In 1977, BRIO’s predecessor, the Centre for the Interdisciplinary Study of Brussels, aimed to help explain and correct the mythologization and misinterpretations in the political discourse and in the image created of Brussels through scientific research during a period of fundamental reform and language policy tensions. Today, BRIO still upholds the same basic principles: an interdisciplinary and comparative approach, based on fundamental scientific research that is relevant in terms of society as well as policy. The research results are also published and distributed both in- and outside of the academic world.In this respect, BRIO goes beyond the borders of the 19 municipalities of the Brussels Capital Region, focussing on the situation in the surrounding towns and comparable cities and regions abroad.Over the years, our research agenda has been renewed and expanded. Symposiums, research projects and publications resulted in structural cooperation between national and international research centres. The published series Brussels Themes, symposium reports and other BRIO publications testify to the rich tradition of scientific research and cooperation.
BRIO has 4 major axes of research:
Research Axis 1: Language Policy and Integration
BRIO has become widely known both inside and outside of the academic field for its research into language politics and how the usage of the languages spoken in Brussels and the Flemish municipalities surrounding Brussels has evolved, as well as into the position of the Dutch language in this context. Brussels’ international functions and the immigration of foreign workers and EU citizens / officials have had a significant impact on the linguistic and cultural profile of this metropolis, resulting in a kaleidoscope of languages and hence an extensive multilingualism.
Based on earlier research, BRIO aims to develop a number of approach angles within this axis.
Research Axis 2: Diversity in Society
Aside from its impact on language policy, the current social context, characterized by cultural and linguistic identity, also affects society itself. Approximately one third of the population of Brussels does not have the Belgian nationality, while many Belgian citizens directly or indirectly descend from migration flows. Migrants range from the highly educated to the very low-skilled, which is why Brussels is such an interesting case. The repercussions of these findings are legion. In the past, BRIO has not only researched the migration flows to and from greater Brussels, but also such matters as the capacity of the Dutch-speaking education system and the relationship between language and identity. In this field, BRIO can also boast a long-standing tradition of research, which it would like to continue in the years to come.
Research Axis 3: Politics and Administration
BRIO has built up a wide range of expertise in the field of political history and analysis. Of course, this was centred around the development of a political-institutional model for this multiple capital within a long-term scope. Research showed that several policy concepts, structures or political practices of the current operation of the Brussels model go back to the late 19th century, or were at least discussed at that time. BRIO also applies the approach of the so-called histoire immédiate, which shows that recent (political) history can be relevant, from a fundamentally scientific point of view but also to support policy. As Brussels is the epicentre of a complex political-ideological mix of identities and as a crucial part of the federalisation process, its thematic approach from this angle of research will always maintain its important relevance to science and policy.
Research Axis 4. Comparative Research on Divided and Multilingual Cities
The comparative dimension intersects with the different axes of research. Brussels is and remains a unique case and is by its own rights sufficiently complex to justify a great deal of research attention. Social and political developments, however, do not end at the administrative borders. Furthermore, parallels with other divided / multilingual cities and regions can allow us to better grasp the current situation in Brussels and its periphery. In the past, comparative research projects were carried out on Jerusalem, Montreal (Laval) and Skopje. In the future, BRIO will further explore these angles comparing Brussels to Canada, Catalonia, the Basque Country and Belfast.