Historically, in Belgium, why did the Dutch speaking people of Flander...
Reasons for Delayed Economic Development in Flanders
There are several reasons for the delayed economic development in Flanders compared to the Walloon Region in Belgium:
1. Industrial Revolution: The Walloon Region experienced the Industrial Revolution earlier than Flanders due to the presence of coal mines and iron ore deposits. This led to the development of heavy industries like steel and coal mining, which provided employment opportunities and boosted the economy.
2. Language Barrier: The language barrier between Flanders (Dutch speaking) and Wallonia (French speaking) made it difficult for Flanders to attract foreign investment and participate in international trade.
3. Political Fragmentation: Belgium was politically fragmented until the 19th century, with Flanders and Wallonia being governed separately. This led to a lack of coordination and cooperation between the regions, which hampered economic development.
4. Lack of Infrastructure: Flanders lacked the infrastructure required for economic development, such as roads, railways, and ports. This made it difficult to transport goods and raw materials, and hindered the growth of industries.
5. Discrimination: The Walloon Region received more investment and support from the government compared to Flanders. This discrimination led to a lack of investment in Flanders, which further delayed economic development.
In conclusion, the delayed economic development in Flanders compared to the Walloon Region was due to a combination of factors, including the late arrival of the Industrial Revolution, language barriers, political fragmentation, lack of infrastructure, and discrimination.
Historically, in Belgium, why did the Dutch speaking people of Flander...
Belgium is a country in Europe with its capital at Brussels. It has three ethnic communities : the French, living in Wallonia region; the Dutch, residing in Flemish region and the Germans, living in the eastern part of the country. The need for power sharing arose in Belgium because of contrasting distribution of population in the capital and the rest of the country. In the capital city of Brussels, French-speaking people are in majority (80% of the population), while in the rest of the country, the Dutch are in majority, constituting about 60% of the population. Also, the minority French population was much richer and educated than the majority Dutch because of which the Dutch people got the benefit of development much later. This created tensions in the country. Hence, in the 1970s, a power-sharing arrangement was chalked out in Belgium so as to accommodate the interests of both the ethnic groups.
The power -sharing arrangement formulated in Belgium is quite complex and innovative. The Belgian leaders recognized the regional differences in the country and tried to give each community its fair share in the country’s governance. The salient features of the power-sharing arrangement in Belgium are as follows:
(i) The number of Dutch and French-speaking ministers in the central government is equal.
(ii) The majority of members from each linguistic group is required with respect to certain special laws that affect a particular community.
(iii) Flemish and Wallonia regions have been given many powers of the central government and they are not subordinate to the central government.
(iii) Flemish and Wallonia regions have been given many powers of the central government and they are not subordinate to the central government.
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