Question

What led to the ethnic tension in Belgium ? Why was it more acute in Brussels ? -SST 10th

Answer 1

a. Diverse ethnic composition -  Belgium is a linguistically diverse country comprising of Dutch speaking, French speaking and the German speaking people in different regions of Belgium. One may give example of 59% of population residing in the Flemish region and speaks Dutch language. b. Economic disparities - Tensions primarily erupted between these linguistically diverse groups due to the economic gap that existed between the French and dutch speaking communities. The French who were minority in the country were relatively richer, influential and powerful and accrued the benefits of economic development. The Dutch speaking who were majority in the country got benefits of economic development much later, widening the gap between the two communities. The conflict was more acute in the capital city of Brussels because : a. Dutch speaking constituted the minority in Brussels and were majority in the country. b. The French speaking constituted the majority in Brussels though they  were in minority in the country. c. The economic gap between the two communities escalated the tensions.