Embracing lessons from the past: How postwar generations construct notions of freedom and dictatorship

Since 1990, the National Committee May 4 and 5 is publishing her annual National Freedom Monitor. Over the years, this monitor is showing an intriguing phenomenon: while World War II is becoming more and more a distant past and the first generation of eyewitnesses is passing away, the interest of younger generations in memories and tales of war and peace, freedom and unfreedom is increasing. This is not a specific Dutch phenomenon, but is signaled in other European countries as well. This observation leads to the following question: how do postwar generations in Europe embrace lessons from the past, especially in a time when notions of Europe are crumbling?

In answering this question, I will use the results of a recently conducted research project on how WW II, the Holocaust and other genocides are commemorated in 26 countries in Eastern and Western Europe. Preliminary conclusions indicate that establishing one shared European date of commemorating WW II most likely will be a far-reaching point at the horizon. However, common points of interest and values can be found too. In my paper, I will devote ample space to the long term, sociological-historical research program initiated by the National Committee in cooperation with Utrecht University (2012-2015).