REVISITING THE PROSPECT OF REVISION IN TURKISH SECONDARY SCHOOL HISTORY TEXTBOOKS: THE CASE OF THE ASSYRIAN DEBATE

This article is based on the premise that the constructed image of the national self is a fundamental criterion shaping the conceptions of history teaching in the Turkish educational system. In this regard, I argue that examining how particular ethno-religious groups are discursively positioned in r...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:British journal of educational studies 2022-07, Vol.70 (4), p.481-500
Main Author: Cetin, Önder
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Allegiance
Assyrians
Christianity
Community
Community Relations
critical discourse analysis
Curricula
Discourse Analysis
Educational Change
Ethnic Groups
Foreign Countries
History Instruction
history teaching
Justice
Muslims
Nationalism
Prosocial Behavior
Religious cultural groups
Religious Factors
Secondary School Students
Secondary schools
Self Concept
Self image
Selfimage
Teaching
Textbook Preparation
textbook revision
Textbooks
Tolerance
Turkey
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Summary:This article is based on the premise that the constructed image of the national self is a fundamental criterion shaping the conceptions of history teaching in the Turkish educational system. In this regard, I argue that examining how particular ethno-religious groups are discursively positioned in relation to the idealised self-image can reveal whether and how history textbooks can be revised. Having described the historical and political context for the only curriculum revision occurred in 2013 concerning a non-Muslim community, the Assyrians, the article demonstrates that specific discursive strategies are used to position the Assyrian community in relation to the favourable national self-image, rather than a fixed categorization for non-Muslim communities. Adopting the methodological framework of critical discourse analysis, the author examines the portrayal of the Assyrian community in the secondary school Turkish history textbooks taught over the last three decades and identifies how the topoi of justice and tolerance, as well as allegiance and betrayal allow a particular group to be a member of the larger body of 'acceptable citizens.'
ISSN:0007-1005
1467-8527
DOI:10.1080/00071005.2021.1990851