Questions of Contemporary History [LHISB304]

Learning outcomes

4. Develop specialised knowledge in areas of the historical discipline and understand the issues of the discipline

Objectives

At the end of the course, the student will be able to : • to present in a structured and logical way the evolution of the labour movement, trade union action and employers' organisations in Belgium in relation to the political and economic contexts; • to reconstruct the overall evolution of (in)equality in Belgium and of anti-poverty policies; • explain the process of institutionalisation and the results of social consultation in Belgium (in particular, the social security system); • make connections between the current political, economic and social situation and its antecedents.

Content

"The day after The course will paint a portrait of post-war Belgium, focusing particularly on the issues raised by the trial of collaborators: private, administrative and professional purges, judicial repression, a series of mechanisms were put in place in the aftermath of the Second World War to evaluate the patriotism of Belgians and to punish 'collaborators'. What do these (un)official trials reveal about the mentality of the time, the needs of a suffering population and the ambitions of the authorities returning from London? The issue will be analysed in the light of its current resonance in the political debate.