Looking beyond diversity, racism in Luxembourg
Luxembourg often presents itself as a model of multicultural coexistence. But what happens when diversity is portrayed as an accomplishment while racism remains invisible? Few countries in Europe are as shaped by migration as Luxembourg. Nearly half of its resident population does not hold Luxembourgish nationality, and a significantly larger proportion has a migration background. This demographic reality reflects the country’s long history of labour migration and its role as a cross-border economic hub. Hence, diversity is not a recent phenomenon; it is part of the country's foundation.
Yet for many years, racism occupied a surprisingly marginal place in public debate. This absence should not be mistaken for an absence of racism. Rather, racism in Luxembourg has often been understood through a narrow public lens, where it is primarily associated with explicit, intentional, and targeted acts of violence or overt hatred. This framing can make it difficult to recognise other forms of racism, such as those that are unintentional, embedded in institutional practices, or expressed through everyday interactions that produce unequal treatment. It also risks overlooking how racism persist without clear individual intent, through structural arrangements and socially normalised practices.
A national study on racism and ethno-racial discrimination found discrimination to be a prevalent reality, particularly for people of African descent and Muslims, in education, housing, and employment, with only a small proportion formally reporting it. These findings challenge the idea that racism is limited to isolated incidents or individual prejudice. Racism is embedded in routines, expectations, institutional practices, and assumptions about who belongs, who is trusted, and who is represented. It often manifests through unequal outcomes and everyday interactions that remain largely invisible to those who do not experience them.
This blog post is part of the ARM project. The ARM project is an international project designed to explore the complex layers of racial and gender discrimination through the power of storytelling, art, and narrative research. Our goal is to create practical tools that support the mental health and empowerment of racialised and LGBTIQ youth.
At its core, the project looks beyond individual incidents of racism or discrimination. Instead, we’re interested in the hidden, often unspoken emotional impact these experiences leave behind — how they shape a young person’s sense of self, confidence, and well‑being.
Across Europe, race and gender still strongly influence who feels safe, heard, and valued. Yet the mental health effects of racism, gender discrimination, and internalised racism are rarely discussed, even though they deeply affect racialised and LGBTIQ young people. ARM aims to change that by creating spaces where youth can share their lived experiences and see their stories reflected, respected, and understood.
