METHODOLOGICAL BASICS OF INSTRUMENTALIZATION OF HISTORY (ON EXAMPLE OF THE COURSE «HISTORY OF THE FATHERLAND» IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS OF ORDO)

In: Ukrai͏̈noznavčyj alʹmanach, Heft 29, S. 107-112

Abstract

The article shows the phenomenon of instrumentalization of history in educational process of the «Donetsk People's Republic». The authors emphasize that the problem is an urgent question. From one side, investigation is caused by the social necessity connected with the Ukrainian-Russian conflict. From another side, it is the result of the scientific importance related to the current trends of the development of history. The paper is focused on the methodology which is used for instrumentalization of history in educational institutions. Its purpose is to study learning process in the secondary schools of the «Donetsk People's Republic» and identify the methodological peculiarities of teaching the course «History of the Fatherland». The authors conclude that the studied textbooks successfully combine the qualities of educational literature and tools of informational and psychological influence. The most important features of the course «History of the Fatherland» are exaggeration of the regional interests (which are inextricably linked with the state interests of the Russian Federation) and «mnemonic war» (when the very fact of the existence of the Ukrainian ethnic group and Ukrainian statehood becomes the object of concealing). The authors conclude that by means of historical material manipulation and using the political myths of Russian imperial and Soviet historiography course «History of the Fatherland» form a regionally centric Ukrainophobic worldview of the students of ORDO. In the paper it is claimed that the level of instrumentalization of the course «History of the Fatherland» allows talking about it as a mean of information warfare. According to the authors, the presented conclusions should help the Ukrainian society to realize the seriousness of the problem. The paper should encourage cooperation of authorities with scientists to protect national memory policy, because neglecting this issue in the future may lead to coexistence of youth communities in Ukraine with conflicting cultural values.