Public Intellectuals from Brussels

Abstract

This chapter considers the work of two Belgian public intellectuals, who actively and seriously participate in the debate on European integration, taking their position in a small federal nation state as starting point. Van Reybrouck was educated as archaeologist, wrote a travelogue, fiction and pamphlets on populism and democracy, and is in particularly known for his awarded bestseller Congo. A History (2010). Van Istendael worked as a journalist at the BRT¹ (from 1978 to 1993) and is the writer of poetry, fiction and essays on typical national (Belgian, German and Dutch) idiosyncracies. His understanding of the multiple local identities of regions influences his stances on European diversity. Both authors are ‘practical’ in the sense that their ideas are developed as contribution to a debate with the public to stimulate them to politicise; Van Reybrouck was one of the initiators of the G1000 Citizens’ Collective.