Crime Prevention at the Belgian Federal Level: From a Social Democratic Policy to a Neo-Liberal and Authoritarian Policy in a Social Democratic Context (From Crime Prevention Policies in Comparative Perspective, P 177-195, 2009, Adam Crawford, ed. - See NCJ-229306)

• NCJ Number: 229314
• Author(s): Patrick Hebberecht
• Date Published: 2009
• Length: 19 pages
• Sale Source: Willan Publishing
• Publication Format: Book Chapter
• Publication Type: Collected Work
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

This chapter examines the Belgium model in which specific jurisdictions are influenced by prevailing models of crime prevention in other European countries

Abstract

This chapter presents a case of a Federal country in which crime prevention policies have been shaped both by the political make-up of governing alliances between the established parties and the linguistic and cultural traditions of the different regions, notably the French-speaking Walloon and Brussels regions, and the Flemish region which constitute Belgium. In essence, Belgium has seen various waves of policy influence in ways that have sometimes belied traditional political association with policies between the political Left and Right. While the Anglo-Saxon model of situational prevention exerted an influence and served as a model for emulation via Dutch developments in Flemish-speaking parts of the country, the French-speaking regions more readily drew on ideas, policies, and practices advanced by their French cousins. Despite an uneven implementation, there is a significant drift over time towards more authoritarian and neo-liberal influenced policies as investment in welfare and social inclusion have waned. References