The construction and deconstruction of national myths. A study of the transformation of Finnish history textbook narratives after World War II

Abstract

ABSTRACTHistorical myths were essential tools of nation-building in nineteenth century Europe, including Finland. ‘Myths’ are vernacularly and trans-generationally fostered narratives of the past. A myth is born, when a community embraces a narrative as an integral element of its collective memory. In the Finnish case of nation-building, the core of collective memory consisted of the myths of a primordial ethnic home, the destiny of a nation-state, resilient people, a free peasantry and military valour. The longevity of myths is challenged by changes in politics and historiography. In Europe, the deconstruction of national myths took place after the Second World War, when nationalism lost its relevance to the communities and historians urged an objective and multiperspective approach to the past. De-ideologization and multiperspectivity were equally expected from school textbooks. The article ends up questioning the feasibility of the nation-state as the framework of presenting history.