Narratives of Sustainabilit y on Energy Related Topics: Empirical Findings from German Geography Textbooks for Secondary Schools

Abstract

Previous analyses of German geography textbooks confirm tendencies towards the moralization of sustainability
related content. Against this background, this study examines moralizations and normative implications of recurring
sustainability narratives in German textbooks for secondary schools. From the sample of 15 current middle school
textbooks from Thuringia and North Rhine Westphalia, energy related double pages (n = 106) were analyz ed in terms
of their surface and depth structures. The analysis focuses on the thematic and spatial references and the dimensions
of sustainability, as well as on education for sustainable development (ESD 1 and ESD 2) and the transported narratives.
The a rticle concludes with the formulation of certain recommendations for action, to deal with energy related topics in
the sense of an emancipatory ESD 2, in both critical geography lessons and the design of educational media