For half a century, the Belgian Constitution has set up a set of rules, institutions, techniques and methods. It has also developed a set of practices. All are inspired by a master idea – perhaps we should speak of a true political philosophy. It is the idea of “concertation”.

The Belgian state does not want to impose on everyonethe choice that would have been conceived in a unilateral and centralised way, even in an authoritarian way, by the government in offi ce and the parliamentary majority which supports it.

This report illustrates, with some examples, the most signifi cant manifestations of this institutional phenomenon.