Problem or Tensions between French and Dutch Communities


 
 
Concept Explanation
 

Problem or Tensions between French and Dutch Communities

Problems/Tensions Between the French and Dutch Communities: The social disparity (Lack of similarity or equality; inequality) between Dutch and French-speaking communities during the 1950s and 1960s led to tensions between them. This tension was more acute in Brussels with a special problem. It was that the Dutch-speaking people constituted a majority in the country, but a minority in the capital.Accommodation in Belgium: The Belgian leaders took a different path by recognising the existence of regional differences and cultural diversities of the country. Between 1970s and 1993, the Constitution of Belgium was amended four times. Following are the arrangements which the Belgian leaders work out to enable everyone to live together within the same country:- 

  • The Constitution prescribes that the number of Dutch and French-speaking ministers shall be equal in the Central Government. Some special laws require the support of majority members from each linguistic group. Thus, no single community can make decisions unilaterally.
  • The State Governments are not subordinate to the Central Government. More powers of the Central Government have been given to the State Governments of two regions of the country. -
  • Brussels has a separate government, in which both the Dutch and French-speaking people have equal representation. The French-speaking people have accepted this because majority has accepted equal representation at central level.
  • Apart from the central and the State Government, there is a third kind of government i.e. ‘Community Government’. It is elected by people belonging to one language community—Dutch, French and German- speaking, no matter where they live. The government has the power regarding cultural, educational and language related issues.
  • Belgian model has worked well so far which avoided civic strife between two major communities and country remains united. Brussels was chosen as the headquarters of the European Union from the very beginning.

     
     


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