Contact education, old and new media: Reflections on a peace-building initiative in Norway

Abstract

In 2001, a peace foundation was set up in Southern Norway, where a regional WW II Gestapo headquarters became a non-profit venue with a vision of becoming a nationally recognized peace education center. The first two years saw regular threats of bankruptcy and little recognition. Then, the vision took hold – Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa came to visit twice, and a joint venture agreement was signed with the UNESCO-listed Robben Island Heritage Museum in Cape Town. Several other alliances were forged. But what was it about this vision that suddenly caught the attention of individuals and organizations engaged in peace work? Can we learn something from the history of the center about peace education as a kind of narrative strategy?

Keywords

• peace education
• conflict history
• war memories
• human rights atrocities
• narrative strategy