Flemish Nationalism, a Rainbow Phenomenon

Flemish Nationalism is a fairly recent phenomenon in the history of the Low Countries. It had its origin, as a by-product of Belgian politics, in the decade after the First World War and evolved, in various forms, into a factor that coloured the whole of Belgian society. It weighs heavily, though normally indirectly, on the policies of parties and governments and has had a far-reaching influence on the three successive reforms of the constitution and the state since 1970. It is not a strongly organised and coherent movement, but rather a rainbow phenomenon with shades ranging from anti-Belgian, radical right wing, republican and separatist Vlaams Blok via the moderate traditional nationalist right wing of the Volksunie to the federalists who are social democrats in their thinking.