Belgium’s Political System: Societal Fractures & Elections
Belgian Political Culture and System
Belgium is a segmented society characterized by three main fractures:
- Religious: Separating Catholics and freethinkers. Since the 1950s, this fracture has diminished in importance due to secularization.
- Socio-economic: The class divide, originating from conflicts during the Industrial Revolution (labor-capital conflict).
- Ethno-linguistic: Separating Flanders and Wallonia. This has been the most influential fracture conditioning Belgian politics in recent decades.
Societal Fractures in Belgium
Historically, Wallonia held a position of superiority, characterized traditionally as more liberal, less religious, and culturally more dynamic than Flanders. Until the mid-twentieth century, Wallonia was also the most economically developed region, a position it subsequently lost to Flanders. This shift favored the development and electoral success of the Flemish nationalist movement, demanding greater regional autonomy. Meeting these demands resulted in the federalization of the Belgian State.
Political Participation Dynamics
The use of consociational practices, aimed at countering the disintegrating effects of societal fractures, influences citizen participation. Political and social elites negotiate on behalf of their respective subcultures, seeking agreements to resolve conflicts. Although voter turnout is high (voting is compulsory) and political party membership is significant, this doesn’t automatically indicate high levels of activism. These characteristics are currently changing. In the last decade, criticism of the political system has grown significantly, fueled partly by several corruption cases. It remains unclear whether these critical attitudes will translate into increased participation or a wider gap between citizens and politics.
Elections and Voting Behavior
Belgium holds federal elections across multiple levels of governance using a proportional representation system.
Historical Voting Patterns
Until the late 1960s, during the peak of pillarization (organizational development of societal segments), voting behavior was characterized by parties mobilizing members within their respective subcultures rather than competing intensely for votes across subcultures.
Modern Electoral Trends
Economic and social transformations, along with progressive secularization, led to more fluid electoral competition. Since the late 1960s, the politicization of the ethno-nationalist divide has increased, alongside the significant growth of the post-materialist fracture. Parties associated with these newer fractures have benefited from changing values among new generations and the declining ability of traditional parties to retain voter loyalty. This reflects new interests and new approaches to politics, with increased federalization as a key outcome. Currently, there is growing instability in the link between parties and citizens, with diminishing influence from traditional social class or religious affiliations.
Post-1999 Election Landscape
In the 1999 elections, the liberal political family surpassed the other two traditional party families (Christian Democrats and Socialists), highlighting the continuing decline of traditional parties. Consociationalism faces criticism, and corruption cases are often linked to a political style emphasizing consensus and compromise among elites, sometimes perceived as lacking robust public debate and active citizen participation. Parties advocating post-materialist values (such as environmental parties) or representing the far-right saw an increase in votes. Liberal parties grew, as did the far-right in Flanders and environmentalist parties in Wallonia and Brussels. Following these elections, governments were formed in each of the three regions and at the federal level. Liberals were present in all resulting coalitions, but signs of asymmetry emerged. While parties aim for representation across different government levels, each level is developing its own dynamics, potentially leading to greater future imbalances.