Bilden av det röda Kina. Mao Zedongs regeringstid i skolans läromedel i historia 1970-2010

Abstract

This study investigates the evolution of depictions of Maoist China in Swedish history textbooks from 1970 to 2010. Through examining textbooks from this period, 20 years before the end of the cold war and 20 years after it, this study aims to investigate how quickly and how radically textbooks can change in their depictions of controversial and significant historical periods. Comparing descriptions of both people, tumultuous events, and general trends in China under Mao's rule, this study finds significant differences in how the textbooks describe Maoist China. While textbooks in the 1970s give a largely positive, sympathetic and hopeful view of China, during the 1990s and 2000s that perspective has been overtaken by an overwhelmingly critical view of Mao and his rule, focusing on his failures and dictatorial rule. The findings add to a somewhat divided field of research on the adaptability of textbooks, leaning toward the idea that textbooks can change rapidly during times of turmoil in a society.