Representation of Colonialism in Swedish Education - A qualitative text analysis of ideas

Abstract

Western educational systems are frequently criticized for silencing Western countries' participation in colonialism. Sweden has rarely been exposed to this criticism in comparison to other Western countries that globally are more associated with former colonial rule. Nevertheless, Swedish involvement in colonialism is a big part of the country's history. This study focuses on how the Swedish and the rest of the Western world's role in colonialism is represented in the Swedish educational system. Further, it is centered around examining what epistemology/ies that are behind the particular representation of their role in colonialism. The study proceeds from the method of analyzing ideas in a Swedish history textbook and syllabus. The study takes its theoretical stance in concepts and theories centered around decolonization and power. The main results of this study include absence of Swedish colonial history-writing and a Western perception on teaching colonialism in Sweden.