Defending French in Flanders, 1873–1974: Between Liberty and Identity

The book examines the efforts of the French-speaking minority in Flanders, Belgium, to maintain a legal and social presence of the French language in Flemish public life, from the first laws requiring the use of Dutch in 1873 to the collapse of the last French daily newspaper in 1973. It argues that the methods and arguments by which French speakers defended the role of French changed along with the social and political situation of the minority, and that the debate over the role of French was at the center of Belgium's ethnolinguistic conflict.

Format: Hardback
Length: 360 pages
Publication date: 29 December 2023
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

The French-speaking minority in Flanders, Belgium, has faced significant challenges in maintaining a legal and social presence of the French language in Flemish public life. This book examines the efforts of this minority to defend the role of French in Flemish public life over a century, from the first laws requiring the use of Dutch in public administration in 1873 to the collapse of the last French daily newspaper in Flanders in 1973. The author argues that the methods and arguments used by French speakers to defend the role of French changed along with the social and political situation of this minority. Initially, French speakers appealed to the "free choice" of language, but as the Flemish movement grew, they began to emphasize their status as an ethnolinguistic minority deserving protection for their mother tongue. This book provides new insights into the debate over the role of French in Flanders and its impact on Belgium's ethnolinguistic conflict, which continues to be felt today. It also contributes to the literature on liberalism, national identity, and Francophonie.

Weight: 616g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031109164
Edition number: 1st ed. 2023