Zhang, Peng; (2025) Britain and British People in English Language Textbooks in Post-Mao China. Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London).

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Abstract

This research investigates how English textbooks in post-Mao China represent Britain and the British people, and explores local English teachers’ perceptions of the changes in these representations in Xi Jinping stage textbooks. While many scholars have criticised Western international publishers for reinforcing British-American cultural hegemony through global English textbooks, this study introduces the concept of glocal English textbooks to highlight that the cultural representations in China’s English textbooks are not unilaterally imposed by international publishers but are the negotiated result of both their influence and local needs. Through the analysis of 107 English textbooks from the post-Mao era, spanning 1976 to the present, and interviews with 18 local teachers, this study finds that the representations of Britain and the British people in these textbooks are significantly influenced by the political agendas of the leaders, regardless of the historical stage. During the Deng Xiaoping stage, textbooks employed both struggle and modernisation portrayal strategies, depicting Britain as both an oppressor and a model of industrial technology. In the Jiang Zemin stage, the interactive communication strategy was used to portray Britain as a welcoming and promising place. Under Hu Jintao’s leadership, textbooks adopted a global interconnected portrayal strategy, presenting Britain as a constructive participant in international affairs. However, during the Xi Jinping stage, influenced by an instrumentalised strategy, Britain is used to emphasise and affirm the international influence of Chinese culture. Local English teachers have expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of British representation in the Xi stage English textbooks. Against the backdrop of rising Chinese nationalism, they do not oppose the inclusion of China’s traditional culture in school education. On the contrary, they take pride in China’s long history. However, they object to incorporating this content into the English curriculum because, according to their professional identity, Britain serves as a window to understand the world.

Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Qualification:	Ph.D
Title:	Britain and British People in English Language Textbooks in Post-Mao China
Language:	English
UCL classification:	UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education > UCL Institute of Education UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education > UCL Institute of Education > IOE - Education, Practice and Society
URI:	https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10204346

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