Historians express themselves through narratives, in which they both discover and construct the past. In given socio-political contexts many of these historical narratives function as political myths, which respond to people’s needs for orientation, meaning and significance, as well as the elite’s need for political legitimacy. Unlike contemporary historiography which often tries to disassociate itself from politics, history education across the globe is necessarily a political process and, for better or worse, it is dependent upon political planning and decision-making. This lecture shall follow the road taken by history education in the Republic of North Macedonia since 1991, and shall address the mutual influence between politics and education. Particular attention shall be paid on the notion of “work on myth”, using the three most powerful historical/political myths in the country: the myth of political continuity, the myth of ancient origin, and the myth of victimization. Major historical events have shaped and changed Macedonian history education, such as the fall of communism and the breakup of Yugoslavia, the armed conflict of 2001 and the Ohrid Framework Agreement, and, currently, the NATO accession process. If, in the earlier cases, Macedonian history education has made a step forward and then a step (or two) backwards, where shall it go next?
Lecture by Darko Leitner-Stojanov, Institute of National History,Skopje
Schubertstr. 51 / HS 31.11