Teaching history and its contribution to peace

Abstract

The aim of this article is to discuss the roles historical studies can take in the construction of peaceful societies in the future by means of the value and function of historical data. The Methods applied for this aim include “peace education” and “historical empathy”. Through examining the related publications, peace education is discussed with specific attention payed to types of practices and defined curricula in numerous countries including Australia. It is also suggested that historical empathy can be used for solving historical problems and creating a mutual understanding between societies which are neighbors or share common past while they struggle with the globalization process. Both researchers and students who establish “historical empathy” can develop a different attitude towards the “other” as a basic problem of teaching history by finding new approaches and horizons. In this article, the difficulties encountered in when it comes to the practice of “peace education” and “historical empathy” include a peaceful understanding to individuals, dealing with the concepts like war and antagonism - all discussed in the light of academic views. Basic principals like “permanency” and “reciprocity” are elements of the methods recommended above and are argued for in the article within the scope of the question of whether or not history can serve World peace.