Vital, Lucky L. 2.
Political
A-114 Pros:
Contemporary World ● EU Influence: Belgium shapes policies like the
Digital Services Act (Europarl, 2023).
Country: Belgium ● Federal Stability: Coalition governance models
compromise for divided societies (Egmont
Belgium serves as a compelling example of the Institute, 2023).
transformationalist perspective on globalization, where Cons:
global forces do not simply erase local identities but ● Populist Rise: Far-right Vlaams Belang gained
reshape and blend them into new, hybrid forms. Its 18% in Flanders’ 2023 polls (VRT News, 2023).
unique federal structure, combining distinct linguistic ● Sovereignty Debates: Flemish nationalists
and cultural regions, adapts continuously to pressures oppose EU migration quotas (Vlaams Belang
from European integration and global economic trends. Manifesto, 2024).
Belgium’s politics, economy, and culture reflect this ●
ongoing transformation: multilevel governance balances 3. Cultural
local autonomy with EU regulations, industries innovate Pros:
by merging traditional sectors with cutting-edge green ● Multilingual Hub: Brussels’ EU translators make
and digital technologies, and multicultural urban centers it a global diplomacy center (FPS Foreign
like Brussels foster diverse, evolving identities. Affairs, 2023).
● Fusion Culture: Congolese-Belgian music genres
1. Politics: Multilevel Governance emerge in Matongé (The Brussels Times, 2022).
● EU Integration: Brussels’ role as the “capital of Cons:
Europe” merges national and supranational ● Language Tensions: Dutch vs. French disputes
governance, with over 80% of Belgian laws persist in Brussels suburbs (Le Soir, 2023).
aligned with EU directives (Eurostat, 2023). ● Integration Gaps: Moroccan-Belgians face
● Federal Compromises: The 2020 "Vivaldi discrimination in Antwerp (Myria, 2023).
Coalition" (liberals, socialists, greens) balances
Flanders’ free-market priorities with Wallonia’s Transformationalist vs. Reality
social welfare demands (The Brussels Times,
2020). Aspect Transformationalist Belgian Reality
Prediction
2. Economics: Hybrid Industrial Models Economics Green/digital sectors Flanders adapts
● Green Tech: Flanders’ ports are transitioning to thrive alongside faster; Wallonia
hydrogen hubs using EU Green Deal funds traditional ones lags (IWEPS,
(Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship [VLAIO], 2023)
2023).
Politics Federal-EU hybrid Populist parties
● Digital Innovation: Leuven’s AI cluster (Imec + KU
stabilizes governance gain ground
Leuven) blends global tech trends with local R&D (VRT News,
(KU Leuven, 2023). 2023)
● Example: Agfa-Gevaert shifted from
photography to solar panel coatings, reflecting Culture Multilingualism Language
global green demand (Agfa-Gevaert becomes a global disputes persist
asset (Le Soir, 2023)
Sustainability Report, 2023).
3. Culture: Multilingual Cosmopolitanism Conclusion
● Brussels’ Identity: The city’s 40% foreign-born Belgium’s globalization blends EU integration
population fosters a “Euro-African” culture (e.g., with local identity, fostering innovation but risking
Matongé district) (Brussels Studies Institute, regional divides. Success hinges on balancing federal
2022). compromises with global trends (Egmont Institute,
● Festivals: Ghent’s "Gentse Feesten" mixes global 2023).
music with Flemish traditions (City of Ghent,
2023). References
● Egmont Institute (2023):
Expected Outcomes
https://www.egmontinstitute.be
1. Economic
● European Commission (2023):
Pros:
https://ec.europa.eu
● Green Leadership: Belgium could dominate
● Eurostat (2023): https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat
hydrogen tech with EU funding (European
● IWEPS (2023): https://www.iweps.be/en
Commission, 2023).
● KU Leuven (2023): https://www.kuleuven.be
● Digital Growth: Leuven’s AI cluster may rival
● Le Soir (2023): https://www.lesoir.be
Silicon Valley in healthcare tech (Imec, 2023).
● Myria (2023): https://www.myria.be/en
Cons:
● VLAIO (2023): https://www.vlaio.be/english
● Regional Inequality: Wallonia’s GDP lags
● VRT News (2023): https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/en
Flanders’ by 30% (IWEPS, 2023).
● Job Polarization: Automation risks outpacing
reskilling (OECD Belgium Survey, 2024).
