Global city region Brussels

6 ECTS credits
150 h study time

Offer 2 with catalog number 4016904FER for all students in the 2nd semester at a (F) Master - specialised level.

Semester

2nd semester

Enrollment based on exam contract

Possible

Grading method

Grading (scale from 0 to 20)

Can retake in second session

Yes

Taught in

English

Faculty

Faculty of Languages & Humanities

Department

History, Archaeology, Arts, Philosophy and Ethics

Educational team

Joost Vaesen (course titular)

Activities and contact hours

26 contact hours Lecture

Course Content

Global cities are particularly relevant in several respects: they function as economic drivers, social and cultural laboratories and, of course, also as political actors. Globalisation, on the one hand, and sub- and supranational processes, on the other hand, have also been impacting the city. This course examines a number of current characteristics and challenges of the (small) global city-region that Brussels is today, each time embedded in a historical perspective. The central starting point is the major areas of tension which have made Brussels a topic that is much discussed but little studied scientifically. How are major contradictions and the problems and challenges linked to diversity dealt with, and which (attempts at) solutions have been put forward? In Brussels, in any case, several major points of contention concerning worldviews, socio-economic issues and, more recently, politico-linguistic strives come together. A thematic approach is used to analyse and frame these issues, with a particular focus on the latter. This approach does not focus so much or exclusively on the formal structures and institutions that have been developed, but also on the informal and normative dimensions. In other words, a great deal of attention is paid to the mechanisms behind the public screens and to the ideological principles and policy concepts that were used. By using a broad diachronic perspective (in which the period after Belgian independence is selected), elements of continuity and discontinuity can be addressed and a number of fundamental transitions can be analysed, interpreted and explained. It goes without saying that the geographical focus is on Brussels itself, but various traits are also put in a comparative perspective.

This course is built on the basis of 3 components:

1. Context (weeks 1 - 4): introductory lesson with key concepts; how to define "Brussels"?; political cleavages and conflict management mechanisms; a city of minorities?

2. The governance of Brussels (weeks 5 - 9): language as a tool of power; language use and attitudes; institutional architecture and political practices; field trip to the Brussels Parliament; urban governance.

3. Three structural problem areas (10 - 12): education; administrations; linguistic landscape.

Course material

Digital course material (Required) : Praktische en inhoudelijke informatie wordt meegedeeld bij het begin van de cursus, Canvas

Additional info

All further practical information and more information about the course content will be provided at the beginning of the course during the first lesson and is made available via Canvas.

Learning Outcomes

Algemene competenties

Students are able to describe, to analyse, to situate and to contextualise the most important political, socio-economic, linguistic and demographic developments and conflicts in and related to Brussels.
Students have gained insight into the historical backgrounds of the current political, linguistic, socio-economic, demographic... situation in Brussels, enabling them to interpret current dossiers and situations against a broader historical background.
Students are able to compare Brussels with other 'global city regions' and to assess the specificity of Brussels.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 100% of the final mark.

Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Other Examination with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 100% of the final mark.

Note: One of the exam questions is selected from the list of themes. This list of exam subjects is announced to students in advance and students can prepare and study these themes in advance.

Additional info regarding evaluation

Oral exam. One of the exam questions is selected from the list of themes. This list of exam subjects is announced to students in advance and students can prepare and study these themes in advance. One question concerns the theme prepared beforehand.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark

The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context