比利時的永久中立國經驗

Review of Belgian Experience as a Permanently Neutral State

比利時並非地廣人多，具豐沛自然與人力資源之大型強國。然國家地處歐陸中心，又夾在歐洲強權國家之中，地緣上的重要戰略位置讓比利時自古以來為周鄰各國覬覦之地。自國家獨立以來，受迫於強權間制衡政治，國家被要求為永久中立國，卻又因強權個別利益被迫破壞其中立原則。在比利時的戰略思考上，比利時如果要得到永久和平，勢必不能讓法國與德國再度陷入戰爭狀態。因此，比利時積極促成將法國、德國、英國與義大利都包含在內之歐洲經濟整合計畫，並透過多邊主義的實質參與做為外交活動平台，進而強化國家在國際互賴網絡的緊密程度。自二次大戰以降，比利時為脫離他國之左右，便在政治決策上拋棄中立政策，先成立比荷盧關稅聯盟，聯合歐洲其他國家追求區域穩定與和平，以真正確保國家安全，隨後積極加入歐洲煤鋼共同體與歐洲經濟共同體，以追求歐洲大陸之永久和平。比利時做為一小型國家，在歷經中立國與二次大戰之淬煉後，以區域整合與軟實力，成為歐盟與北約的歐洲權力列強之中心，將列強權力平衡之概念與小國之重要性進行發揮，確實是小國之典範。

Belgium is never be regarded as a power country that owns abundant natural and human resources as well as a large territory with high population. However, since Belgium is located at the center of European continent and adjacent to numerous European powers, the importance of its strategic location has made it a hotly contested spot for surrounding military powers. Ever since its independence, in order to counter-balance the disproportionate powers, Belgium had been compelled to claim neutrality; yet, the principle of its neutrality was later destroyed due to the conflict of interests among neighbor States. From the perspective of military strategy, before Belgium can maintain peace and security of Europe, it has to make sure that France and Germany would never enter into any belligerent situation. Therefore, Belgium played an active role in promote European economic integration in which France, Germany, British and Italy were encouraged to take part and develop its participation in foreign relation through multilateralism to strengthen the interdependence between States in international society. Belgium had been compelled to claim permanently neutrality; yet, the principle of its permanently neutrality was later destroyed due to the conflict of interests among neighbor States. That is the reason the Belgium decided to abandon the idea of neutrality after the end of the WWII. Instead, it established the BENELUX to unite other States in Europe to make sure the stability and peace of the region, and among others, to ensure its national security. Later, Belgium actively tried to join the European Coal and Steel Community and European Economic Community in order to pursue the eternal peace of the region. Belgium, as a relatively small State, after the lesson of neutrality and WWII, has become the center of EU and NATO through regional integration and its soft power. All in all, Belgian experience is served as the best example to maneuver the idea of balance of power and to shape the international importance as a small State.