Recordings from the symposium ‘Traces and Testimonies: What Historical Narratives on Terrorism?’

On 25 September 2025, the MMT organised its second international seminar at the Collège des Bernardins in Paris on the theme ‘Traces and testimonies: what historical narratives on terrorism?’. This study day brought together researchers from various disciplines (history, political science, sociology, museology), as well as legal practitioners (judges, lawyers) and several directors of international memorial museums, provided an opportunity to take stock of our current understanding of the phenomenon of terrorism at a time when the resources available to understand it are multiplying (scientific resources, testimonies during trials), and to consider how this subject should be presented in museums.

Several key moments punctuated these discussions, which we invite you to watch on video (subtitled in English).

Round Table 1: ‘How should we write the history of terrorism today?’

Following an introduction by Henry Rousso, chair of the preparatory committee, who outlined the ambitions of the future Museum-Memorial of Terrorism and the commemorative context in which it is situated, three round tables took place in succession. The first, ‘How should we write the history of terrorism today? ”, featured political scientist Marc Hecker, historian and scientific advisor to the MMT Claire Sécail, historian Henry Rousso, and Raùl López Romo, director of educational programmes and exhibitions at the Memorial Centre for the Victims of Terrorism in Vitoria Gasteiz (Spain). The discussions were moderated by Pauline Picco, historian and scientific advisor to the MMT.

Roundtable No. 2: ‘How has terrorism changed the nature of witness testimony?’ ”

The second round table, “How has terrorism changed the nature of witness testimony?”, brought together the national anti-terrorism prosecutor Olivier Christen, the historian Denis Peschanski, the journalist and consultant Nicolas Hénin, and the lawyer Claire Josserand Schmidt. The session was moderated by Elisabeth Pelsez, a magistrate and director-general of the MMT’s preparatory mission.

Round Table No. 3: ‘How should terrorist violence be portrayed in a museum exhibition?’

The final round table, ‘How should terrorist violence be portrayed in a museum exhibition?’, provided an opportunity to hear the views of three directors of international memorial museums on this particularly sensitive issue. Speakers included: Clifford Chanin from the 9/11 Memorial Museum (United States), Kari Watkins, Director of the Oklahoma City National Memorial (United States), and Lena Fahre, Director of the 22 July Centre (Norway). They were joined by Hager Ben Aouissi, a survivor of the 14 July 2016 attack in Nice and president of the association Une voie des enfants, as well as Mileva Stupar, director of heritage at the Institut National de l’Audiovisuel. Artur Dénouveaux, president of the association Life For Paris, acted as moderator.

interlude

A musical interlude, designed as a welcome respite during the day, was provided by Sylvie Dunet, Sébastien Bidon and Laurent Jouanneau.

Finally, architect and set designer Adeline Rispal brought this day, rich in discussion and insights, to a close.

We would like to thank once again the participants and the large audience who attended.