Multiculturalism in social studies courses and curriculum: A comparison of social studies books 1998 –2017

There are ethnic groups, languages, religions and beliefs that are too different or less common in the world, which is the common living space of all mankind. These differences and similarities have formed a living mechanism in the social structure since the existence of the world. When the politics and structure of the past period are examined, it is seen that there were the land and sea empires and the people who have different races and who speak different languages and who have different religion and beliefs live together in these empires. According to the attitude of the nations establishing the Empire, sometimes these differences were accepted and sometimes they were assimilated. Recently, technological developments migrations, wars, major disasters etc., in the world in the direction of the fact of globalization, different groups and structures, religions, beliefs, languages have brought together more . As a result of it, Multiculturalism has emerged. Multidisciplinary education has become a necessity because of the idea of multiculturalism and instilling individuals the idea of living the differences together in a healthy way. With multicultural education; It is aimed to ensure that recognition of different cultures, intercultural interactions; make children with future generations learn these differences within the framework of respect and tolerance.For this purpose, it has taken its place in the schools and education curriculum of the countries. In Multicultural education; Social studies course is an important discipline in gaining skills such as respect for human rights, tolerance with differences. In this research, the social studies course curriculums of 1998 and 2017 based on different philosophies and the textbooks prepared according to these programs were compared in termsof multi culturalism. As a data source in the study conducted by using document analysis technique from qualitative research methods; The social studies course curriculums of 1998 and 2017 and the primary school textbooks have been used depending on these programs and the board of education and discipline. In the social studies curriculum of 1998, 4 books were used in the grades of 4th 5th 6th and 7th In the social studies curriculum of 2017, the textbooks in the 5th and 6th grades were examined due to the renewal in the curriculum. The obtained data were depicted with the help of tables and visuals and through subjecting to qualitative content analysis. As a result of the study, it is determined that the social studies course curriculum of 2017 has referred the term "multiculturalism "more than the social studies curriculum of 1998. Keywords: Multiculturalism, multicultural education, social studies curriculum, the assessment of course book.