The rhetoric of nationalism: Rhetorical strategies of the Volksunie and Vlaams Blok in Belgium, 1991-1995

There has been a long-standing interest in comparative politics in the role played by ethnically based nationalist parties in promoting or retarding ethnic political conflict. This article examines one behavior of such parties in promoting or restraining conflict: the rhetoric these parties use. Based on rhetorical theory and literature on ethnic parties, we put forward four expectations regarding the relationship between the kind of party and the rhetorical strategy it employs. These expectations are tested through the identification of the rhetorical strategies employed by two Flemish nationalist parties in current Belgian politics, the Volksunie and the Vlaams Blok. Based on a content analysis of their respective election programs for 1991 and 1995, we find that the type of rhetorical strategy the party employs is associated with its organizational characteristics. The Volksunie generally uses a moderate strategy and the Vlaams Blok a militant strategy. However, contrary to our expectations, the Vlaams Blok has not moderated its rhetoric since its electoral breakthrough in 1991, nor has the Volksunie become more militant since its electoral debacle in 1991.