Unequal Economic Development at the Origin of the Federalization Process

Abstract

Unequal economic development in Belgium is often reduced to a mere change in the economic fortunes of Flanders and Wallonia. This image is then used to explain the federalization process. A closer look at the economic development of Flanders and Wallonia, in its relation to the geography of demographic changes, yields a more complex process consisting of three stages. Nevertheless, this very process created different political hegemonies north and south of the linguistic frontier. This explains why unequal economic development was perceived in terms of Flanders and Wallonia and why this perception was politically effective. The present chapter gives a description of this unequal development and points to the geographical basis of the two political hegemonies.