This micro-history of Jewish life in Roermond and Middle-Limburg is simultaneously European history. One reason for this is that in the course of time many European peoples or nations played a role... Show moreThis micro-history of Jewish life in Roermond and Middle-Limburg is simultaneously European history. One reason for this is that in the course of time many European peoples or nations played a role in Roermond and its surrounding area. Yet it is also important to note that for centuries similar processes of acceptation and distancing with respect to Jews have occurred in many places in Europe. The central question of this study is: how did the attitude of the environment, strongly determined by Christianity, affect the position and status of the Jews in Roermond and Middle Limburg, from the late Middle Ages to the early twenty-first century? Because the Middle-Limburg region has throughout the centuries been predominantly Roman-Catholic, one of the main questions in this dissertation concerns the attitude of the Catholic Church as an institution over the course of time – and not only during the years 1940-1945 –, and the concomitant attitude of the Catholic press. The developments involved necessitate to address fundamental issues such as the relation between religion and society, and its importance for the status and position of minorities. Show less
How did early modern Dutch people relate to distant suffering? As charitable relief is as much a thing of the present as it is of the past, the question is still relevant in modern aid campaigns.... Show moreHow did early modern Dutch people relate to distant suffering? As charitable relief is as much a thing of the present as it is of the past, the question is still relevant in modern aid campaigns. This dissertation engages with the scholarly debate on early modern solidarity which presupposes that solidarity was confined to one’s own social or religious group. Therefore, aid to foreign fellow believers is commonly explained as religious brotherhood and long-distance solidarity with domestic disaster victims is thought to be absent, especially in the decentralised and particularistic Dutch Republic. This thesis demonstrates, first, that transnational aid to persecuted foreign fellow-believers was not just about confessional brotherhood but also about political interests and, second, it shows that long-distance solidarity with disaster victims was fairly common in the Dutch Republic. By analysing the arguments put forward by the victims in their aid requests, the reasons underlying the decisions of the civil authorities to support of reject these pleas, and the way in which the general public was persuaded to donate, this study reveals the multifaceted character of early modern aid. Furthermore, it provides insight into the emergence of humanitarian argumentation long before the Enlightenments ‘humanitarian revolution’. Show less
Authorities in Western countries, like the Netherlands, believe that after thorough investigation it is possible to separate genuine refugees from non-genuine refugees. Members of the first group... Show moreAuthorities in Western countries, like the Netherlands, believe that after thorough investigation it is possible to separate genuine refugees from non-genuine refugees. Members of the first group deserve admission, because they had a well-founded fear of persecution in their countries of origin. Non-genuine refugees, also called fortune hunters, were rejected, often because of credibility concerns. Individual case files of asylum seekers show which arguments were used to justify rejections or admissions. Case files contain a variety of letters and memos written by civil servants, neighbours, employers, relatives, friends, classmates of the children, churches, family doctors, refugee aid groups, lawyers, and scholars. All these insiders and outsiders explained why a particular asylum seeker deserved admission or not. This dissertation shows that civil servants were sensitive to the pressure of outsiders. In first instance, many asylum seekers were rejected, but if the asylum procedure dragged on, decisions were altered. This research displays the variety of arguments that were used in the period 1945-1994. Often arguments not related to the flight were decisive: humanitarian arguments, personal characteristics of the applicant (special skills), criticism on the asylum procedure (the asylum seeker waited too long) and being beneficial to the Dutch society. Show less
