Theocratic Education: Understanding the Islamic Republic of Iran by Analyzing Its Textbooks

Abstract

On February 11, 1979, the monarchy rule in Iran was replaced by an Islamic theocracy, and the new government revised textbooks to promote a new identity based on Shia Islam and the Iranian nationalism. Because textbooks are used throughout the world to create national identities and are of interest to educators, an analysis of texts can provide insights into how a nation views itself, others, and its place in the world. Using discourse analysis, this study analyzes an eighth-grade history textbook used in the Islamic Republic of Iran in 2004 to understand the role of Khomeini vis-à-vis the Shah and how the regime’s adversaries are depicted. Concepts of grievance and framing are used to analyze the textbook.

Citation

Kaviani, K.(K). (2006), "Theocratic Education: Understanding the Islamic Republic of Iran by Analyzing Its Textbooks", Social Studies Research and Practice, Vol. 1 No. 3, pp. 374-393. https://doi.org/10.1108/SSRP-03-2006-B0007