Geographical features of social differentiation of contemporary belgian society

Abstract

A distinctive feature of the social differentiation of the Belgian society is the coexistence of two opposing processes: pillarisation and depillarisation. Pillarisation is a kind of political and social structure of the nation characterized by its division into several pillars (zuilen), inside of which most social contacts are concentrated. Depillarisation as the opposite process first appeared in Belgium in the 1970s. Pillarisation of the Belgian society is connected with the lack of strong centralization of power due to historical and geographical features of the country’s formation and polycentric spatial and administrative structure. Specifics of pillarization in Belgium is its imposition on the 200-year-old confl ict between northern and southern parts of the country. The main reasons of depillarisation are secularization, individualistic type of society, privatization and the evolution of migration. But despite the Belgians desire to minimize the influence of pillarisation, the system of pillars is still having an impact on people’s daily life. In Wallonia the traditional dominance of the Socialist Party persists, as well as fairly close connection between organizations associated themselves with French-speaking socialist pillar. At the same time in Flanders people tend to eradicate every reminder of pillarisation, although the pillars are still alive in their minds. The authors are inclined to believe that there is a possibility of a new phase of pillarisation’s intensifi cation in Belgium but political preferences will no longer play the decisive role as they used to before. The reasons are the increase of nationalist spirits and the loss of trust among the electorate to the three traditional parties.