The History in Action Project Team decided that an alternative approach to the past was much needed in order to sustain peaceful future in the region. The team has shown much courage in facing public opinion in their countries to break with the general feeling in the region that nothing can be done. With determination and long-term cooperation between the team members, they succeeded to promote the message that there are ways to coexistence also by a professional and engaged approach to sensitive issues of the recent past.

The team members have now become a new generation of trainers, advisers, textbook authors and made careers as curriculum developers, staff members of museums, working in ministries, NGO’s, universities or institutes and continue to play a key role in the promotion of an innovative understanding of history education and a regional perspective.

Team Representatives from Bosnia and Herzegovina:

Team Representatives from Croatia:

Team Representatives from Serbia:

About History in Action Project:

It is a regional approach for the learning and teaching of history in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia (2003 – 2008). The project aimed to support the regional development of history and citizenship education in the three countries to promote peace, stability and democracy through fostering collaborative values, critical awareness and mutual respect. In 2003 history education in those countries did not contribute to the process of reconciliation which was strongly required after the wars in Former Yugoslavia. The national history textbooks were written from ethnocentric, nationalist and victimizing perspectives which led to entirely different understandings of historical events and shaped negative views on historical and sensitive issues.

With international support and working together with colleagues for other European countries, the team decided to launch a regional project for the innovation, professionalisation and disarming of History Education. It targeted on rebuilding trust and networks among historians and history educators in the region who had been isolated from regional, international but often even local communication.

Together they produced an exemplary cross-border textbook under the title ‘Ordinary People in an Extraordinary Country, Every Day Life in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia 1945-1990. Yugoslavia between East and West’ The educational material it comprises can be used by all communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia despite ethnic, religious and linguistic differences. Extensive training programmes gave teachers in the region tangible ideas how to teach about a recent regional past, with its controversies and sensitivities.

In all three countries, independent History Educators Associations were created and strengthened. At the moment, the team is working together to develop a second volume of the book that will address more sensitive topics in their shared history.

For more information, please visit this link: www.euroclio.eu/joomla/index.php