Integration in Flanders (Belgium) – Citizenship as achievement

Abstract

In this article we will show, with Flanders (Belgium) as a concrete case, how intertwined integration and citizenship discourses and policies have become in contemporary super-diverse societies. Flanders is a clear example of how integration is gradually being replaced by virtual or moral citizenship. The fact that (moral) citizenship has replaced integration, has as a consequence that the concept of citizenship has shifted, in a subtle way, from a dynamic and contextualized process, which shapes itself in daily practice through social networks, into ‘citizenship as achievement’. This is an achievement that is the sole responsibility of certain groups in society. It is also an impossible achievement, because some are exempt from it and others will always be perceived as not yet belonging to the category of ‘true citizens’.

Exploring the discrimination–radicalization nexus: empirical evidence from youth and young adults in Belgium

“…This structural marginalization might lead to complete education failures (Blommaert and Van Avermaet 2008). Immigrant youth language ability seems to be intertwined with notions of citizenship and integration within a linguistically divided society (Pulinx and Van Avermaet 2015;Clycq 2016). This is again consistent with the Quebec study, in which Anglophones reported significantly more discrimination than their bilingual or Francophone peers, in a similarly tense context around a language divide (Rousseau et al 2018).…”

De gepaste plaats van de vreemdeling: radicaalrechtse kiezers over integratie: gastheerlogica, moralisering en culturalisering

“…In Vlaanderen kan 2004 als een keerpunt beschouwd worden. Toen werd het onthaalbeleid dat gericht was op (economische) participatie afgelost door een inburgeringsbeleid dat de nadruk legt op de sociaal-culturele aspecten van integratie en inspanningen verwacht van de individuele nieuwkomer op het vlak van Nederlandse taalbeheersing, de kennis van de Vlaamse samenleving en de naleving van democratische waarden (Loobuyck & Jacobs, 2010;Adam, 2013;Pulinx & Van Avermaet, 2015). In de ogen van de radicaalrechtse partij Vlaams Belang gaat deze 'assimilationist revival' echter niet ver genoeg.…”