ABSTRACT
Policymaking in Belgium is shaped by its federal structure, where competences are divided between federal and substate levels, and by political parties’ firm grip on decision-making through the institutionalization of ministerial cabinets and political appointments. The Belgian system also relies heavily on a neo-corporatist model, where employers’ and workers’ organizations negotiate collective agreements that the state often formalizes. Civil society groups such as trade unions and health insurance funds play a key role, even subcontracting state functions like unemployment benefits or health reimbursements. While reforms have modernized parts of the administration, Belgium’s governance is still marked by political party dominance and tensions between solidarity and regional autonomy.
