본 연구는 현재 벨기에에서 주요 정치쟁점으로 부상하고 있는 연합주의의 특징을 진단하고, 세계화 시대 국가연합의 부활에 주목한 기존 이론에 따라 벨기에 사례를 연합주의의 새로운 모델로 평가할 수 있는지를 분석한다. 이를 위해 벨기에 국가개혁과 연방제의 불안정성에 대한 비판을 살펴보며, 신플랑드르연대가 대안으로 제시한 연합제도입 방안의 차별성을 비교한다. 신플랑드르연대는 벨기에 연방의 한계를 극복하기 위해 연합주의를 추진해야 한다고 주장하며, 유럽연합 모델과 유사한 형태의 제도를 구체적인 대안으로 제시한다. 반면 왈롱 지역 정당들은 벨기에 사회를 통합시켰던 사회안보개념을 근거로 연합주의에 포함되어 있는 분리주의적인 지향을 비판한다. 본 연구는 연합제 도입을 둘러싼 플랑드르와 왈롱 간의 갈등 속에서 연합주의 이념이 분리주의 정당에 대한 지지를 동원하고, 왈롱지역에서 연방주의를 지지하는 정당들을 고립시키는 정치 전략으로 기능한다는 점을 밝혔다.
This study explores the characteristics of confederalism which is emerging as a major political issue in Belgium and analyzes whether Belgian case is available to be categorized as a new model for confederalism in accordance with the existing theory. The analysis focuses on the criticism against the state reforms in Belgium and the instability of the federal system, while contrasting Belgian federalism in the program of confederalism proposed by the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA). N-VA argued that the Belgium should introduce confederalism, in order to overcome the limitations of the federalist system, and suggested concrete confederalist alternatives similar to the European Union. On the contrary, the political parties in Wallonia have criticized the separatist tendencies in confederalism from the ideas of social security, which have integrated Belgian society. This study shows that in the conflicts between Flanders and Wallonia, the confederalism functions as a political strategy to mobilize supports for separatist parties and to isolate federalist parties in Wallonia.
This study explores the characteristics of confederalism which is emerging as a major political issue in Belgium and analyzes whether Belgian case is available to be categorized as a new model for confederalism in accordance with the existing theory. The analysis focuses on the criticism against the state reforms in Belgium and the instability of the federal system, while contrasting Belgian federalism in the program of confederalism proposed by the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA). N-VA argued that the Belgium should introduce confederalism, in order to overcome the limitations of the federalist system, and suggested concrete confederalist alternatives similar to the European Union. On the contrary, the political parties in Wallonia have criticized the separatist tendencies in confederalism from the ideas of social security, which have integrated Belgian society. This study shows that in the conflicts between Flanders and Wallonia, the confederalism functions as a political strategy to mobilize supports for separatist parties and to isolate federalist parties in Wallonia.
