Belgium has survived over a year with no government.
The country is locked in a centuries old dispute between the Dutch-speaking North and the French-speaking South.
However, this is about more than just language -- and it could have big implications for Europe.
Belgium was founded after the 1830 Belgian Revolution.
The country was founded as a Catholic, French-speaking state under King Leopald I. Until this date the area had formed parts of various kingdoms and empires, most recently coming under the power of the Dutch and, before that, the French.
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The industrial revolution caused a rift between the Flemish and the Walloons.
The Francophone Wallonia areas became urbanized as part of an industrial boom in the 18th and 19th centuries, while the Dutch-speaking Flemish areas remained largely agricultural. In the 20th century, the situation began to reverse and Flemish areas had their own economic boom, leading to huge population growth.
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Historical differences eventually caused political reform.
Linguistic differences were reinforced by cultural and economic differences. In the 1960s a formal linguistic border was created, eventually resulting for autonomic political power for the Flemish North and the Walloons in the South, with power also devolved for Eastern German-speaking areas and the mixed area of Brussels.
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See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheMoneyGame/~3/sr4mHykgtDw/belgium-parliament-euro-2011-7
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