Thinking Canada (with or without Quebec) and Thinking Belgium (with or without Flanders): The Future of Federalism through the Eyes of their Citizens

Since 1960, both Canada and Belgium have experienced passionate debates about the future of federalism in their country. While the debate has somewhat declined in Canada in general and in Quebec in particular, it is currently very hot in Belgium. However, both federations share a common goal – accommodating within a single country two national communities – which enables a fruitful comparison of the way one can think Canada with or without Quebec and Belgium with or without Flanders. More specifically it is interesting to look comparatively at the place of Quebec and of Flanders in their respective federation. It can be done through the eyes of Quebeckers and Flemish but also through the eyes of citizens from the other community: English-speaking Canadians and French-speaking Belgians. Relying on qualitative date collected in Quebec, Ontario, Flanders and Wallonia, this paper aims at illuminating the identity and the federal dynamics in Canada and Belgium from below – the citizens – rather than from the top – institutions or political actors. While institutions and political actors do matter, citizens play also an important role in thinking their country and the place of their region within or without it.