Staging the Nation in an Intermediate Space: Cultural Policy in Luxembourg and the State Museums (1918-1974)

Luxembourg's cultural policy from the 1920s to the early 1970s reflects its unique status as a 'nationalised intermediate space,' balancing national identity with foreign influences. The study reveals three distinct yet interconnected periods: nation-building in the interwar era, the disruptive Nazi occupation (1940-1944), and post-war reconstruction, marked by conservative policies. It highlights tensions between national identity and external cultural references, particularly in state museums, which evolved from nation-building symbols to ambiguous tools under occupation and cautious custodians of history post-war. The research employs Philip Ther's concept of Zwischenraum (intermediate space) to frame Luxembourg's cultural policy, analyzing structures, actors, and discourses across these periods.

Spirinelli, F. (2025). Staging the Nation in an Intermediate Space. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783112207352