This article examines the ways in which campaigns supportive of dissidents and human rights in Eastern Europe developed in Belgium during the Cold War. The Belgian case study reveals the critical role of internationally oriented Catholic organizations and social movements in these campaigns. This Catholic activism has often been neglected in mainstream accounts focusing on left-wing or liberal support for Eastern European dissidents or human rights, but it is key to understanding the development of campaigns and their relationships, both real and imagined, with other causes, especially movements with a North – South orientation. Catholic ngo s and social movements constituted a site where activism on behalf of dissidents and human rights in Eastern Europe encountered and entangled with solidarity movements oriented toward the “Third World”. Revealing crossovers and connections, this article argues that the engagement with and images of Eastern European dissidents cannot be understood apart from the development of North – South movements. It also reveals tensions and limitations that have remained neglected in universalizing human rights narratives stressing connections and flows.
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Katholiek Documentatie Centrum (kdc), Nijmegen, Archive Pax Christi (pxi)
– 1534, Correspondence Oliver McTernan, Pax Christi International seminar on church and détente, August 26–27 1980
– 766, Etienne De Jonghe, Op zoek naar gemeenschappelijke grond: De gesprekken tussen Pax Christi Internationaal en de Russisch-Orthodoxe kerk, Brussel, 19 February 1993, 1.
Leuven University Archive (kul Archive), Leuven, Archive rector Honoré Van Waeyenbergh (Archive Van Waeyenbergh), nr. 7481 (A): Hongaarse studenten, Correspondence Van Waeyenbergh en Muzslay, 1956–1958.
Documentatie- en Onderzoekscentrum voor Religie, Cultuur en Samenleving (kadoc-ku Leuven), Leuven, Archive Hulp aan Hongaarse Jeugd (hhj) 5:
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– “Radio toespraak door E. P. Muzslay, S. J.” 31 March 1957b.
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– “Hulp aan Hongaarse Jongeren een Mislukking.” Gazet Van Antwerpen, 20 June 1957d.
– “Waarschuwing bij geldomhalingen voor Hongaarse kinderen.” De Standaard, 22 November 1957e.
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kadoc, Leuven, Archive acv/csc Bestuursorganen (acv bo), “procès-verbal de la réunion du Bureau en communiqué à la presse,” 1956–1957.
kadoc, Leuven, Archive Kerk in Nood (kin/oph) 7:
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– “‘Der Buffel’ Begin van een onmetelijk werk: De kapelwagensaktie van Oostpriesterhulp door de geschiedenis heen.” Christelijk Informatie Platform, 25 January 1971b.
kadoc, Leuven, Archive acv/csc Dienst Internationale Betrekkingen (acv ib) 43:
– Contacts with Czechoslovakia, “Invitation Solidarity march” 2 February 1977.
– Correspondence from Jef Houthuys to Karel Hoffman, May 1978
– “Issue of Rudolf Battek,” 31 June 1980.
– “Visit Hungarian Delegation,” 24 April 1981.
kadoc, Leuven, Aktiekrant: Wereldsolidariteit (ws ak):
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– “Actie Polen.” 1982a, 13: 4.
– “Een volk blijft vechten voor zijn vrijheid.” 1982b, 16: 3.
kadoc, Leuven, Archive World Confederation of Labour (wcl):
– 611, “Les aspirations à la liberté et à la démocratie du peuple tchécoslovaque,” 1968.
kadoc, Leuven, Archive Pax Christi België/Vlaanderen (pxb/v):
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– 148, Vredespolitiek: Themagroep Oost-West ontspanning-mensenrechten, “Verslag van de vergadering van de Oost-Westkomissie,” 12 December 1983.
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– 148, Vredespolitiek: Themagroep Oost-West ontspanning-mensenrechten, “Verslag van de vergadering van de Oost-Westkomissie,” 19 November 1984b.
– 148, Vredespolitiek: Themagroep Oost-West ontspanning-mensenrechten, “Verslag van de vergadering van de Oost-Westkomissie,” 17 December 1984c.
– 148, Vredespolitiek: Themagroep Oost-West ontspanning-mensenrechten, “Verslag van de vergadering van de Oost-Westkomissie,” 23 January 1985a.
– 148, Vredespolitiek: Themagroep Oost-West ontspanning-mensenrechten, “Pax Christi nodigt uit: Karel Bartosek,” 19 March 1985b.
– 389, Oost-West Werkgroep 1990, Correspondance, “Gregory Lokshin to Etienne De Jonghe,” 3 September 1990a.
– 389, Oost-West Werkgroep 1990, “Verslag van de vergadering van de werkgroep Oost-West,” 10 September 1990b.
Amsab Instituut voor Sociale Geschiedenis (amsab), Ghent, Archive Jong Socialisten (js):
– 712b, Correspondence, 1 Mei Komitee to Z. Enc Ambassadeur van de C.S.S.R.
– 712, Correspondence, Frank Beke to Anne Léger, 26 October 1979.
– 712, “Aan de ‘aktiviteiten’ van het 1 Mei Komitee. Betreft: Kampagne ‘oproep Moskou ’80,’” 23 April 1980a.
– 712, Dossier “Oproep Moskou 80,” 1980b.
– 712, “Vrijlating van alle politieke gevangenen – peterschap,” 1982.
– 712a, “En cours de route, le comité du Premier Mai a été amené à peciser ses raisons d’être et ses objectifs.”
Amsab Instituut voor Sociale Geschiedenis (amsab), Ghent, Robotnik informatiebulletin van het Vlaamse 1 Mei Komitee voor de verdediging van de demokratische vrijheden en arbeidersrechten in Oost-Europa (1) January 1980.
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This article examines the ways in which campaigns supportive of dissidents and human rights in Eastern Europe developed in Belgium during the Cold War. The Belgian case study reveals the critical role of internationally oriented Catholic organizations and social movements in these campaigns. This Catholic activism has often been neglected in mainstream accounts focusing on left-wing or liberal support for Eastern European dissidents or human rights, but it is key to understanding the development of campaigns and their relationships, both real and imagined, with other causes, especially movements with a North – South orientation. Catholic ngo s and social movements constituted a site where activism on behalf of dissidents and human rights in Eastern Europe encountered and entangled with solidarity movements oriented toward the “Third World”. Revealing crossovers and connections, this article argues that the engagement with and images of Eastern European dissidents cannot be understood apart from the development of North – South movements. It also reveals tensions and limitations that have remained neglected in universalizing human rights narratives stressing connections and flows.
All Time | Past Year | Past 30 Days | |
---|---|---|---|
Abstract Views | 112 | 112 | 37 |
Full Text Views | 62 | 62 | 1 |
PDF Views & Downloads | 98 | 98 | 6 |