Presentation

Our research program shows that the usual ways of studying collaboration are insufficiently able to render adequate answers. The debate on collaborationist behaviour has previously focused on social judgement in terms of ‘right’ and ‘wrong’, and subsequently on ‘shades of grey’. We state that these notions are not clarifying and we reject ideas of historical linearity with regard to integration of former collaborators and their families.

Our special focus is on questions of citizenship: how citizenship is permanently the subject of discussion and how it is contested by various groups, individuals, organizations and the state, especially in periods of political stress like an occupation and its immediate aftermath.

During the occupation, Dutch National Socialists and their antagonists held conflicting images of Dutch citizenship. The study of imprisonment and punishment of collaborators after the war shows the dynamics within the state apparatus with regard to ideas and practices of re-education, discipline and ‘good citizenship’. When the former collaborators were released the question of social, juridical and political integration came up: how did this minority function within the developing welfare state? What can we learn with regard to processes of in- and exclusion of minorities after a period of transitional justice? What does it mean that the children of collaborators from the 1980s onwards started to organize themselves within the spheres of psychological care?

The research team invites international colleagues who work on questions regarding citizenship in periods of political and social reconstruction from a historical, social sciences or psychological perspective to propose a paper for our seminar. Topics of interest may include:

• activists and social movements,
• prison regimes,
• minorities,
• re-education,
• welfare state.

Submissions

Please send electronic abstracts of 400-500 words, with a short CV to Dineke de Visser (d.de.visser@niod.knaw.nl).

The deadline for submission is 1 June 2012.

• The organization has a limited number of travel grants available for participants whose home institutions are unable to meet the costs.
• More information on the research program is available on www.niod.nl and www.erfenissenvancollaboratie.nl.
• Inquiries may be directed to project coordinator Ismee Tames i.tames@niod.knaw.nl