In the twentieth century, new scenarios for Europe’s future were often developed in the aftermaths of wars. Culture was attributed a significant role in these scenarios, with politicians, artists and intellectuals mobilizing culture in various ways with the purpose of reconstructing or ‘healing’ European civilization. The promotion of  cultural exchange, literary translations and European journals was thought to stimulate intercultural encounters that could contribute to the advancement of peace and international understanding in Europe. However, such projects contained problematic  contradictions between perceived national and European, regional and global identities.

The two panels will reflect on conceptions of ‘healing culture’ in scenarios of European futures, as they have been envisaged after the First World War and the Second World War. We will examine the policies and practices designed to mobilize culture in Europe, looking in particular at the different tensions that come into play.