Pacifying National Majorities in the Brussels Capital Region: What About the Immigrant Minority Groups?
The process of state reform and devolution has put recognition of cultural-linguistic diversity on the foreground as the guiding principle for (representation in) Belgian political life. The (new) constitution, indeed, clearly departs from the postulate of a ‘multination state’1 and recognises the rights of (partial) self-determination of those groups which are seen to be the constitutive elements for the Belgian nation2. The constitution states that the Flemish, Francophone and Germanophone groups are the fundamental cultural communities of Belgium. This postulate then serves as the basis for organisation of the entire Belgian political field. The Flemish-Francophone divide, however, clearly constitutes the central political axis. Belgium is, however, not only officially built out of three Communities (a Dutch speaking (=Flemish), French speaking and German speaking community), it is also officially the sum of three territorial entities, the so-called Regions (Flanders, Wallonia and the Region of Brussels-Capital). The Regions and Communities have specific political competencies. The Regions have jurisdiction over so-called 'space-bounded' matters
Multinational and polyethnic politics entwined: Minority representation in the region of Brussels-Capital
During the 1990s, issues of immigrant entry and equity have increasingly become intertwined with the dominant political cleavage that exists between Dutch- and French-speaking Belgians and with related claims for group-differentiated rights. This is particularly the case in the bilingual region of Brussels-Capital where both the Flemish and the Francophone community have jurisdiction and where 30 per cent of the inhabitants are non-nationals. Political incorporation of the foreign population into the polity could tip the power balance between the national communities. The issue of minority representation has thus become a rather contentious issue. This article examines how these multinational and polyethnic politics are increasingly interlocked.
Les élus d'origine étrangère à Bruxelles : une nouvelle étape de la participation politique des populations d'origine immigrée
Los politicos de origen extranjero en Bruselas : una nueva etapa de la participacion politica de las problaciones de origen inmigrado. Marco Martiniello. Este articulo examina la cuestion de la representacion de las poblaciones de origen inmigrado y de las personas de origen extranjero que desempenan un cargo en los consejos comunales de las diecinueve comunas de Bruselas, asi como en el Parlamento de la region de Bruselas-capital. La primera parte presenta los elementos principales del contexto social y politico, en el que emergen estos temas de estudio y los debates suscitados. La segunda parte considera desde un punto de vista cuantitativo, la representacion de las poblaciones surgidas de la inmigracion en las instituciones politicas locales y regionales de Bruselas, asi como las precauciones metodologicas que se imponen. La tercera parte se basa en una serie de entrevistas con los politicos locales y regionales de origen marroqui y tunecino. Su perfil sociologico y su itinerario politico se trazan, con el fin de comprender como perciben ellos mismos su papel y su posicion, tanto en el sistema politico belga, como en relacion con la poblacion de origen inmigrado. En la conclusion se propondran algunas reflexiones de caracter parcialmente prospectivo sobre la participacion y la incorporacion politicas en una sociedad belga en plena mutacion.