Historical Consciousness as a Public Discourse: An Analysis of Malaysian Experience (Kesedaran Sejarah sebagai Wacana Awam: Analisis Pengalaman Malaysia)
Abstract
Historical consciousness refers to one’s ability to apply historical knowledge in life. In a social context, a society with historical consciousness will always take into account past experiences as a guide to deal with one another. This condition however does not exist naturally. Aside from nurturing ‘the concern for history’, a set of data should be available as a guideline for the public. Data organized as discourses will guide an individual or society through the initial historical consciousness process. This article attempts to conceptually highlight the process of empowering historical consciousness in Malaysia. The focus will be on surveys of discourses by several organizations or actors related to the country’s history. These include schools, museums and non-governmental organizations such as the Persatuan Sejarah Malaysia (Malaysian Historical Society), The Patriots, the Pusat Sejarah Rakyat (People’s History Center) and the Kempen Sejarah Malaysia Sebenar (Real Malaysia History Campaign [KemSMS]). Using qualitative data, this study employs content analysis on each of their selected historical discourses. Apart from exploring their efforts at increasing historical awareness, this article maps out each actor’s inclination towards a set of historical information. Albeit that each of these actors strive to strengthen historical awareness within the community, the foundation of each discourse is different. Consequently, the essence of the historical awareness promoted becomes contradictory.
Keywords: Historical consciousness; schools; museums; NGOs; historical polemics.
Abstrak
Kesedaran sejarah secara umum merujuk kepada keupayaan seseorang mengaplikasi pengetahuan sejarah dalam mencorakkan kehidupan kini dan masa hadapan. Dalam konteks sosial, masyarakat yang mempunyai kesedaran sejarah akan sentiasa mengambilkira pengalaman masa lalu sebagai pedoman berurusan sesama sendiri. Keadaan ini bagaimanapun tidak muncul secara semulajadi. Selain sikap ‘peduli sejarah’ itu harus dipupuk, suatu set data untuk dijadikan pedoman juga harus dibentangkan kepada masyarakat. Data yang terorganisasi sebagai suatu wacana inilah kemudian akan memandu seseorang individu atau masyarakat melalui kesedaran sejarah tadi. Artikel ini cuba menyorot proses pemerkasaan kesedaran sejarah di Malaysia secara konseptual. Sorotan itu akan terarah pada tinjauan peringkat makro ke atas wacana beberapa organisasi atau aktor berkaitan sejarah di negara ini. Sampel yang dipilih melibatkan sekolah, muzium dan badan bukan kerajaan seperti Persatuan Sejarah Malaysia, The Patriots, Pusat Sejarah Rakyat dan Kempen Sejarah Malaysia Sebenar (KemSMS). Dengan menggunakan data kualitatif, kajian ini membuat analisis kandungan ke atas wacana-wacana sejarah mereka. Bukan sahaja mengupas usaha mereka untuk memperkasa kesedaran sejarah, artikel juga akan memetakan kecenderungan masing-masing aktor terhadap sesuatu set maklumat sejarah. Artikel ini menghujahkan, walaupun setiap aktor tersebut berusaha memperkasa kesedaran sejarah dalam jiwa masyarakat, namun, tujahan wacana masing-masing saling berbeza. Keadaan ini secara tidak langsung telah menyebabkan intipati kesedaran yang dipromosi juga bercanggah.
Kata kunci: Kesedaran sejarah; sekolah; muzium; NGO; polemik sejarah.
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