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Archived Articles
Simeon Mitropolitski is a Canadian analyst, of Bulgarian origin, and a former syndicated columnist with the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA). He is the author of several hundred articles dealing with hot political and economic topics, both national and international.
He was part of the first group of Bulgarian intellectuals and students that began the opposition movement that finally put an end to the communist regime in this country in 1989, and in 1996-1997 participated in international observation teams during the elections in several Balkan countries - Romania, Albania and Bulgaria.
In 2002 Simeon and his family moved from Bulgaria to Canada where they live now in Montreal, province of Quebec. Simeon is a Master of Political Science from McGill University and a B.A. of Political Science and History.
Global Real Estate Project
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Belgium: What if there is no Belgium?Given the constant animosity between the two main ethnic groups in Belgium, the Dutch-speaking Fleming and the French-speaking Walloon communities, it won't be pointless to discuss a counterfactual proposition 'what if there is no Belgium?'. One possible answer is already on the table; the Dutch populist politician Geert Wilders from Netherlands is suggesting attaching the Dutch-speaking northern parts of Belgium to his own country. In the Netherlands, this idea is popular to a degree, but only in the case of division of Belgium along ethnic lines. In Belgium itself, this idea is popular only among some ultra-right politicians and their followers. Separating Belgium into two independent regions with subsequent attachment to both the Netherlands and France isn't very popular in itself, although this fact doesn't make the coexistence between the Flemish and the Walloon easier. The country exists well on paper, but most important decisions are usually taken on regional level. Yet, the idea of political disintegration with subsequent attachment isn't completely senseless. A country where live two main groups that prefer not to intermix with one another is hardly a country with bright future. Moreover, none of the international factors that helped Belgium and what was before it to stay in one piece exists anymore. In fact, some international factors also work for dismemberment of Belgium, not very aggressively, to be sure, but nevertheless with persistence. Talking about international factors, let's briefly remind what are the major vectors that helped Belgium preserve its territorial integrity so far. Before it actually came to the world under its present name, this land was at the frontline of a major religious war in Europe that followed the Reformation some five centuries ago. It's this war that lasted until 1648 that split the region into protestant and catholic regions, the latter known today as Belgium remained for a century and a half under Austrian rule. With the French revolution and the Habsburgs gone, the reason for existence of this political unit was to prevent the French expansionism. Thus the country Belgium was born in 1830. With the time passing, the fears of French expansionism gave place to the fears of German expansionism. And in fact, the 'rape of Belgium' was the official pretext for Britain to go to war against Germany in 1914, and for the United States in 1917. Now, almost a century alter, the religious division between protestant and catholic communities doesn't mobilize politically anyone, the French and the German expansionisms are gone for good. Moreover, the European Union strongly encourages regional autonomy within its member states. Schengen and the monetary union treaties make passing through Belgium almost unnoticeable for foreigners; the country has neither an independent currency nor well-delimitated borders with all its neighbors. If it's still in one piece, it's largely due to inertia.
Belgium profile: Netherlands profile: --------------------
See also the directory of companies providing real estate services in, and general real estate information of Belgium and Netherlands.
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