A newly revised and updated edition of a geography textbook for students age 11-14 published by Oxford University Press was much too hasty in updating international borders. Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula, which was illegally annexed by Russia in March 2014, is identified in the “new and improved” textbook as being part of Russia. Amazingly, despite the loud international outcry against Russia’s actions in Crimea and condemnation of the illegal plebiscite on the peninsula’s status, the Oxford textbook refers to the bogus referendum held in Crimea as if it was a legitimate expression of the people’s will.
Outrageous, you say?
A spokesman for Oxford University Press (OUP) told RFE/RL on October 15 that the textbook in question, the fourth edition of “Geog.3” (Geography for Key Stage 3) is based on “detailed research into the political, social and economic situation at the time of publication,” taking into account “the level of the students, the learning objective.”
Sounds sketchy to us.
Russia, to be sure, was pleased. Media outlet RT (formerly known as Russia Today) on October 15 published a story headlined: “Oxford’s new geography textbook names Crimea as part of Russia.” RT enthusiastically reported: “One of the world’s leading academic publishers, Oxford University Press, has apparently recognized Crimea as a part of Russia under international law. A new student textbook refers to the peninsula as Russian territory.” The RT story further noted: “Section 6.1, entitled ‘Meet Russia’ contains direct, student-friendly language with illustrated maps explaining that ‘Russia is a big powerful country – the biggest country in the world.’ Speaking of Russia’s scale, authors point out ‘two small exclaves,’ ‘The one next to Lithuania is called Kaliningrad. The other is Crimea, which Russia took from Ukraine in 2014,’ the book reads.”
Ukraine, of course, was not amused. The Embassy of Ukraine in London reacted on October 13 by sending a letter to the eminent publishing house seeking necessary corrections to the textbook. “I hope that the recent edition of the textbook for students would be immediately updated and all mistakes corrected in order not to bring The Oxford University Press into disrepute,” wrote Igor Kyzym, chargé d’affaires of Ukraine to the United Kingdom. His letter also pointed out that Crimea is neither Russian territory nor a Russian enclave, that Crimea “was brutally annexed in 2014 with Russian boots on the ground,” and that the so-called referendum was “held under the barrels of Russian guns.”
The well-known international affairs expert James Sherr of Chatham House weighed in: “Neither the U.N. nor any European state has recognized Crimea’s incorporation into the Russian Federation. Why then should the OUP? The lack of political literacy shown in the publication of this map can only damage the OUP’s reputation – and should do so if the publication is not recalled.”
Oxford University Press has now promised to update the update. OUP said the current edition of the textbook will no longer be sold, but there are no plans to recall the copies already purchased. However, the teachers’ guide to the series and the OUP website are to be updated immediately to notify schools about the changes. An Oxford spokesman told RFE/RL that the publisher continuously reviews its publications “to reflect changes in circumstance and feedback from various sources” and noted, “We will be changing the wording used on this matter and will also include the U.N. position.” (The reference is to the General Assembly resolution that underlined the territorial integrity of Ukraine and rejected Russia’s takeover of Crimea.)
Hopefully, next time Oxford will get it right. International boundaries may be a complicated and messy issue, but granting an aggressor recognition of its illegal actions and invasions is certainly not the way to go.