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Two Perspectives, One History: Western Colonialism in Indonesian and Malaysian History Textbooks

Paramita: Historical Studies Journal · Vol. 36 No. 1 (2026)

DOI
10.15294/paramita.v36i1.16397
ISSN
2407-5825, 0854-0039
Terbit
2026-04-23
Penerbit
istory Department, Faculty of Social Sciences, Universitas Negeri Semarang in collaboration with Masyarakat Sejarawan Indonesia (Indonesian Historical Society)
Bahasa
eng

Abstrak

Abstract: This study examines how Western colonialism is narrated in Indonesian and Malaysian history textbooks and compares the perspectives embedded in both national textbook traditions. Although Indonesia and Malaysia share historical and cultural links, their textbook narratives differ in their interpretations of colonial rule, its impacts, and its place in national history. This research addresses four main issues: the background of colonial arrival, the characteristics of colonial systems, the impacts of colonial rule, and similarities and differences in colonial state policies as presented in textbooks. Using a qualitative content analysis, this study examines selected secondary school history textbooks from Indonesia and Malaysia, published under different curricular frameworks. The analysis focuses on two main dimensions: how textbooks depict colonialism and how they construct particular perspectives on colonial experience. The findings show that Malaysian textbooks tend to present Western colonialism as a broader geopolitical process shaped by rivalry among imperial powers. British colonialism is described not only as exploitative but also as contributing to administrative modernization, territorial formation, and the development of a plural society. In contrast, Indonesian textbooks emphasize colonial exploitation, coercive policies, and popular resistance, especially under Dutch rule. Colonialism is largely portrayed as an oppressive force that generated suffering and stimulated nationalism. This study demonstrates that textbook narratives are closely related to national identity formation and educational ideology. It contributes to history education by showing that colonialism in textbooks is not merely presented as past events, but also as a value-laden narrative shaped by each nation’s political and historiographical priorities. Abstrak: Penelitian ini mengkaji bagaimana kolonialisme Barat dinarasikan dalam buku teks sejarah Indonesia dan Malaysia serta membandingkan perspektif yang dibangun dalam tradisi buku teks kedua negara. Meskipun Indonesia dan Malaysia memiliki keterkaitan historis dan kultural, narasi dalam buku teks keduanya menunjukkan penafsiran yang berbeda mengenai kolonialisme, dampaknya, dan posisinya dalam sejarah nasional. Penelitian ini berfokus pada empat aspek utama, yaitu latar belakang kedatangan kolonialisme, karakteristik sistem kolonial, dampak kekuasaan kolonial, serta persamaan dan perbedaan kebijakan kolonial yang disajikan dalam buku teks. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan analisis isi kualitatif terhadap sejumlah buku teks sejarah tingkat sekolah menengah di Indonesia dan Malaysia yang diterbitkan dalam kerangka kurikulum yang berbeda. Analisis diarahkan pada dua dimensi utama, yaitu cara buku teks menggambarkan kolonialisme dan cara buku teks membangun perspektif tertentu terhadap pengalaman kolonial. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa buku teks Malaysia cenderung menampilkan kolonialisme Barat sebagai proses geopolitik yang lebih luas, dipengaruhi oleh persaingan antarkekuatan imperialis. Kolonialisme Inggris digambarkan tidak hanya eksploitatif, tetapi juga berkontribusi pada modernisasi administrasi, pembentukan wilayah, dan lahirnya masyarakat plural. Sebaliknya, buku teks Indonesia lebih menekankan eksploitasi

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29 penulis · 91 tautan kepenulisan bersama · 21 lintas organisasi

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  • Indonesia University of Education
  • State University of Semarang
  • Universitas Negeri Padang
  • Sultan Idris Education University
  • Afiliasi tidak diketahui
  • Organisasi berbeda
  • Organisasi sama
  • Afiliasi tidak diketahui
  • Garis lebih tebal = lebih banyak artikel bersama · lingkaran lebih besar = lebih banyak artikel
Tampilkan sebagai tabel
Rekan penulisOrganisasiArtikel bersama
Andromeda AderobenIndonesia University of Education3
Restu Ayu MumpuniState University of Semarang2
Tarunasena TarunasenaIndonesia University of Education2
Dimas Aldi PangestuIndonesia University of Education2
Annisaa AmbarnisIndonesia University of Education2
Siti Ekowati RusdiniState University of Semarang1
Syahrul Syah SinagaState University of Semarang1
Kuncoro Bayu PrasetyoState University of Semarang1
Iwan Hardi SaputroState University of Semarang1
Eni RahmawatiAfiliasi tidak diketahui1
Nabila Nurul HawaState University of Semarang1
JamhurAfiliasi tidak diketahui1
Noviani Achmad PutriState University of Semarang1
Ahmad SohabudinIndonesia University of Education1
Syaiful AminState University of Semarang1
Hilda RestiawatiIndonesia University of Education1
SapriyaAfiliasi tidak diketahui1
YuhardiAfiliasi tidak diketahui1
Yelda SyafrinaUniversitas Negeri Padang1
Hendra NaldiUniversitas Negeri Padang1
Uun LionarIndonesia University of Education1
Murdiyah WinartiIndonesia University of Education1
Ridho Bayu YeftersonUniversitas Negeri Padang1
Shakila Che DahalanSultan Idris Education University1

Afiliasi berasal dari OpenAlex; metadata OAI-PMH jurnal tidak memuatnya. Penulis tanpa ID OpenAlex dicocokkan berdasarkan nama, sehingga dua orang bisa tergabung atau satu orang bisa terpisah.

Sumber metadata: OAI-PMH (metadata jurnal) https://journal.unnes.ac.id/journals/paramita/oai, pertama di-harvest 6 Nov 2026, terakhir terlihat 8 Nov 2026.
Metadata asli (oai_dc)
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	<dc:title xml:lang="en">Two Perspectives, One History: Western Colonialism in Indonesian and Malaysian History Textbooks</dc:title>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Insan Fauzi, Wildan</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Mulyana, Agus</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Darmawan, Wawan</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Wildan, Dadan</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Nurpratiwi, Hany</dc:creator>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">History textbook</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Colonialism</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Indonesia</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Malaysia</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Culture</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Values</dc:subject>
	<dc:description xml:lang="en">Abstract: This study examines how Western colonialism is narrated in Indonesian and Malaysian history textbooks and compares the perspectives embedded in both national textbook traditions. Although Indonesia and Malaysia share historical and cultural links, their textbook narratives differ in their interpretations of colonial rule, its impacts, and its place in national history. This research addresses four main issues: the background of colonial arrival, the characteristics of colonial systems, the impacts of colonial rule, and similarities and differences in colonial state policies as presented in textbooks. Using a qualitative content analysis, this study examines selected secondary school history textbooks from Indonesia and Malaysia, published under different curricular frameworks. The analysis focuses on two main dimensions: how textbooks depict colonialism and how they construct particular perspectives on colonial experience. The findings show that Malaysian textbooks tend to present Western colonialism as a broader geopolitical process shaped by rivalry among imperial powers. British colonialism is described not only as exploitative but also as contributing to administrative modernization, territorial formation, and the development of a plural society. In contrast, Indonesian textbooks emphasize colonial exploitation, coercive policies, and popular resistance, especially under Dutch rule. Colonialism is largely portrayed as an oppressive force that generated suffering and stimulated nationalism. This study demonstrates that textbook narratives are closely related to national identity formation and educational ideology. It contributes to history education by showing that colonialism in textbooks is not merely presented as past events, but also as a value-laden narrative shaped by each nation’s political and historiographical priorities.
Abstrak: Penelitian ini mengkaji bagaimana kolonialisme Barat dinarasikan dalam buku teks sejarah Indonesia dan Malaysia serta membandingkan perspektif yang dibangun dalam tradisi buku teks kedua negara. Meskipun Indonesia dan Malaysia memiliki keterkaitan historis dan kultural, narasi dalam buku teks keduanya menunjukkan penafsiran yang berbeda mengenai kolonialisme, dampaknya, dan posisinya dalam sejarah nasional. Penelitian ini berfokus pada empat aspek utama, yaitu latar belakang kedatangan kolonialisme, karakteristik sistem kolonial, dampak kekuasaan kolonial, serta persamaan dan perbedaan kebijakan kolonial yang disajikan dalam buku teks. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan analisis isi kualitatif terhadap sejumlah buku teks sejarah tingkat sekolah menengah di Indonesia dan Malaysia yang diterbitkan dalam kerangka kurikulum yang berbeda. Analisis diarahkan pada dua dimensi utama, yaitu cara buku teks menggambarkan kolonialisme dan cara buku teks membangun perspektif tertentu terhadap pengalaman kolonial. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa buku teks Malaysia cenderung menampilkan kolonialisme Barat sebagai proses geopolitik yang lebih luas, dipengaruhi oleh persaingan antarkekuatan imperialis. Kolonialisme Inggris digambarkan tidak hanya eksploitatif, tetapi juga berkontribusi pada modernisasi administrasi, pembentukan wilayah, dan lahirnya masyarakat plural. Sebaliknya, buku teks Indonesia lebih menekankan eksploitasi</dc:description>
	<dc:publisher xml:lang="en">istory Department, Faculty of Social Sciences, Universitas Negeri Semarang in collaboration with Masyarakat Sejarawan Indonesia (Indonesian Historical Society)</dc:publisher>
	<dc:date>2026-04-23</dc:date>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/article</dc:type>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion</dc:type>
	<dc:type xml:lang="en">Peer-reviewed Article</dc:type>
	<dc:format>application/pdf</dc:format>
	<dc:identifier>https://journal.unnes.ac.id/journals/paramita/article/view/16397</dc:identifier>
	<dc:identifier>10.15294/paramita.v36i1.16397</dc:identifier>
	<dc:source xml:lang="en">Paramita: Historical Studies Journal; Vol. 36 No. 1 (2026): Social and Intellectual History</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2407-5825</dc:source>
	<dc:source>0854-0039</dc:source>
	<dc:source>10.15294/paramita.vi</dc:source>
	<dc:language>eng</dc:language>
	<dc:relation>https://journal.unnes.ac.id/journals/paramita/article/view/16397/9185</dc:relation>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en">Copyright (c) 2026 Paramita: Historical Studies Journal</dc:rights>
</oai_dc:dc>