History Textbook Project: National identity

Two former students are keeping the sacred fire burning, although that is a dangerous expression, since I am talking about history textbooks. Has anyone made a study of the history textbooks burned by Hitler? The History Textbook Project has many dimensions. David Pike, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of the American University of Paris, has persuaded his institution to be the its home. It is an excellent location. The university is small enough to get things done, whereas at a large one even the best proposal runs into a series of roadblocks. The American University of Paris has many foreign students who can help acquire history textbooks from around the world. WAISers likewise can help. I would like to see Stanford overseas campuses involved too; this would be very appropriate, since the project started at Stanford and will be under our auspices. UNESCO headquarters are in Paris, and should be able to help, although such bodies are slow-moving. If the American University of Paris can build up a collection of history textbooks from around the world, it will be a unique international resource.

The second former student is Jaqui White. She believes in letting sleeping dogs lie, at least her own, but she has aroused the bloodhound of national identity, beginning with the Kurds. It is an extraordinary complex, important subject which should figure prominently in the textbook project. Some time ago I directed a study on the Austrians' sense of nationality. Are they Germans? That answer has swung between yes and no. My impression is that at present they would tend to say no. Are you Russian? The answer would vary among the various republics and districts which make up the Russian Federation. Has there been a study of that?

That brings us back to the issue which started this discussion. Who are the Kurds? There again, the answer varies according to all kinds of circumstances. Consider their hero, Saladin (1138-1193). He was raised in northern Syria, Arab country, where his family played a key role under the Zangid dynasty. He accompanied a Zangid army led by his uncle Shirkuh to Egypt, where he helped the Fatimid rulers resist the Crusaders. He was installed as vizier, but then overthrew the Fatimid dynasty and, as sole ruler, restored Islamic orthodoxy. He captured Jerusalem from the Christians. He died and was buried in Damascus, a great Arab city. After he died, the Turkish Mamelukes took over Egypt, whose glory faded away.

Saladin viewed himself as an Arab, since he has spent his whole life in Arab country. If any WAISer was around then, please confirm this; it was before my time. Any scholarly reference would be appreciated too. A fascinating project would be to compare the treatment of Saladin in the history textbooks of various countries. In all the textbooks of Arab countries, as well as those of Kurdistan, he would appear as a great hero. I believe Western textbooks too would be favorable. Is there a greater hero in the Arab world?

Ronald Hilton - 6/2/02