The politics of Belgium: Institutions and policy under bipolar and centrifugal federalism

Brans, Marleen; Winter, Lieven De; Swenden, Wilfried

doi:10.1080/01402380600968729

Cited by 43 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 1 publication

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“…The first relevant level comprises the employment policies of the three regions within the federal state of Belgium (Flemish, Walloon and Brussels-Capital Region). As a result of five state reforms beginning in the early 1970s (for an overview see Swenden et al, 2006) many policy domains, including vocational training, have been delegated to the regions and their agencies (Swenden et al, 2006). These reforms result in the creation of regional training bodies (public as well as private), regional incentives to promote vocational training of some target groups or regional training cheques for companies.…”

Section: Sub-national Levels In Belgiummentioning

confidence: 99%

When do social actors shape sub-national employment policies? Case study evidence from four multinationals in Belgium

Dekocker

2016

Economic and Industrial Democracy

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There is an ongoing debate in business and industrial relations literature regarding the role of social actors in shaping employment policies in multinational companies. However, less attention has been given to how sub-national employment levels are shaped by social actors within multinational companies. This article contributes to that question by investigating the conditions under which social actors engage in the development of regional employment policies, inter-firm employment policies and company-specific policies. Based on four case studies of multinational companies with different subsidiaries in Belgium, the study reveals that social actors shape these employment policies in line with their employment aims where they have access to sub-national resources. Furthermore, high levels of entrepreneurship were found if sub-national resources were available at multiple complementary sub-national levels. The availability of these resources is dependent on the specific historical development of each of these sub-national levels.

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Section: Sub-national Levels In Belgiummentioning

confidence: 99%

When do social actors shape sub-national employment policies? Case study evidence from four multinationals in Belgium

Dekocker

2016

Economic and Industrial Democracy

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“…Moreover, the linguistic split of political parties multiplies intra-case research. In Flanders, the party system is highly fragmented (Swenden et al, 2009) between the three traditional political parties (Christian Democrats (CD&V), Liberals (OpenVLD), and Socialists (Sp.a)), the Greens (Groen! ), Flemish-nationalists (N-VA), the radical right (VB), and the right-wing populists (LDD).…”

Section: Divided and Multi-level Belgiummentioning

confidence: 99%

Beyond linguistic and party homogeneity

Dodeigne

Gramme²,

Reuchamps

et al. 2014

Party Politics

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Political parties are often thought of as unitary actors that have consistent preferences. This 'hidden assumption' means that heterogeneity within parties, and therefore intra-party dynamics, are overlooked in explaining attitudes. When it comes to devolution and federalisation, parties or MPs belonging to the same region are also often implicitly considered to have homogeneous viewpoints and attitudes. Relying on an original survey of MPs carried out during the Belgian political gridlock of 2010-2011, this article uncovers some of the key dimensions of the intra-party dynamics through analysis of MPs' preferences towards institutional reform in Belgium. Far from being explained along party or community lines, our results demonstrate how MPs' political and sociological background, national/regional identity, political career, and intercommunity relations strongly shape their preferences.

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“…Policy domains became decentralized because no consensus could be reached between the parties involved at the national level (Witte, 2011). This decentralization results in the lessening of conflicts at the national or federal level (Swenden, Brans & De Winter, 2006).…”

Section: Belgium As a Small But Complex Countrymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This is particular to federal states, where regional governments have exclusive responsibility for some policy domains (Swenden at al., 2006). In Belgium, the regions together with the communities are mainly responsible for the organization of vocational training and other policy areas such as economic policy, regional aspects of credit policy, or external trade.…”

Section: Localmentioning

confidence: 99%

The National Business System and Its Applications: Reflections from the Belgian Experience

Dekocker¹,

Pulignano²,

Léonard³

et al. 2012

IBR

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MNCs exercise control across borders by transferring employment practices to their subsidiaries. By drawing from "national business system" some studies indicate home-and host-country effects as mediating the transfer. Accordingly, institutional variance is national specific. However, sub-national institutions as well as local actors' strategies are equally important. In the paper we originally use the concept of "institutional entrepreneurship" to illustrate how coordination mechanisms to mediate the transfer can be created beyond the national borders. Based on the Belgian case, we individuate three levels at which these coordination mechanisms operate: the region, the firm and the inter-firm.

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The politics of Belgium: Institutions and policy under bipolar and centrifugal federalism

Cited by 43 publications

References 1 publication

When do social actors shape sub-national employment policies? Case study evidence from four multinationals in Belgium

When do social actors shape sub-national employment policies? Case study evidence from four multinationals in Belgium

Beyond linguistic and party homogeneity

The National Business System and Its Applications: Reflections from the Belgian Experience

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