Beyond ‘should they stay, or should they go?’ The management of contested statues in Flanders from an evolutionary governance perspective

In light of global movements targeting contested monuments, this study explores the management of colonial-era statues in Flanders, Belgium, through the lens of Evolutionary Governance Theory (EGT). While international ‘urban fallism’ has catalyzed public debate and policy shifts, Flemish municipalities display a notably restrained approach towards contested statues. This paper investigates whether societal discussions on colonial heritage and urban fallism translate into institutional change in heritage management at the municipal level. Based on a qualitative case analysis of Flemish municipalities and interviews with local policy actors, the research reveals a largely reactive, ad-hoc governance approach. Most local governments exhibit reluctance to address colonial statues unless provoked by external pressure or public unrest, with only a few urban municipalities showing signs of adaptive and participatory heritage policies. A co-evolutionary perspective uncovers the complex interdependencies between societal discourse, political steering and institutional inertia, offering insights into the challenges of effectuating heritage policy change. While debates may serve as catalysts, they seldom result in structural policy transformation. Based on our data set collected up to 2022, the paper concludes by arguing for more adaptive, participatory governance frameworks that acknowledge both local contingencies and broader sociopolitical dynamics, thereby shifting the conversation beyond the binary of whether statues should simply ‘stay or go’.