Thinking about war & peace: War enthusiasm

• Date: 19 May
• Time 19:30 - 21:00
• Location: Club Erasmus in de KB nationale bibliotheek

In the run-up to the NATO summit on June 24-25 in The Hague, the KB is organizing three sessions on the broader theme of war and peace. The rapid developments surrounding NATO and European defense call for further exploration. In these sessions, we will place these developments in a historical context.

Guest speakers and KB collection specialists will join the audience in exploring a number of recurring themes in the long history of thinking about peace and war. What is peace? How can war be prevented? And when do we feel safe?

All sessions can be attended separately. There will be opportunities to ask questions during the sessions and at the drinks reception afterwards.

Session 2: Enthusiasm for war

History has shown that many groups have considered armed struggle necessary to bring about change. In the run-up to the First World War, there was also great enthusiasm in certain circles for taking up arms. Historian Ewoud Kieft explains how these ideas took root and shows how the written word is a factor that should not be underestimated in times of war.

Ewoud Kieft is a historian and author of books including Oorlogsenthousiasme: Europa 1900-1918 (War Enthusiasm: Europe 1900-1918) and Het verboden boek. Mein Kampf (The Forbidden Book: Mein Kampf).

Collection specialist Channa Hoogervorst delves into the history of conscription and resistance to it using the KB collection.

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