This paper will explore the evolution of nationalism in Flanders, focusing on the political discourse and territorial ambitions of the Nieuw-Vlaamse Alliantie (N-VA). It will examine the bases of territorial identity within Flanders, and the ways in which linguistic identities have become fused with socio-economic divisions across Belgium, changing the nature of nationalist demands. It will consider the extent to which this new nationalism underpinned the recent state reforms, and the challenges of maintaining social solidarity through state intervention (e.g. solidarity payments) in a context of fiscal austerity, fiscal decentralisation and a fusion of linguistic, socio-economic and territorial identities.
