In a time of multiple crises and wars, the longing for peace often feels more present than ever. But what does peace actually mean? What price should we be willing to pay for it? And how has Luxembourg engaged with the issue over the course of its history?
These are the questions explored in the exhibition, curated by historian Mohamed Hamdi. The project was first conceived in 2021, and over five years a large collection of documents, photographs, testimonies and objects has been assembled. According to National Library Director Claude Conter, the material makes it possible to reconstruct ideas and public debates about peace in Luxembourg's past.
The exhibition takes a dual approach. "On the one hand, we show a bottom-up perspective: how civil society in Luxembourg has advocated for peace. On the other, we explore the efforts of government and diplomats at the international level," Conter explains. "These two viewpoints are traced through twelve chapters, covering nearly two hundred years."
Many of the documents are on display for the first time, drawn from association archives never previously open to the public. They include publications, posters, flyers and lesser-known periodicals, such as those issued by the Solidarity Committee with Nicaragua, which the National Library had not previously catalogued.
Visitors can travel through the history of Luxembourg's peace movements and encounter a broad range of convictions and opinions. The exhibition deliberately avoids moral judgement, Conter stresses: "We do not intend to lecture, but to equip visitors with the tools they need to form their own conclusions."
By providing historical context, the exhibition aims to encourage more fact-based discussion and reduce polarisation. Conter sees this as especially relevant today, when debates about the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East quickly become highly emotional. "Recognising that these conflicts are part of a broader historical context can help us react less emotionally, and analyse them more thoughtfully. That is a goal we want to express with this exhibition," he says.
The exhibition is presented in French and English.
