Approach
As a heritage institution with a research function, Liberas connects the history of the ideal of freedom to eight interrelated domains: freedom and expression, freedom and thought, freedom and association, freedom and education, freedom and democracy, freedom and human rights, freedom and enterprise, and freedom and defence.
The first four relational fields concern crucial individual freedoms enshrined in the Belgian Constitution: freedom of religion and expression, freedom of education, freedom of the press, and freedom of association. Regarding the interpretation of the constitutional freedoms of religion and education, influential Belgian liberals throughout history have advocated a substantial separation of church and state, as well as (emancipatory) public education operating under the exclusive authority of the state. Through their research on these four fields of freedom, the research staff of Liberas also participates in the Secular Studies Association Brussels, an interdisciplinary research group at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel.
‘Freedom and democracy’, ‘Freedom and human rights’, and ‘Freedom and enterprise’ refer to liberal principles enshrined in international charters. Through its collections and research projects, Liberas documents and studies—within the Belgian context—the essential role of liberal democracy, as articulated in the Oxford Manifesto (1947), in realising all of the aforementioned freedoms and the universal human rights set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948).
‘Freedom and defence’ refers to the role of a military apparatus in safeguarding freedoms and human rights when necessary.
This clustering around freedoms stems from the profile of the current Liberas collection, but also aims to create space for developing collections on new themes within the liberal ideal of freedom in all its dimensions. An overview of all publications—both by members of the Liberas research team and by a broader group of staff members of the organisation—can be found in the organisation’s yearbooks.
Scientific staff of Liberas and the Secular Studies Association Brussels (VUB).
Themes and Areas of Expertise
Liberas’ research aims to generate and share insights into the historical evolution and societal embedding of various facets of the ideal of freedom in Flanders and Belgium, set against a broader European perspective. To this end, the research staff of Liberas conducts historical research into the cultural heritage produced by the liberal movement, as well as by individuals, associations, and initiatives committed to defending and promoting free thought and action, from the nineteenth century to the present.
This research is based on Liberas’ own collections and/or on themes defined for each policy period. In addition, archivists of Liberas operate at the intersection of collection management, research, and public outreach, contributing to the presentation of the collection for research purposes.
Within the relational fields that run transversally through Liberas’ activities, the research team of the organisation will, during the 2024–2028 policy period, pay particular attention to the following themes:
- Liberalism in Antwerp
- Apostasy
- Women within the liberal movement
- The freethought movement and Freemasonry before the Second World War
- Liberal trade unionism
- Innovative educational initiatives
- Migration and mobility
- International organisations committed to the ideal of freedom
- Small and medium-sized enterprises
The research team of Liberas also actively supports, facilitates, and encourages research by external scholars based on the collections preserved by Liberas or aligned with the research lines it develops. Researchers at Liberas promote student research through collaborations with the interuniversity programme in Gender and Diversity and the History programme at Ghent University.
Victor Desguin at his desk.
YOUR ARCHIVE AT LIBERAS?
Would you like to preserve your company’s, organisation’s, or personal archive and make it accessible for future generations? Entrust your valuable heritage to Liberas.
Liberas specialises in the preservation and management of archives from a wide range of organisations and individuals. Whether your archive is political, social, cultural or commercial in nature, we ensure that your unique history is safeguarded for the future.