La circonscription fédérale en Belgique : une approche délibérative de la question

in Claisse, Frédéric; Fallon, Catherine (Eds.) La participation à l'épreuve (in press)

L’idée d’une circonscription électorale fédérale (CEF) en Belgique a connu un intérêt tout particulier au cours de la période pré-électorale du 10 juin 2007. Durant la campagne, le groupe PAVIA a présenté ... [more ▼]

L’idée d’une circonscription électorale fédérale (CEF) en Belgique a connu un intérêt tout particulier au cours de la période pré-électorale du 10 juin 2007. Durant la campagne, le groupe PAVIA a présenté sa proposition de réforme électorale, les hommes et les femmes politiques se sont positionnés, tandis que les éditorialistes du nord et du sud du pays s’exprimaient, plus ou moins favorablement à l’idée. Dans ce chapitre, ce n’est pas tant l’analyse de ces processus qui est explorée mais le regard citoyen sur la question. À l'aide d'un protocole délibératif (atelier scénario) nous tentons de mieux connaître – et comprendre – les opinions citoyennes. Réunissant douze personnes de l’arrondissement liégeois, deux experts et le monde politique, ces ateliers scénarios eurent lieu à l’automne 2009. [less ▲]

Les candidats d’ouverture sur les listes électorales au scrutin communal de 2012

Conference (2013, February 25)

(Re-)Assessing Political Careers Patterns in Multi-level systems. Insights from Wallonia

Conference (2012, July 09)

The establishment of regional Parliaments in Western Europe has renewed the study of political careers. Since the beginning of the 21st century, an increasing number of – conceptual and empirical – ... [more ▼]

The establishment of regional Parliaments in Western Europe has renewed the study of political careers. Since the beginning of the 21st century, an increasing number of – conceptual and empirical – studies have been published on political careers in multi-level systems. Despite the richness of the novel analytical approaches proposed, I argue that the current trend in the literature that consists to label a whole region (or even a country) as illustrations of integrated, alternative, or hierarchical careers pattern (might) produce an imperfect picture of the reality – or even worse, could lead to a misleading conclusion. I rather hypothesize that, within a single region, the possibility of multiple careers patterns has to be a priori considered: distinct professional political classes might co-exist. In this respect, two methodological elements must be integrated into the research design. Firstly, from a heuristic point of view, researchers should move from the (mere) analysis of level-hopping movements between two elections and rather adopt a microscopic point of view through the study of every single individual political careers (internal validity). Secondly, the cases under investigation should be selected only if they display a critical amount of legislatures in order to observe robust and non-contingent career patterns (external validity). For the sake of parsimony and clarity of my demonstration, I recourse to an in-depth case study – Walloon political careers – but cross-sectional research are certainly determinant to (in-)valid this hypothesis. [less ▲]

Do Identities Matter More than Party Interests in Territorial Politics? Insights from Belgium

Conference (2012, June)

In territorial politics, identities are a chief variable of the political life. By definition, the ethno-linguistic identities play(ed) an important role in the federal dynamics of several highly divided ... [more ▼]

In territorial politics, identities are a chief variable of the political life. By definition, the ethno-linguistic identities play(ed) an important role in the federal dynamics of several highly divided societies. In most cases, the institutional design is in fact adapted or has been adapted to the ethno-linguistic divisions of the country. According to quite a few scholars, it is especially true for political elites who are not only shaped by this variable but also use this variable to legitimate their attitudes and actions. Therefore political elites of each ethno-linguistic group appeared to behave as monolithic blocks, standing against each other along ethno-linguistic lines. Nonetheless, this view neglects the role of party interests in explaining the behaviors of political elites. An important question for territorial politics can be raised: do identities matter more that party interests? The current reform of the Belgian state provides a fertile ground to test this hypothesis. To what extent, party interests can account for political elites’ position in the debate about the 6th Belgian constitutional reform? To explore these questions, we surveyed every representative of Belgium’s seven legislative assemblies with a standardized questionnaire (Summer 2011). This research will help us apprehend the rationale behind political elites’ attitudes – be it identities, party interests or a mix of them – negotiating the new boundaries of the state and above all shed light on territorial politics in Europe. [less ▲]

Do Identities Matter More than Party Interests in Ethno-Territorial Politics? Conceptual and Empirical Insights from Multilevel and Deeply Divided Belgium

Conference (2012, April)

In territorial politics, identities are a chief variable of the political life. By definition, the ethno-linguistic identities play(ed) an important role in the political dynamics of several highly ... [more ▼]

In territorial politics, identities are a chief variable of the political life. By definition, the ethno-linguistic identities play(ed) an important role in the political dynamics of several highly divided societies. In most cases, the institutional design is in fact adapted or has been adapted to the ethno-linguistic divisions of the country. According to quite a few scholars, it is especially true for political elites who are not only shaped by this variable but also use this variable to legitimate their attitudes and actions. Therefore political elites of each ethno-linguistic group appeared to behave as monolithic blocks, standing against each other along ethno-linguistic lines. Nonetheless, this view neglects the role of party interests in explaining the behaviors of political elites. An important question for ethno-territorial politics should be raised: do identities matter more that party interests? The current reform of the – multilevel and deeply-divided – Belgian state provides a fertile ground to test this hypothesis. To what extent, party interests can account for political elites’ position in the debate about the 6th Belgian constitutional reform? To explore these questions, we surveyed every representative of Belgium’s seven legislative assemblies with a standardized questionnaire (Summer 2011). This research will help us apprehend the rationale behind political elites’ attitudes – be it identities, party interests or a mix of them – negotiating the new boundaries of the state and above all shed light on territorial politics in Europe. So doing, this paper aims at contributing to the debate that explores the possibility of a unified analytical approach bridging ethno-territorial politics and party politics. [less ▲]

Les parlementaires québecois et wallons

Conference (2012, March 23)

The Voice of Occupy: Did Western Capitalism Fail?

Conference given outside the academic context (2012)

Annexe 3 – Les circonscriptions électorales depuis 1830

in Bouhon, Frédéric; Reuchamps, Min (Eds.) Les systèmes électoraux de la Belgique (2012)

Electoral districts are not neutral. They reflect political competition as well as they directly influence it.This chapter gives an overview of the redrawing of national electoral districts at the Chamber ... [more ▼]

Electoral districts are not neutral. They reflect political competition as well as they directly influence it.This chapter gives an overview of the redrawing of national electoral districts at the Chamber of Representatives and the Senate since 1830 to 2012 (including the new electoral law for the 'sensitive case' in Belgian politics of the Brussels-Hal-Vilvorde electoral district ). With the process regionalisation and the introduction of regional and community parliaments in the 1970s and the 1980s, the chapter also presents the evolution of electoral districts for the direct elections in the subnational assemblies. Overall, the different maps presented in this work particularly underline the growing magnitude of the electoral districts over times - at both levels of government. [less ▲]

La confection des listes : règles juridiques et pratiques politiques

in Bouhon, Frédéric; Reuchamps, Min (Eds.) Les systèmes électoraux de la Belgique (2012)

La confection des listes de candidats constitue un enjeu majeur dans le processus électoral. Dans le cadre du scrutin proportionnel mis en œuvre à tous les niveaux en Belgique, chaque formation politique ... [more ▼]

La confection des listes de candidats constitue un enjeu majeur dans le processus électoral. Dans le cadre du scrutin proportionnel mis en œuvre à tous les niveaux en Belgique, chaque formation politique qui souhaite participer à l’élection doit déposer une liste de candidats. Le choix des personnes qui sont inscrites sur ces listes et la détermination de l’ordre dans lequel elles y sont positionnées constituent des prérogatives essentielles des partis politiques, dont l’exercice a une influence certaine sur la composition de l’assemblée élues. Ces listes électorales sont le résultat de l’influence combinée de dispositions explicites et implicites, des préférences et popularités des candidats et des différentes tendances qui existent au sein des partis. Cet équilibre est d’autant plus complexe qu’il doit s’intégrer dans l’architecture multi-niveau de la fédération belge, même si, quel que soit le niveau considéré – local, régional et communautaire, fédéral ou européen – l’objectif majeur que se fixent les partis politiques lorsqu’ils confectionnent les listes électorales demeure le même : remporter les élections. [less ▲]

The federal electoral constituency in Belgium: deliberative perspectives

Conference (2011, August)

Belgium constitutes a good illustration of Mill’s statement about public opinion in divided societies: “the united public opinion…cannot exist [in a country which citizens] read and speak different ... [more ▼]

Belgium constitutes a good illustration of Mill’s statement about public opinion in divided societies: “the united public opinion…cannot exist [in a country which citizens] read and speak different languages” (1993: 391-7). However, according to Lijphart (2007), sociological and political divisions are not problematic. On the contrary, his seminal work on consociationalism promotes such separations among social groups through power-sharing and self-rule. Concerning its electoral system, Belgium represents a striking case of consociational design; whereas criticised by several due to its consequences on the Belgian political system. Indeed, it implies an ethnicisation of political life while it favours intra-groups’ claims escalation as well as it prevents inter-groups communication. In this respect, the proposal for a federal electoral constituency (FEC) in Belgium was put back on the agenda in 2007. First proposed in 1979, the proposal was quite fairly debated during the electoral campaign and government formation.This proposal offers deliberative perspectives to that question. Indeed, electoral studies do not tackle citizens’ perceptions, at least not directly, nor do they focus on reasons of citizens’ opinions. Yet, a specific deliberative methodology (scenario workshop) can explore this research path. Based on data collected during autumn 2009, we can offer tentative answers to crucial questions relating to citizens’ opinions about the FEC: what do they think? Do they feel involved and concerned by this debate? Do they agree or disagree with the electoral reform proposal? And, more importantly, why do they think so when invited to deliberate with other citizens, politicians and experts? [less ▲]