History textbooks, racism and the critique of Eurocentrism

Beyond Rectification or Compensation

Bibliographic Data

ID7767375
AuthorsMarta Araújo (0000-0002-2449-0011, University of Coimbra), Silvia Rodríguez Maeso (0000-0003-2607-5206, University of Coimbra)
Year2012
Volume35
Issue7
Pages1266-1286
Publication date2012-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueEthnic and Racial Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0141-9870 • E-ISSN: 1466-4356
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/01419870.2011.600767
OpenAlexW2027216837
LanguageEN
Citations received37
References cited29

This article is based on the theoretical framework developed within a research project on the construction of Eurocentrism and, more specifically, on the analysis of Portuguese history textbooks. We propose that the textbooks’ master narrative constitutes a power-evasive discourse on history, which naturalizes core processes such as colonialism, slavery and racism. Showing the limits of an approach that merely proposes the compensation or rectification of (mis)representations, we argue for the need to unbind the debate on Eurocentrism from a perspective that fails to make problematic the ‘very idea of Europe’. Accordingly, our analysis of Portuguese history textbooks focuses on three core narrative devices: (1) the chronopolitics of representation; (2) the paradigm of the (democratic) national state; and (3) the definitive bond between concepts and historical processes

Colonialism · Epistemology · Eurocentrism · Linguistics · Narrative · Political science · Portuguese · Power (physics · Racism · Representation · Representation (politics · Sociology · Anthropology · Educator Training and Historical Pedagogy · Global Education and Multiculturalism · Global Educational Policies and Reforms · Gender Studies · Law · Philosophy

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