Abstract
Only 25 countries out of the 193 world-wide existing operate with a federal political system . If we look at the ones situated in Europe, there are very few: Austria, Belgium, Germany, Spain , and Switzerland. I am here interested in the newest one: Belgium. The reforms starting the federalisation process only started in 1970 but, by 1993, Belgium had already become a federal state and, even though the process was and most likely still is not finished, it is nonetheless a remarkably fast change. Did Belgium succeed in becoming a federal state in reality, and not just on the paper, according to the regular definition? Or, to phrase it differently, to what extent is Belgium a sui generis federation i.e. a federation but unique in its type in a significant way. To address that question, I will approach it from different angles: first I will look at the concept of federalism and the Belgian history of federalism. Then I will see what the normal characteristics of a federal state are and whether or not Belgium possesses them. Finally, I will point out two aspects that, even though they are not basic federal characteristic, differentiate Belgium from most other federal states. To define federalism is not an easy task because, as Lijphart said in his book Patterns of democracy , federalism can be seen as everything that is in between a unitary state and an anarchy. Very different forms exist resting on different elements: law, co-operation, custom.
