Langues, littératures et forces antinomiques. Le cas de la Belgique

Abstract

This article revisits the subject of the links between state organisation and the linguistic and literary setup in Belgium. It begins by looking at a factor that is generally expeditiously dealt with when it comes to culture in Belgium, namely the circumstances surrounding the origins of the Belgian state. The concept of antinomy, which refers to the coexistence of tendencies towards autonomy and heteronomy within the state, helps to shed light on these circumstances. The article then discusses the effects of antinomy on Belgian institutions generally and on languages and literary productions more specifically. The concept of antinomy thus allows us to readdress the question of the coexistence of languages and literatures in Belgium and beyond.

Keywords

• Belgian state
• languages in Belgium
• Belgian literatures
• antinomy