Chinese Ethnicity In Indonesian History Textbook

Abstract

This study examines the revised 2017 and 2018 editions of Indonesian history textbooks published by the Ministry of Education and Culture. The research method uses a Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) approach by Norman Fairclough. The research focuses on how Chinese ethnicity is in the narrative of historical textbooks. Furthermore, how are the hopes and possibilities for historical education to become a vehicle for pluralism, multicultural, and humanism education as the glue of the national spirit and strengthening of national identity? The study results show that there is still a lack of narrative about the role and contribution of the ethnic Chinese. However, it has been demanded to be bolder in exploring events related to the role and contribution of ethnicity. History textbooks as primary sources, representations, and discourses have enormous potential in fostering historical awareness, remembered history, invented history, and recovered history, which can trigger the strong roots of nationalism, including strengthening national identity based on historical facts.