Abstract

CERON RENGIFO, Patricia. Us and the Others in Colombian Geography Textbooks (1970-1990). Folios [online]. 2012, n.35, pp.115-131. ISSN 0123-4870.

Abstract In order to examine the identification of population in social studies school textbooks, a study was conducted about the constructions of the terms Us and Others in a sample of Geography of Colombia school textbooks, intended to be used in secondary school level, published between 1970 and 1990. Methodological tools proposed by Van Dijk (2008) and Wodak (2003) were used in order to study the ideological identity discourse of social groups, based on the tracking of the positive representation of Us and the negative representation of Others. A promotion of a culturally homogeneous national identity and a hierarchized classification of the population were found. This was done through categories based on the idea of race, social status and territory. The government and the elites composed of urban, affluent white people who live in the high plateau of the Departments of Cundinamarca and Boyacá appear to be the Us and are represented in a positive way, while the population categorized as peasant, villager, Indian, black, mulatto or zambo is included in the term Others and is represented negatively.

Keywords : Geography School Textbook of Colombia; identification; population.

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