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Why a government-sponsored history project is stirring controversy
In a country where history is often shaped by politics, new state-backed textbooks have raised concerns about narrative control and repeating past biases.
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Turning point: A general view of the opening session of the first National History Seminar, held on Dec. 14, 1957, in Yogyakarta. As the first seminar after independence, it included discussions on adopting an Indonesia-centric approach. Courtesy of the Indonesian National Archives (Indonesian National Archives/-)
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government-backed effort to rewrite Indonesia’s official history books has sparked a backlash from scholars and civil society groups, who warn it risks glorifying political figures and narrowing historical perspectives.
The initiative was announced by Culture Minister Fadli Zon late last year, following a meeting with the Indonesian Historians Association (MSI).
The 10-volume series, involving at least 120 academics and researchers, covers Indonesian history from prehistory to the presidency of Joko “Jokowi” Widodo. It is scheduled for publication in August to coincide with the country’s 80th Independence Day.
Minister Fadli, speaking on Monday ahead of a meeting with House of Representatives Commission X, which oversees education and culture, said the new history series would emphasize the positive aspects of each administration. He added that it would include the election of President Prabowo Subianto and his upcoming programs as part of the periodization.
In a country where historical narratives have long been shaped by political interests, the creation of new state-sponsored textbooks has raised concerns about narrative control and the risk of repeating patterns seen in previous national histories.
A pattern of political histories
Indonesia has a contentious history with official history books.
