Waffle-iron politics is a Belgian political strategy used in the past for determining the budget for projects in the country's two major regions, Flanders and Wallonia. [2] Under this policy, for every franc spent on a project in Wallonia, a franc was also spent on a similar project in Flanders (and vice versa). [3]
The social and linguistic divisions between Flanders and Wallonia meant that the compromise of waffle-iron politics helped to maintain political peace. [4] [5] However, matching spending in one region with equal allocations to the other was costly and inefficient. Waffle-iron politics was a key cause of the Belgian national debt. [6] In 1981, public debt amounted to 130% of GNP, among the highest in the European Community at the time. [7]
Waffle-iron politics also led to the creation of several grote nutteloze bouwwerken (large useless construction works) that were misplaced or unnecessary public use. [8] One example is the bridges in Varsenare, two bridges built in 1976 that were never connected to a highway. [9][ circular reference]
The Dutch word wafelijzerpolitiek literally translates to "waffle-iron politics" or "waffle-iron policy". The name is based on the idea that the waffle-iron always leaves an identical impression on both sides of waffles being baked. [10] Both sides of the iron are necessary in order for the machine to function.
Waffle-iron politics effectively came to an end in 1988 with the third state reform in Belgium. Belgium went from a unitary state to a federal one, giving each region more decision-making power. [11] Flanders and Wallonia became responsible for their own spending, except in matters affecting the entire state. [12]
{{
cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)
Waffle-iron politics is a Belgian political strategy used in the past for determining the budget for projects in the country's two major regions, Flanders and Wallonia. [2] Under this policy, for every franc spent on a project in Wallonia, a franc was also spent on a similar project in Flanders (and vice versa). [3]
The social and linguistic divisions between Flanders and Wallonia meant that the compromise of waffle-iron politics helped to maintain political peace. [4] [5] However, matching spending in one region with equal allocations to the other was costly and inefficient. Waffle-iron politics was a key cause of the Belgian national debt. [6] In 1981, public debt amounted to 130% of GNP, among the highest in the European Community at the time. [7]
Waffle-iron politics also led to the creation of several grote nutteloze bouwwerken (large useless construction works) that were misplaced or unnecessary public use. [8] One example is the bridges in Varsenare, two bridges built in 1976 that were never connected to a highway. [9][ circular reference]
The Dutch word wafelijzerpolitiek literally translates to "waffle-iron politics" or "waffle-iron policy". The name is based on the idea that the waffle-iron always leaves an identical impression on both sides of waffles being baked. [10] Both sides of the iron are necessary in order for the machine to function.
Waffle-iron politics effectively came to an end in 1988 with the third state reform in Belgium. Belgium went from a unitary state to a federal one, giving each region more decision-making power. [11] Flanders and Wallonia became responsible for their own spending, except in matters affecting the entire state. [12]
{{
cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)