Australia in German Geography Textbooks for Middle Schools

German Geography textbooks are structured using the principle of 'Systematic Geography based on a regional example' that is predominant in Germany. Compared to other macroregions such as Europe, North America, Africa, or Asia, however, Australia is presented less frequently in school textbooks. Those textbooks which deal with Australia do not convey comprehensive information on the country, but rather touch upon certain topics that are deemed characteristic of Australia by the authors or are stipulated in the curriculum. A quantitative analysis of the frequency and level of detail of the topics pertaining to Australia that are covered reveals that most textbooks present five higher-order topics in the following order: ethnic groups and their dynamics in the social hierarchy, deterministic factors of natural geography, the potential of natural spaces and value-added utilisation thereof in the context of economic development, life in the outback, and finally the endemic flora and fauna. The unique natural conditions have generated an economically significant tourism industry which must establish and maintain an ecologically acceptable foundation despite a growing population. The textbooks endeavor to present a realistic image of Australia. Because of the topics selected and the overemphasis of individual facts practiced to date, however, cliches and stereotypes have arisen, which to a certain extent distort the image of modern Australia.