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Populism in Belgium The Case of the Flemish Block

Populism in Belgium The Case of the Flemish Block. POL333 Populism and Political Parties. Outline of the presentation. Main aim : the Flemish Block as an example of the ( radical right - wing ) populist political party

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Populism in Belgium The Case of the Flemish Block

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  1. Populism in BelgiumThe Case oftheFlemishBlock POL333 PopulismandPoliticalParties

  2. Outlineofthepresentation • Mainaim: theFlemishBlock as anexampleofthe (radicalright-wing) populistpolitical party • Theoretical background: Mudde`s, Stanley`s approach to populism • Spottingpopulism: manicheanviewofpolitics, antiestablishment appeal, denigrationofelitesandvalorisationofthepeople • Complemented by Mudde`s approach to radicalright (nativism, authoritarianismandpopulism) • Context (politics in Belgium), historyofthe party, itsdiscourse, votersand role ofthe party in thepoliticalsystem

  3. Politics in Belgium • Constitutional monarchy • Parliamentaryregime • Federal polity (so-calledEgmontpact in 1977) – federalinstitutionsaccompanied by communityandregionalones • Proportionalelectoralsystem (nothreshold, open-list, d`Hondt formula, compulsoryvoting) • Party system – party systemdualism (Flanders, Wallonia), socialist, liberal, christiandemocratic, green parties • Anexampleofconsensualdemocracy

  4. HistoryoftheFlemishBlock • Resultofpersonaldefectionof prominent membersofthePeople`s Union (EgmontPact) – FlemishPeople`s Party and Flemish National Party (1978 – electoral alliance Flemish Block, merger party VB, KarelDillen) • Orange Booklet – manifestation of the ideology of the party standing on three pillars: conservatism, secessionist nationalism and solidarism • Independence of Flanders as the main aim of the party • Only modest electoral success in the 80s • Radicalization of the programme of the party in late 80s (anti-establishment appeal + nativism) accompanied by increase of its electoral support (1988 / 18% of votes in local elections in Antwerpen) • National electoral success in 1991 (Black Sunday] followed by further increase of support up to 12% in 2007 (more than 20 % in Flanders)

  5. Party ideology • EconomicallymotivatedFlemish nationalism and separatism • Euroscepticism • Eigen volkeerst! (Own people first!) – againstfrancophoneBelgians, immigrantsandasylumseekersandthepoliticalelite • Arrogant, corrupt, incompetent, irresponsibleandcriminalpoliticians (more critical to leftistpoliticians) • Sovereigntyofthepeopleundermined by thepoliticalandculturalelite (includingjudges, the media, the academia, thechurch, thetradeunions) • Stronganti-immigrantsattitude, welfarechauvinism, againstmulticulturalism, forassimilation/integration (language)

  6. Developmentofthe party • Cordonsanitairas a reaction to thesuccessofthe party in 1991 – not included in nationalgovernments • Internaldivisionofthe party betweentheradicalandthemoderatewing • 2004 – a courtruling on anti-racistanddiscriminationattitudesofthe party; a changeofthenameofthe party to theFlemishInterest (VlaamsBelang) – (questionable) moderationofthe profile ofthe party (personalcontinuity) + move to neo-liberaleconomicpolicies • Accompanied by other „populistfellows“ List DedeckerandWalloonNational Front

  7. Thankyouforyourattention.

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