Why was the term belgitude criticized as a stereotype?

The term "belgitude" emerged in the 1970s and 1980s as a concept intended to unify French-language Belgian literature and establish it as a distinctive presence within international francophone culture.1

However, the term was soon criticized and perceived as an unhelpful stereotype. Critics, including Marc Quaghebeur, Jean-Marie Klinkenberg, Paul Aron, Christian Berg, and Frans De Haes, moved away from this reductive label. Instead, they focused on reassessing the history and quality of Belgian literature in French by explicitly recognizing its inherent linguistic and cultural diversity rather than forcing it into a singular, stereotypical identity.1