On 12 November, Sophie De Schaepdrijver will give a lecture titled "Dance with a Bully: Occupied Brussels in the First World War" as part of the VUB Ties That Bind Us series. Attendance is free, but please register via this link.
Abstract
What does the experience of one large city under enemy occupation during a long-past world war teach us about democracy, the international rule of law, and pacifism today? Or, for that matter, about military occupation today?
Historian of war and society Sophie De Schaepdrijver delves into the particular history of occupied Brussels in 1914-1918 to explore contemporary questions.
Following the lecture, Nel de Mûelenaere (VUB) will lead a conversation with Sophie De Schaepdrijver and the audience. Together, they will reflect on occupation and the ways in which civilians respond to oppression, both during the First World War and beyond.