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The concept of the ‘nation’ remains a dominant paradigm for collective belonging, rooted in the idea that state boundaries should align with linguistic, religious or other cultural divisions. In multinational states, such as Belgium, the coexistence of diverse socio-cultural groups challenges the singular notion of a national identity. Belgium’s gradual federalisation, driven by political divisions between the Dutch- and French-speaking communities, has institutionalized these identities and created complex layers of territorial and non-territorial affiliations. Besides, evolving political, institutional, and social contexts have shifted the dynamics of identification, diluting the relevance of traditional identity categories. This chapter explores the multifaceted dynamics of Belgium’s (sub)national identities and identification. It examines the findings on how these identities are constructed by political elites and traces trends of identification among the public and Members of Parliament. The chapter then highlights developments in Brussels as crucial evidence of ongoing socio-cultural change in identification and assesses how individuals’ identities influence political behaviour and intergroup attitudes. It concludes by outlining future research directions to deepen understanding of Belgium’s intricate identity landscape and its implications for broader studies of multinational states.
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Sautter, A.-M., Rondiat, C., Meuleman, B., & Baudewyns, P. (2026). (Sub)national Identification and Identities in Belgium. In REUCHAMPS, Min; BRANS, Marleen; MEIER, Petra; VAN HAUTE, Emilie (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Belgian Politics. Oxford Univeristy Press. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/271813