(Sub)national identification and identities in Belgium

Abstract The concept of the ‘nation’, rooted in the idea that state boundaries should align with linguistic, religious, or other cultural divisions, remains a dominant paradigm of collective belonging. In multinational states, such as Belgium, the co-existence of diverse socio-cultural groups challenges this notion of a monolithic national identity and often necessitates institutional arrangements to preserve socio-political stability. Belgium’s gradual federalization, driven by political divisions between its Dutch- and French-speaking community, has formalized multiple (sub)national identities and thereby created complex layers of territorial and non-territorial affiliations. As a result, the dynamics of identification have shifted, diluting the relevance of traditional, ethno-linguistic identity categories. This chapter explores these dynamics: Reviewing the literature on (sub)national identity construction and divisions in Belgium, it considers both continuation and change in identification among members of parliament and the public. While the scholarship shows that (sub)national identification remains politically relevant it also appears to indicate a growing gap in salience between elites and citizens, raising crucial questions on whether the current institutional arrangements still resonate with what citizens conceive to be legitimate identity-based representation. The chapter further points to important, underexplored areas in the field, most notably with respect to Belgium’s minority groups.