Article Version of Record

Silence in official representations of history: Implications for national identity and intergroup relations

Author(s) / Creator(s)

Kurtiş, Tuğçe
Soylu Yalçınkaya, Nur
Adams, Glenn

Abstract / Description

Dominant representations of history evolve through differential exercise of power to enable memory of collective triumphs and silence memory of collective misdeeds. We examined silence regarding minorities in official constructions of history and the implications of this silence for national identity and intergroup relations in Turkey. A content analysis of official constructions of history inscribed in Turkish national university admissions exams (Study 1) revealed an emphasis on celebratory events, silence about ethnic and religious minorities, and a construction of national identity in ethno-cultural (e.g., as “Turk” and “Muslim”) rather than civic terms (e.g., in terms of citizenship). An investigation with Turkish participants (Study 2) revealed that denial of historical information regarding minority populations documented in sources outside the national curriculum was associated with greater endorsement of ethno-cultural constructions of identity and less support for minority rights and freedom of expression. We discuss the liberatory potential of alternative forms of historical knowledge to promote more inclusive models of identification and improve intergroup relations.

Keyword(s)

collective memory national identity intergroup relations history Turkey

Persistent Identifier

Date of first publication

2018-01-31

Journal title

Journal of Social and Political Psychology

Volume

5

Issue

2

Page numbers

608–629

Publisher

PsychOpen GOLD

Publication status

publishedVersion

Review status

peerReviewed

Is version of

Citation

Kurtiş, T., Soylu Yalçınkaya, N., & Adams, G. (2018). Silence in official representations of history: Implications for national identity and intergroup relations. Journal of Social and Political Psychology, 5(2), 608–629. https://doi.org/10.5964/jspp.v5i2.714
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Kurtiş, Tuğçe
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Soylu Yalçınkaya, Nur
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Adams, Glenn
  • PsychArchives acquisition timestamp
    2018-11-26T12:45:19Z
  • Made available on
    2018-11-26T12:45:19Z
  • Date of first publication
    2018-01-31
  • Abstract / Description
    Dominant representations of history evolve through differential exercise of power to enable memory of collective triumphs and silence memory of collective misdeeds. We examined silence regarding minorities in official constructions of history and the implications of this silence for national identity and intergroup relations in Turkey. A content analysis of official constructions of history inscribed in Turkish national university admissions exams (Study 1) revealed an emphasis on celebratory events, silence about ethnic and religious minorities, and a construction of national identity in ethno-cultural (e.g., as “Turk” and “Muslim”) rather than civic terms (e.g., in terms of citizenship). An investigation with Turkish participants (Study 2) revealed that denial of historical information regarding minority populations documented in sources outside the national curriculum was associated with greater endorsement of ethno-cultural constructions of identity and less support for minority rights and freedom of expression. We discuss the liberatory potential of alternative forms of historical knowledge to promote more inclusive models of identification and improve intergroup relations.
    en_US
  • Publication status
    publishedVersion
  • Review status
    peerReviewed
  • Citation
    Kurtiş, T., Soylu Yalçınkaya, N., & Adams, G. (2018). Silence in official representations of history: Implications for national identity and intergroup relations. Journal of Social and Political Psychology, 5(2), 608–629. https://doi.org/10.5964/jspp.v5i2.714
    en_US
  • ISSN
    2195-3325
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12034/1445
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.1778
  • Language of content
    eng
  • Publisher
    PsychOpen GOLD
  • Is version of
    https://doi.org/10.5964/jspp.v5i2.714
  • Keyword(s)
    collective memory
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    national identity
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    intergroup relations
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    history
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    Turkey
    en_US
  • Dewey Decimal Classification number(s)
    150
  • Title
    Silence in official representations of history: Implications for national identity and intergroup relations
    en_US
  • DRO type
    article
  • Issue
    2
  • Journal title
    Journal of Social and Political Psychology
  • Page numbers
    608–629
  • Volume
    5
  • Visible tag(s)
    Version of Record