The interplay between collective memory and the erosion of nation states – the paradigmatic case of Belgium: Introduction to the special issue

Abstract

The main goal of the special issue on 'the interplay between collective memory and the erosion of nation states: The paradigmatic case of Belgium' is to examine the erosion of the Belgian State as an exemplary illustration of the way memories of past events can influence current attitudes, emotions, representations and behaviours. We believe that the recent political crisis in Belgium, with no government for more than one year after the 2010 general elections, could be partly illuminated by the diverging and sometimes contradictory memories each linguistic group (Dutch-vs. French-speakers) in Belgium holds about the past. These issues will be examined through different disciplines from the social sciences and humanities: social psychology, history, psychoanalysis, political sciences, and literature. KeywordsBelgium, collective memory, collective emotions Memory Studies 5(1)Throughout the world, we are currently confronted with the erosion of nation states as independentist or separatist movements question the consensus on national identities. Many explanations for these changes can be put forward. One such explanation may stem from diverging collective memories. Collective memories may play a crucial role in these conflicts as they serve to justify conflicting parties' motives and aspirations. By defining what the nation was, it also projects an image of what it should be (Hilton and Liu, 2008). Thus, political conflicts surrounding the integrity of nation states systematically involve conflict of memories (e.g. Licata et al., 2007;Rosoux, 2004). As we will see below, these conflicts most often include the ignorance -or the rejection -of the other group's memory. Beyond its scientific interest, understanding these conflicts of memories is practical as well: such an understanding may lead to a better understanding of the processes and factors that impede or facilitate the outburst of violence as a result of these mnemonic conflicts. Belgium: Some history and background knowledgeA fruitful strategy for addressing the complex relations between collective memory and political conflicts surrounding the viability of modern nation states involves considering these relations in a specific national context. In this respect, Belgium is a particularly relevant country for examining this question. Independent since 1830 (see Hirst and Fineberg, this issue, for a more extensive historical overview), Belgium is a relatively small (approximately the size of Massachusetts), but densely populated, western European country composed of two main linguistic groups, the French and the Dutch speakers, plus a small German-speaking population. The definition of Belgium as a nation, and identification with this nation, have fuelled debates and conflicts between the two main linguistic groups for decades. The erosion of Belgium's nation state is therefore a long process. From being a purely centralized state at its start in 1830 and until 1970, Belgium became a federal state through a series of steps in which the cultural/lingui...

When collective memories of victimhood fade: Generational evolution of intergroup attitudes and political aspirations in Belgium

“…According to several observers (Luminet et al, ; Vos, ), the mistrust towards the Belgian state and the support for separatism that is present in a significant part of the Dutch‐speaking public opinion are partly rooted in collective memories of past Francophone domination. According to these memories, Dutch speakers were victims of cultural, political and economic oppression from the French‐speaking elites starting from the creation of Belgium in 1830 to the 1960s.…”

“…In political terms, since the fixing of the linguistic border and the promulgation of federalism, northerners retain both large administrative autonomy and important power in the federal state. Because of their numerical majority, the head of the Belgian Government has been a Dutch speaker for the last 40 years (Luminet et al, ). This changed in December 2011 with the appointment of the French‐speaking Elio Di Rupo as Prime Minister (followed by Charles Michel, another French speaker).…”

Insights into the Belgian Linguistic Conflict from a (Social) Psychological Perspective: Introduction to the Special Issue

“…The source of inspiration of the special issue was the above mentioned symposium during which the conveners, Olivier Klein and Bernard Rimé, called on Belgian psychologists to contribute their expertise in areas like “social identity”, “collective memories”, “prejudice, stereotypes, and discrimination”, and “emotions and communication” to the study of the intergroup issues raised by the Belgian linguistic conflict. To a certain extent, this call seems to have been heard (see Luminet et al, 2012 ). We hope this special issue will stand as another step in that direction.…”

“…The latter attitude has led to requests that powers bestowed on the regions (e.g., economy) be transferred to the German-speaking community. Because of its small size and limited contribution to institutional reforms, the German-speaking community has usually been neglected in analyses of the Belgian linguistic conflict (see Luminet et al, 2012 ; Swenden, 2002 ). The article by Asbrock and Van Hiel (this issue) marks a sharp break with this trend.…”

Principled Disagreements: Adhesion to Intergroup Justice Standards in the Context of the Belgian Linguistic Conflict

“…The 6th reform of the state that ensued (voted in Parliament on December 19, 2013) granted more power to the regional entities at the expense of the federal government. Note that, contrary to other regional conflicts, the Belgian linguistic conflict has not witnessed significant episodes of political violence (for more information, see Dumont, 2012, Luminet et al, 2012). …”