Judging the state of a nation is a subjective affair with any conclusions being inherently skewed towards personal experience and hardly applicable to the population as a whole.
Almost any assessment will hone in on political shortcomings rather than highlight social or cultural merits. Having a good old grumble is part of human nature and the powers that be are often first in line when we give our two cents' worth on what's going wrong.
"Is this country a success?" becomes an even more impossible question when relating to a state comprised of several semi-autonomous regions, each with distinct identities and political orientations. Under such conditions, pulling regional factions together under the same banner might seem a recipe for disaster.
However, of the myriad metrics one could cite for indications of how a country's government is performing, what could be more obvious than whether politicians come to blows? Granted, the spectacle of adults in positions of responsibility resorting to fisticuffs is puerile in the extreme. But I can think of several examples of figures of authority behaving like bloated babies.
So perhaps we can find solace in a new study that shows a marked decline in "verbal brawls" at the level of Belgium's Federal Government. The ability to deliberate sensibly is essential to a functioning democracy and something that one would probably take for granted. But though Belgium may not the first country that springs to mind when we think about effective or efficient governments, the results are something of a success given the breadth of opinion that is concentrated in the small nation.
It's not the same as the government getting everything right, but at the very least our elected officials are conducting themselves with the dignity and diplomacy that their position demands.
Are politicians more grown up? Let @Orlando_tbt know.
Belgium in Brief is a free daily roundup of the top stories to get you through your lunch break conversations. To receive it straight to your inbox every day, sign up below:
1. Belgium united? Fewer fights between regions paint success story for federalism
A new study reviewing all Federal Government “rows” between 1979 and 2018 shows that though regional divides are clear to see on many topics, they at least boil over into spats less frequently than they once did. Read more.
2. Belgium third place on ‘Rainbow Map’ for LGBTQ rights
Belgium continues to score highly on the ILGA-Europe Rainbow Index, this year ranking third of 49 European countries that are placed according to their legal and policy practices for LGBTQ people. Read more.
3. Heartbreak for Union Saint-Gilloise as VAR disallows late wonder goal
In a dramatic showdown of the Belgian First Division, Club Bruges managed to scrape past Union Saint-Gilloise with a 1-0 victory after Video Assistant Referee (VAR) cruelly but correctly disallowed Casper Nielsen’s wonderful strike in the 89th minute for offside. Read more.
4. Being an astronaut ‘not just a job but a passion’: Belgium sees its future among the stars
Belgium is gearing up for November’s ministerial council of the European Space Agency (ESA), and in addition to setting high goals for space travel and a budget to match them, the country is encouraging young people to imagine their future “among the stars.” Read more.
5. Women in Belgium pickier than men when looking for job
Women in Belgium set higher standards than men when choosing an employer, especially regarding salary and benefits, work atmosphere and work-life balance. Read more.
6. ‘Don’t use the toilet when it rains’: Brussels sewers overflow into canal
A playful awareness campaign from non-profit organisation Canal it Up is calling on Brussels residents to “hold their pee and poo when it rains” in order to limit sewage discharge into the Brussels canal. Read more.
7. Hidden Belgium: The secret source of Brussels tap water
The River Bocq in the Ardennes has been supplying water to Brussels since 1896. Read more.
