Plausibility Check: Pillarization in a smaller United Kingdom of the Netherlands

ramones1986 · Mar 28, 2015

NOTE:

This is the actualized version of an earlier thread that I've posted months ago. The original thread called for a scenario what could be the broadcasting industry in a smaller United Kingdom of the Netherlands, then it switched into politics.

Given that the Pod is the same as OTL (1815-30), with some twist (e.g. French-speaking upper and middle class fleeing south, particularly in Namur and southern Brabant before, during and after Belgian independence), would pillarization still happen in a smaller Kingdom of the Netherlands (OTL Netherlands and most of Flanders)?

pompejus · Mar 28, 2015

ramones1986 said:
NOTE:

Given that the Pod is the same as OTL (1815-30), with some twist (e.g. French-speaking upper and middle class fleeing south, particularly in Namur and southern Brabant before, during and after Belgian independence), would pillarization still happen in a smaller Kingdom of the Netherlands (OTL Netherlands and most of Flanders)?

Would it happen? Yeah, it probably would. It would be different though. The catholics will be more influential than OTL.

ramones1986 · Mar 28, 2015

Bumping....

Janprimus · Mar 28, 2015

pompejus said:
Would it happen? Yeah, it probably would. It would be different though. The catholics will be more influential than OTL.

Well it's not like since the majority is Catholic, they will all automatically support the Catholic pillar. IOTL Socialism and Liberalism were also very influential in Belgium.
Wise northern Dutch Socialists and Liberals would look away from religious differences, as they ideologically should, and should cooperate with their southern counterparts; otherwise Protestant bias will drive their natural allies towards the Catholics.
Thus IMHO it would also influence the Social-Democratic and the 'Liberal' pillar, they would also gain in influence, the only less influential pillar will be the Protestant pillar.

pompejus · Mar 29, 2015

Janprimus said:
Well it's not like since the majority is Catholic, they will all automatically support the Catholic pillar. IOTL Socialism and Liberalism were also very influential in Belgium.
Wise northern Dutch Socialists and Liberals would look away from religious differences, as they ideologically should, and should cooperate with their southern counterparts; otherwise Protestant bias will drive their natural allies towards the Catholics.
Thus IMHO it would also influence the Social-Democratic and the 'Liberal' pillar, they would also gain in influence, the only less influential pillar will be the Protestant pillar.

If we assume that the same percentage of people in Flanders will be attrackted to liberalism or socialism as in the Netherlands, than the liberal pillar and the socialist pillar wil be the same size, if we look at percentages. If we look at the protestant and catholic pillars, percentagewise, we will see that the catholic pillar will no be larger, while the protestant pillar will be smaller.