Articles

Les institutions publiques belges au coeur du conflit linguistique dans l'entre-deux-guerres ou Le nationalisme flamand enquête d'identité politique

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Abstract

This analysis concentrates on the linguistic laws of1921 and 1932 concerning the linguistic statuts of the civil servants, and on their contribution to the quest for political identity of Flanders. It exhibits the real political  signification of the parliamentary debates on unilinguism and bilinguism. This debate is in the same time paradoxical and instructive for the future of the country. The paradox is that the Flemish circles were in favour of the bilinguism of the civil servants (which postulates a unitary conception of the State), and the Frenchspeakings for the other solution (supposing the linguistic duality ofthe civil servants). The unilinguist solution which was decided will certainly f acilitate the federalization of the civil services beginning in the sixties. In fact, every solution was in favour of Flanders: either the bilinguism would increase the number of Flemish civil servants (due to the ignorance of Dutch language by the Frenchspeakings), either the unilinguism would create the bases for Flemish own civil services.

How to Cite:

Delfosse, P., (1997) “Les institutions publiques belges au coeur du conflit linguistique dans l'entre-deux-guerres ou Le nationalisme flamand enquête d'identité politique”, Res Publica 39(3), 357-398. doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/rp.v39i3.18582