New histories for a new state: a study of history textbook content in Northern Ireland

Abstract

This study examined the changing content of history textbooks in Northern Ireland, drawing on a sample of 15 textbooks published from 1968 to 2010. Findings from the content and narrative analysis indicated that following the introduction of the Northern Ireland Curriculum in 1991, history textbooks shifted from a narrative to source-driven format, and adopted an enquiry approach that focused on significant events in Irish history. These changes allowed textbooks to more accurately reflect diverse perspectives on controversial events, but also prevented them from connecting specific events into a coherent whole. The format of more recent textbooks appears well suited to the particular demands of history education in a divided society like Northern Ireland where no single narrative is acceptable across all schools.