Negotiating historical television in an era of political fragmentation and austerity: Tactics of heritage practitioners in Flanders, Belgium

In Western regions, tensions surrounding mediated nation-building progressively converge with growing commercialization of cultural institutions. The Story of Flanders (2023), a docudrama that narrates the genesis of Belgium’s northernmost region, proves exemplary of how reimaging national identity through public service media heightens fears for instrumentalization. This study investigates how heritage practitioners “make do” with the series and broader restrictions defined by austerity and political fragmentation. Despite ample research on historical television, identity and production, works commonly engage with historians as key expert contributors. Yet, important alternative roles have been neglected as central to the construction of televisual history. Results show austerity-drive imperatives guide practitioners to leverage discreet tactics to navigate this sensitive climate. Three areas of tension manifest, as the burden of history is weighted down by an added ideological layer: anticipating political fragmentation and fostering trust, negotiating authority and authorship, and facilitating dialogue and navigating austerity.