Posted By: Terry Owens
Posted On: June 30, 2018
History as Propaganda is a well written and usable story of the on-going nature of conflict in Tibet. BY dissecting the dueling narratives, the author begins to unravel the history of conflict in Tibet but also the essence of conflict anywhere. He also reminds us of the potency of struggle as a weapon
There was much I was unfamiliar with in this book from the importance over time of relationships with the Mongols, the cooperation and collaboration of Tibet with various Dynasties, and finally the relentless spewing of narratives on both sides that will not cease even if self-interest is sacrificed.
several ideas for lesson plans sprung to mind as I was reading. ONe is the metaphor of the 5 fingers of the hand which the Chinese government uses to illustrate the importance of each sub-group. This would be an easy and effective way to teach the idea of shared vs. separate histories and could be applied anywhere in the world.
Another idea has to do with the nature of conflict itself. Tibet as presented in this book, is an excellent starting point to understanding conflict all over the world. The use of language, stories, people and events told within separate frameworks can help illuminate struggle in Israel, Ireland, Bosnia, Yemen, and our own government.