal system: A case-study of Belgium’ 17 April 2006. CUREJ: College Undergraduate Research Electronic Journal, University of Pennsylvania, http://repository.upenn.edu/curej/24.

 

As of today, Belgium is ‘a federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy’. For that reason, Belgian monarchy and succession was very relevant throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. (Doucy, et al., 2018)

Among all of the reigns, the most notable was Leopold III’s. It gave way to a conflict among Belgian society, which had political and economic consequences due to its magnitude, and which concluded in the sudden abdication of the King. 

In order to explain it properly, we have to take a proper look at the political tendencies underlying  in the different regions of Belgium. The two most important ideological tendencies during these period were the inclinations of Flanders and Wallonia.

The Flemish, while considered as socially inferior to some Walloons, were more inclined to monarchy than them. That is why, when the conflict arose, they sided with Leopold III, even if in the end, they started parting from this idea.

The Walloons, though economically better off, and therefore regarded as a higher social class in ample terms,  however, opposed to Leopold III as soon as the conflict took place. This is because Walloons have had less links with Belgian monarchy, sharing roots with their French neighbors, were monarchy was unsuccessful and a Republic was established after the French Revolution.

The dispute arose within the context of the german occupation in the Second World War. Leopold argued that Belgium had to remain in a neutral position during World War Two. because the State had always been known for its position of neutrality during conflicts.

For this reason, the government started suspecting that he sympathized with Hitler’s Germany. The government wanted him to allow France and other Allies to pass through Belgian territory and to allow Belgium to aid other Allies, since it was under german occupation. However, he refused and the government believed that this went against Belgium’s Constitution.

His popularity among Belgian society started to fall, specially after his marriage with Lilian Baels (very shortly after the death of the beloved Queen Astrid or Astrid of Sweden) which was looked down upon by Flemish society. Nonetheless, he started gaining respect during his period of German captivity  and his posterior exile in Sweden.

 

               (Biografías y Vidas)    (Public domain)      (Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, 2017)

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From left to right: King Leopold III; Astrid of Sweden; Princess Lilian Baels.

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After World War Two, a referendum took place in 1950 in order to decide whether the King came back or not. It concluded with the return of Leopold III. This was thanks to the support of Flanders’ population, which remained loyal.

However, the conflict was left unresolved. Tension started to increase; Belgians went out to the streets, and in order to end with this situation, the King abdicated in 1951, leaving the throne to his son Baudouin.

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IMAGES:

1. Biografías y Vidas. (n.d.). Leopoldo III. Retrieved from Biografías y Vidas: https://www.biografiasyvidas.com/biografia/l/leopoldo_iii.htm
2. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (2017, July 27). Lilian, Princess of Réthy. Retrieved from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lilian,_Princess_of_R%C3%A9thy#/media/File:Lilian_baels.png

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

1. Benz, W., Graml, H., Henke, K.-D., Loth, W., Raulff, H., Robel, G., & Woller, H. (1986). Los Estados del Benelux. In W. Benz, H. Graml, K.-D. Henke, W. Loth, H. Raulff, G. Robel, & H. Woller, Historia Universal Siglo XX: el siglo XX; II. Europa después de la segunda guerra mundial 1945-1982. Tomo 1 (pp. 150-154). España: Siglo XXI de España Editores, S.A.

CITED WORKS:

1. Doucy, A. J., Van der Wee, H. F., Lamberts, E. L., Van Molle, L., Murphy, A. B., & Materné, J. M. (2018, December 3). Belgium. Retrieved from Encyclopedia Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/place/Belgium

WEBGRAPHY:

1. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (2018, December 1). Royal Question. Retrieved from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Question

2. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (2018, December 1). Leopold III of Belgium. Retrieved from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopold_III_of_Belgium