thumb|right|300px|[[Flag of Flanders]]

Flanders is both a cultural community and an economic region within the Belgian state, and has significant autonomy.

Historically, the contemporary Flemish community (or nation, as some Flemings see it) grew out of the Catholic southern part of the medieval XVII provinces of the Low Countries. The contemporary Belgian Flanders area was divided within several feudal states. The most important states were the County of Flanders (except for its southernmost areas), the southern part of the Duchy of Brabant (except for the area around Nivelles) and the northern part of the Bishopric of Liège. Most of these states were united from 1384 to 1530 under the Burgundian Netherlands.

Between 1945 and 1973, Flanders and the greater Belgium experienced both economic and political changes; "Flanders especially benefited from this time of explosive growth, though they still had greater numbers of unemployed than ... Wallonia...."

Today, the Flemish community has a significant amount of political autonomy. Its institutions include the Flemish Parliament and a Flemish Government, both institutions of the region and community, with legislative powers for most matters and prescribed by the Belgian constitution. Residual powers rest with the federal layer, the Belgian Parliament and Government, or on the European layer (European Union).

In the 21st century, there was greater tension among the constituent linguistic parts of Belgium.

Political system

Flanders is a part of the Belgian federal parliamentary representative democratic monarchy, which itself is part of the European Union. The political system in Flanders has an executive branch, the Flemish Government and a representative branch, the Flemish Parliament. The King of the Belgians, is the Head of State.

The parties

Representative political parties

Following parties have consistent presence in the Flemish parliament:

  • Christian-Democratic and Flemish (Christen-Democratisch en Vlaams)
  • Flemish Interest (Vlaams Belang)
  • Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats (Open Vlaamse Liberalen en Democraten)
  • Green (Groen)
  • List Dedecker (Lijst Dedecker)
  • New-Flemish Alliance (Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie)
  • Forward (Vooruit)

Parties without representation in the Flemish Parliament

  • Belgische Unie/Union Belge (Belgian Union)
  • Committee for Another Policy (Comité voor een Andere Politiek)
  • Left Socialist Party (Linkse Socialistische Partij)
  • Liberaal Appèl (Liberal Appeal)
  • Vivant—part of the alliance VLD/VIVANT
  • VLOTT—part of the alliance VB/VLOTT

See also

  • Politics of Belgium, Politics of Brussels, Politics of Wallonia
  • Greater Netherlands

References