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In this paper we examine the representations of the colonial past and the master narratives about the liberation struggles conveyed by current Mozambican history textbooks. Mozambique is a multicultural and multilingual country, which inherited a particularly difficult situation from the colonial past. After gaining independence in 1975, one of the priorities was colonial past. After gaining independence in 1975, one of the priorities was to re-write history in order to overcome the "capitalist colonial mentality", and foster "patriotism", "socialism" and achieve "national cohesion". However, soon after independence, the country lived through a 16-year "civil war" which ended only after the collapse of the USSR and the dismantling of the apartheid regimes in neighbouring countries. Our research corpus material comprised all five current history textbooks for secondary education (grades 8 - 12). We conducted an exploratory narrative content analysis of the corpus, connecting psychological contents (namely, social categorization, social comparison, and attribution processes) to linguistic-structural features of narratives. Textbooks explain how European imperialism was characterized by capitalism, the exploitation of natural and human resources, the slave trade, the partition of Africa among European empires, and the racist colonial rule, excluding native peoples from citizenship. The processes of social comparison assume a particular relevance, aiming to highlight a common struggle against colonialism and capitalism by African and Asian peoples. Overall, textbooks tend to configure a simplified master narrative that operates on the basis of binary oppositions that were conveyed by the ruling elite propaganda, legitimizing the present-day political situation. Throughout the text, the binary "us" versus "them", "workers" versus "capitalists", is mainly expressed in terms of European/exploiter versus African/exploited and goes in tandem with an almost unspoken racial binary system (Black versus White), achieved ...

In this article we examine the textbook narratives of the colonial past and the nation-building process in Mozambique, a Southern African country which gained its independence in 1975. One of the priorities after independence was to redesign the state apparatus and social system in order to decolonise people's minds, foster patriotism and strengthen national cohesion. We have conducted a discourse analysis of the verbal and iconic content of two Mozambican history textbooks, which are exclusively dedicated to national history: one published during the singleparty or "socialist" phase; and the other published in the multi-party or "neoliberal" phase and currently in use. For this purpose, we developed an analytic framework to unveil how the textbooks' written and visual repertoires, and the combination thereof, convey (or otherwise) a diverse and inclusive vision of the nation. Our findings reveal that although there have been changes in the types of language and images used, the general account of Mozambican history remains identical, emphasising the need for national unity under the leadership of the ruling political elite and recounting the History of Mozambique from the perspective of a single Liberation script, that completely overlooks the agency of women.

In this article we examine the textbook narratives of the colonial past and the nation-building process in Mozambique, a Southern African country which gained its independence in 1975. One of the priorities after independence was to redesign the state apparatus and social system in order to decolonise people's minds, foster patriotism and strengthen national cohesion. We have conducted a discourse analysis of the verbal and iconic content of two Mozambican history textbooks, which are exclusively dedicated to national history: one published during the single- party or "socialist" phase; and the other published in the multi-party or "neoliberal" phase and currently in use. For this purpose, we developed an analytic framework to unveil how the textbooks' written and visual repertoires, and the combination thereof, convey (or otherwise) a diverse and inclusive vision of the nation. Our findings reveal that although there have been changes in the types of language and images used, the general account of Mozambican history remains identical, emphasising the need for national unity under the leadership of the ruling political elite and recounting the History of Mozambique from the perspective of a single Liberation script, that completely overlooks the agency of women. ; Article developed in the scope of "Knowledge for Development Initiative", supported by the Aga Khan Development Network and the FCT - Foundation for Science and Technology, IP (no. 333162622), under of the project "Memories, cultures and identities: how the past weights on the present-day intercultural relations in Mozambique and ...

This article asserts the importance of examining gender barriers in the deliberative processes of the public sphere. The purpose of a participatory democracy is not feasible without the equal inclusion of women's voices under similar conditions to their male peers. In the past, various studies have shown that women in the media are either rendered invisible or described according to stereotyped characteristics, which results in their "symbolic annihilation". Arguing that television remains an important mass medium in the delivery of news to the general public, a qualitative study has been developed aiming to understand how gender meanings in the evening news are negotiated by televiewers. Within this context, a sequence of focus group discussions has been organized in order to examine several gender perceptions of the news that shall contribute to the development of a critical perspective on media structures and contents ; Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia ...

"Social representations of the colonization and decolonization processes among young people from a former European colonial power (Portugal) and from an African ex-colony (Mozambique) were investigated through surveys using open- and closed-ended questions about national history, focusing on the identity functions of collective memories. Hegemonic and contested representations were found of the most prominent events related to Portuguese colonization of Mozambique, arousing a range of collective emotions. A central place is occupied by memories of the Colonial War, which ended with the Carnation Revolution in Portugal and the subsequent independence of the Portuguese African colonies. Overall, the depiction of colonialism was more negative for Mozambican than for Portuguese participants. The violent effects of colonial action were very salient in Mozambican memories, which stressed the most oppressive aspects of the colonial period, associated with slave trade and brutal repression. On the Portuguese side, the idealization of the voyages of discovery persisted, obscuring the most violent effects of colonial expansion. However, collective memories of colonization of former colonizer and former colonized do not simply stand opposed. Both Mozambican and Portuguese participants reported ambivalent feelings towards the colonization process." (author's abstract)

Social representations of the colonization and decolonization processes among young people from a former European colonial power (Portugal) and from an African ex-colony (Mozambique) were investigated through surveys using open- and closed-ended questions about national history, focusing on the identity functions of collective memories. Hegemonic and contested representations were found of the most prominent events related to Portuguese colonization of Mozambique, arousing a range of collective emotions. A central place is occupied by memories of the Colonial War, which ended with the Carnation Revolution in Portugal and the subsequent independence of the Portuguese African colonies. Overall, the depiction of colonialism was more negative for Mozambican than for Portuguese participants. The violent effects of colonial action were very salient in Mozambican memories, which stressed the most oppressive aspects of the colonial period, associated with slave trade and brutal repression. On the Portuguese side, the idealization of the voyages of discovery persisted, obscuring the most violent effects of colonial expansion. However, collective memories of colonization of former colonizer and former colonized do not simply stand opposed. Both Mozambican and Portuguese participants reported ambivalent feelings towards the colonization process. Adapted from the source document.

In this chapter, we discuss two studies that aimed to analyse social representations of world history and national history (Study 1) and supranational history (Study 2). Study 1 was conducted among university students in six former Portuguese colonies (Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, East Timor, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique) and Study 2 was conducted among university students in Latin America (Brazil, Chile, and Mexico). In both studies we used questionnaires with open-ended questions about important events in world history and in national history (Study 1) or in the region's history (Study 2). Despite the reference to different historical events and the existence of national and regional specificities, several common trends were noteworthy across the studies. There was a centrality of events involving political issues, conflicts and revolutions, as well as a recency effect and a sociocentric bias, replicating previous research about social representations of world history in different countries. There was also a prominence of events regarding colonization and independence issues in all samples, however this prominence was stronger concerning national or supranational history than concerning world history. The liberation narrative was predominant in the data from African countries (Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique), emphasizing the violence of colonization period and the successful struggle against it. Among Latin American participants, through an emphasis on a common narrative of struggle and overcoming difficulties, the participants shared social representations of Latin American history that may favour mobilization and resistance, challenging the stability and legitimacy of the existing social order. These findings are discussed in terms of their potential connections with present-day intergroup relations within and between world regions. ...

Social representations of history play an important role in defining the identity of national and supranational groups such as Latin America, and also influencing present-day intergroup relations. In this paper, we discuss a study that aimed to analyse and compare social representations of Latin American history among Brazilian, Chilean, and Mexican participants. We conducted a survey with 213 university students, aged 18 to 35 years old, from these three countries, through an online questionnaire with open-ended questions about important events and people in the region's history. Despite the reference to different historical events and the existence of national specificities, several common topics were noteworthy across the three samples. There was a centrality of events involving political issues, conflicts and revolutions, as well as a recency effect and a sociocentric bias, replicating previous research about social representations of world history in different countries. There was also a strong prominence of colonization and independence issues in all samples. Through an emphasis on a common narrative of struggle and overcoming difficulties, the participants' social representations of Latin American history may favour mobilization and resistance, challenging the stability and legitimacy of the existing social order. Furthermore, the findings are discussed in terms of their potential connections with present-day intergroup relations within Latin America, and between Latin America and other parts of the world. ; peerReviewed ; publishedVersion

Social representations of history play an important role in defining the identity of national and supranational groups such asLatin America, and also influencing present-day intergroup relations. In this paper, we discuss a study that aimed to analyseand compare social representations of Latin American history among Brazilian, Chilean, and Mexican participants. We conducteda survey with 213 university students, aged 18 to 35 years old, from these three countries, through an online questionnairewith open-ended questions about important events and people in the region's history. Despite the reference to different historicalevents and the existence of national specificities, several common topics were noteworthy across the three samples. Therewas a centrality of events involving political issues, conflicts and revolutions, as well as a recency effect and a sociocentricbias, replicating previous research about social representations of world history in different countries. There was also a strongprominence of colonization and independence issues in all samples. Through an emphasis on a common narrative of struggleand overcoming difficulties, the participants' social representations of Latin American history may favour mobilization andresistance, challenging the stability and legitimacy of the existing social order. Furthermore, the findings are discussed in termsof their potential connections with present-day intergroup relations within Latin America, and between Latin America and otherparts of the world.

Social representations of history play an important role in defining the identity of national and supranational groups such asLatin America, and also influencing present-day intergroup relations. In this paper, we discuss a study that aimed to analyseand compare social representations of Latin American history among Brazilian, Chilean, and Mexican participants. We conducteda survey with 213 university students, aged 18 to 35 years old, from these three countries, through an online questionnairewith open-ended questions about important events and people in the region's history. Despite the reference to different historicalevents and the existence of national specificities, several common topics were noteworthy across the three samples. Therewas a centrality of events involving political issues, conflicts and revolutions, as well as a recency effect and a sociocentricbias, replicating previous research about social representations of world history in different countries. There was also a strongprominence of colonization and independence issues in all samples. Through an emphasis on a common narrative of struggleand overcoming difficulties, the participants' social representations of Latin American history may favour mobilization andresistance, challenging the stability and legitimacy of the existing social order. Furthermore, the findings are discussed in termsof their potential connections with present-day intergroup relations within Latin America, and between Latin America and otherparts of the world. ; As representações sociais da história desempenham um papel importante na definição de identidades sociais de distintos grupos nacionais e supranacionais, ao mesmo tempo em que influenciam relações intergrupais. Neste artigo, discutimos dados de um estudo que visou analisar e comparar as representações sociais da história da América Latina entre participantes brasileiros, chilenos e mexicanos. Foi realizada uma pesquisa com 213 estudantes universitários destes três países (18 a 35 anos de idade), através de um ...

Resumo Este artigo discute a representação da contribuição das mulheres na história da ciência nos livros didáticos do ensino secundário português. A análise exaustiva dos livros didáticos de história revelou que o papel das mulheres na ciência é negligenciado, à exceção de Marie Curie, que é citada várias vezes. Continua-se a retratar a ciência silenciando contributos do trabalho e persistência de mulheres cujo papel como (co)-autoras de descobertas científicas foi apagado ou ignorado, persistindo o "efeito Matilda". As mulheres aparecem nas imagens como auxiliares, corpos ou consumidoras dos benefícios da ciência.