Life Onboard LAST UPDATE  July 21, 2010
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June 13, 2010 Reconciling History – Eckhardt Fuchs
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Eckhardt Fuchs joined the 69th Voyage from Le Havre in France to the Polish city of Gdansk.
We often do not think about history as being the fundamental basis that shapes our identities as people, communities and nations. But it has an immeasurable impact on culture and the way in which we go about our day-to-day lives. Guest educator Eckhardt Fuchs works to make sure that people understand how historical facts are interpreted to create different histories. In a lecture to participants, Mr Fuchs said that the creation of Israel is a good example of how histories of the same event can differ. "For the Israeli side, the foundation of their country in 1948 is a glorious achievement, but for the Palestinians it is devastating because they lost their land." Both sides cannot agree on a single narrative of this incident because their interpretations of the events are so different. The huge contrast between their histories means that the troubled relationship of these two groups is strained even further.
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Students onboard Peace Boat had a look at new bilingual textbooks which have recently been published with the Institute's help.

Mr Fuchs is the Deputy Director of the Georg Eckert Institute in Germany, the only institution in the world that strives to develop teaching material and curricula that contribute to the deconstruction of prejudices and unite opposing histories. In this sense, it encourages the rewriting of history as part of the reconciliation process which is necessary to end conflict and distrust between groups and nations. "Textbooks are a type of media that everyone will use at least once in their lifetime. They define not only “legitimate knowledge”of a society but also communicate nationally and socially preferred concepts of identity," Mr Fuchs said. The Institute has had most success in developing a bi-national history textbook for French and German secondary school students. Instead of a one-sided narrative these bilingual books contain a more balanced history. They became part of the curriculum in both countries in 2006, but Mr Fuchs said this was no easy task. "It took more than 50 years to create the joint textbook because it takes a lot of time for reconciliation to occur."
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Textbooks with Korean and Japanese histories have been in such demand among participants that they have sold out during the voyage.

Similar textbooks are being in other regions outside of Europe. A book linking the histories between Japan, China, and South Korea has been created by a committee of concerned academics, educators and NGOs, including Peace Boat. However this book is yet to be approved by the Japanese education minister. Inside it explains that while Japan calls the sea next to it the 'Japan Sea,' South Korea calls it the 'East Asian Sea.' Even small differences like this can anger and infuriate. One old man listening to Mr Fuchs' lecture became upset by this revelation and told the audience that South Korea's naming is biased because the sea lies on Japan's west rather than east. He does not realise that calling it the 'Japan Sea' might cause just as much or even more offence to those living on the Korean Peninsula. This example shows why it is so important to expose opposing histories to young people while they are still developing their own values and understanding of the world. "Education has been seen for a long time as a way to overcome prejudices or stereotypes, so these textbooks will be one way to change perspectives and allow people to come together to resolve conflicts," Mr Fuchs said.
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Mr Fuchs joined participants on a study tour in Gdansk visiting war ruins and learning about Poland's history and liberation from both Nazi and Soviet rule.
This year marks the 20th anniversary since the reunification of Germany and 65 years since the end of WWII. Mr Fuchs said that his experience as a student helped him to understand how tension between groups can be resolved. "I grew up in East Germany and was part of the 1989 protests that led to my society transforming." The Institute is now working on a new textbook to marry the histories of Germany and Poland, which have had a difficult relationship since WWII, when six million Poles were killed. "This history textbook will be organically adopted in the curricula of both countries," Mr Fuchs said. "And it will help to foster the mutual understanding of each other’s history and culture." Poland and Germany were once bitter enemies but now enjoy a strong relationship. Providing better education for young people is one step towards the reconciliation of nations which have had troubled pasts.