The Power of Narrative: Who Owns it and Why
Official history is usually the history taught to children at schools, the history that appears in national museums and the history that is celebrated on national holidays. This history can existed at city, regional or even International levels, but it is usually as at its most persuasive at a national level. These histories can be problematic for several reasons. Many national histories might seek to empathsis the best parts of a nation's past, while downplaying its failings. National narratives might also ignore significant minorities in their narratives, which often causes tensions between the leaders of these groups own official histories. If there are many strong regional narratives of history, they might compete with the national narrative of history. Official history has also been used in the past to justify oppression, revolution and war. It is a true demonstration of how important history is in shaping the present.