"Das Vaterland selbst vergewaltigt auf barbarische Weise das nationale Bewusstsein der griechischen Kinder" - Die Auseinandersetzung um ein neues Geschichtsbuch in Griechenland

In: Südost-Europa: journal of politics and society, Band 55, Heft 2-3, S. 315-336

Abstract

In 2006 the Greek Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs replaced most of the text books for primary schools with new ones. The new history text (16th-20th century) for the 6th class soon attracted intense criticisms, initiated by Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens. Politicians from across the political spectrum, organizations, public figures, and mass media joined in the attack against the text for allegedly distorting Greek national history and destroying national memory. In reality the book tried to incorporate the scholarship of academic historians and to break with some nationalist myths that have dominated the teaching of history since the 19th century. Whereas education minister Giannakou resisted demands to recall the book, her successor withdrew it after the elections in September 2007. Adapted from the source document.