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An Insiders' Outside Perspective on the Flemish-Walloon Conflict: The 3V\FKRORJLFD Asbrock, F and Van Hiel, A (2017). An Insiders’ Outside Perspective on the Flemish-Walloon Conflict: The Role of Identification and ψ %HOJLFD Disidentification for the German-Speaking Minority. Psychologica Belgica, 57(3), pp. 115–131, DOI: https://doi.org/10.5334/pb.347 RESEARCH ARTICLE An Insiders’ Outside Perspective on the Flemish-Walloon Conflict: The Role of Identification and Disidentification for the German-Speaking Minority Frank Asbrock* and Alain Van Hiel† In this study we analyzed the opinions of citizens of the German-speaking minority in Belgium on the linguistic conflict between the Walloons and the Flemish, as well as their attitudes towards these linguistic communities. We were especially interested in the effects of identification with the local community and disidentification with Belgium. We distributed a survey questionnaire in Eupen, the capital of the German-speaking community, and received replies from 129 inhabitants. Results showed that identification with the German-speaking community was associated with positive attitudes towards the German-speaking community and with demands for more autonomy of the community within the federal Belgian state. Disidentification with Belgium was not positively correlated with these constructive and positive outcomes, but with negative perceptions of all three Belgian communities, the perception of strong conflicts among these communities, and demands for the separation of the Belgian federal state into independent regions. The results are in line with previous research on these processes and point to unique, positive aspects of a strong local identity. Keywords: Identification; disidentification; linguistic conflict; German-speaking community; conflict perception In public perception, especially from an prevalent in the present special issue, which international viewpoint, Belgium is a country includes articles devoted to the linguistic which is divided into two linguistic and cul- conflict between the French-speaking and turally distinct subgroups, the Flemish and the Flemish communities. However, Belgium the Walloon communities. This division is also has a small German-speaking commu- nity with about 76,300 inhabitants, which is located at the Belgian-German border. In * Chemnitz University of Technology, DE the linguistic conflict between the Dutch- † Ghent University, BE speaking and French-speaking communities, Corresponding author: Frank Asbrock the German-speaking community holds an ([email protected]) insider’s outside position – although they 116 Asbrock and Van Hiel: Identification and Disidentification are part of the superordinate group by being minority groups (González & Brown, 2006). Belgian, their ingroup is not involved in the Similar to previous studies of dual identities major societal conflict. Up to this point, the we were interested in identification processes perspective of the German-speaking commu- with subordinate and superordinate groups. nity has hardly received any scholarly atten- In contrast to existing studies, however, we tion, at least among (political) psychologists. focused on the effects of identification with The present study is driven by our interest the minority and disidentification with the in the role of identification processes among superordinate group. Recent research sug- this rather invisible minority in Belgium. gests that identification and disidentification Social identification is an important issue in with a particular group are distinct psycho- social psychological research and although logical states, which differentially relate to it has already been investigated in the con- attitudes and behavior toward this group text of the linguistic division of the Belgian (Becker & Tausch, 2014). We therefore aimed communities, the existing research has at analyzing these differential relationships been exclusively focused on the Flemish for identification with a subordinate group and Walloon communities as the two major (the German-speaking community) and disi- actors in this conflict (e.g., Billiet, Jaspaert, dentification with a superordinate category & Swyngedouw, 2012; Klein, Licata, Van (the Belgian state). Here, our study adds to der Linden, Mercy, & Luminet, 2012). As a the small but growing body of research on community in Belgium, which has not been disidentification, with a special emphasis on directly involved in the conflict, but is none- a minority ingroup’s perspective. Secondly, theless affected by reforms negotiated by we focused on the interesting but uninves- the Flemish and Walloon communities, we tigated perspective of the German-speaking consider it important to add a focus on the community on the linguistic conflict and German-speaking community to the existing the other communities in Belgium. Before body of research. Given this unique insider’s elaborating on our theoretical perspective outside perspective, we want to focus our and reviewing previous research on identi- analysis on the relationship between iden- fication and disidentification, we will briefly tification processes and attitudes towards introduce the linguistic conflict and the situ- the linguistic conflict, as well as towards the ation of the German-speaking community in other linguistic communities. Belgium in the following section. The goal of the present paper was twofold. Firstly, we were interested in the relation- The historical-political context of ship between the identification with the the German-speaking community German-speaking community and the Belgium’s German-speaking territories have disidentification with Belgium and the per- only been part of Belgium since Germany’s ception of the linguistic conflict, the superor- defeat in World War I (1914–1918). The treaty dinate category (i.e., Belgium), and the other of Versailles postulated that the Eupen- two sub-groups within this category (i.e., the Malmédy region and Moresnet had to be Flemish and Walloons). We build upon a dual handed over to Belgium in order to compen- identity perspective (e.g., Gaertner, Dovidio, sate for the losses and damages caused by the Guerra, Hehman, & Saguy, 2016; González & war. Two decades later World War II (1939– Brown, 2003), which indicates that minority 1945) began and Germany again occupied group members can have a positive minor- these territories. Its inhabitants were consid- ity identity, as well as a positive identity as ered to be German, and they often referred a member of the superordinate group. Dual to themselves as Germans (Wenselaers, identities have been shown to have paci- 2008). Young men had to join the German fying effects, as they can reduce ingroup armed forces, and not less than 3,200 of bias (Hornsey & Hogg, 2000), especially for them would never return to their homes. Asbrock and Van Hiel: Identification and Disidentification 117 Following the defeat of Germany in 1945, held by the Walloon Region, such as social the territories again became part of Belgium, policy and (public) transport (Wenselaers, and, as a result of alleged collaboration with 2008). The German-speaking community’s Nazi Germany, the Belgian and Walloon important political parties are associated authorities attempted to de-Germanize the with the respective mother parties in the local population (Dewulf, 2009). Almost half Walloon region, and they constitute local of the population faced juridical procedures lists of Christian Democrat, Green, Liberal and one sixth of them were imprisoned (DG, and Socialist parties. The ProDG as the sole 2016). These procedures were generally regional party emphasizes their independ- seen as exaggerated and unfair and the local ence from the Walloon and Belgian establish- population felt that the Belgian authorities ment as a selling point to its voters (ProDG, showed little understanding for the spe- 2016). cific situation of these territories (see van Istendael, 2012; Wenselaers, 2008). Social Identification and Nowadays, Belgium is a federal state, which disidentification is composed of communities and regions. It Membership in social groups has strong has three communities: the Dutch, French, effects on the individual (Tajfel & Turner, and German-speaking Community. The com- 1979). People tend to systematically value munities have internal autonomy regarding others more when they are perceived as policies related to language and culture in a being members of the same category. broad sense. Belgium also consists of three However, not all group memberships are regions: the Flemish, Walloon, and Brussels equally important: Individuals can identify regions. Regions have a say in economic more or less strongly with various groups, issues. The German-speaking part of Belgium which in turn affects the social consequences thus comprises a community in itself, with of group membership (Ellemers, Spears, & autonomy in language and cultural issues, Doosje., 1999; Leach et al., 2008). One of but at the same time it is part of the Walloon the best studied consequences of identifi- region, which decides on economic issues cation with a group is ingroup bias (Tajfel, (see also, Klein et al., 2012). Billig, Bundy, & Flament, 1971), although The first state reform was implemented in other effects have been noted as well. As an 1973. Over the years, however, not less than example, though minority group members six state reforms have been implemented. show an increase in perceived discrimina- These reforms have been predominantly tion with higher ingroup identification (e.g., driven
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