This Handbook provides a systematic and analytical approach to the various dimensions of
international ethnic and domestic conflict over the uses of national history in education
since the end of the Cold War. With an upsurge in political social and cultural upheaval
particularly since the fall of state socialism in Europe the importance of history textbooks
and curricula as tools for influencing the outlooks of entire generations is thrown into sharp
relief. Using case studies from 58 countries this book explores how history education has had
the potential to shape political allegiances and collective identities. The contributors
highlight the key issues over which conflict has emerged - including the legacies of socialism
and communism war dictatorships and genocide - issues which frequently point to tensions
between adhering to and challenging the idea of a cohesive national identity and historical
narrative. Global in scope the Handbook will appeal to a diverse academic audience including
historians political scientists educationists psychologists sociologists and scholars
working in the field of cultural and media studies.
