The Teaching of History in Multicultural Societies and Border Areas. (Seminar Report: Khabarovsk (Russia), 21-23 September 1998.)

Description

The Seminar on "The teaching of history in multicultural societies and border areas" took place in Khabarovsk in September 1998, and it was jointly organized by the Council of Europe, the Ministry of General and Professional Education of the Russian Federation, and Khabarovsk State Pedagogical University. The seminar addressed the unique challenges facing history education in the border area of the Khabarovsk region, given its proximity to countries like Japan, Korea, China, and the United States, as well as the presence of an indigenous population and the coexistence of approximately 90 nationalities or ethnic groups from four major language groups. Various speakers highlighted the importance of fostering mutual respect and understanding in the region. The Council of Europe's involvement in history education aimed to combat potential political and ideological misuse of history, focusing on correcting traditional errors and prejudices and establishing historical facts. The seminar was part of a series of history teaching events held in different regions of the Russian Federation, with future conferences planned for evaluation and exchange of experiences. Additionally, the Council of Europe initiated projects related to creating a joint Caucasian textbook and a "Black Sea Initiative on History" involving countries around the Black Sea, in which the Russian Federation expressed significant interest and participation.

Keywords

Council of Europe

history teaching

border regions

multicultural societies