Historical state apologies

Abstract

This chapter offers a broad overview and analysis of the phenomenon of state apologies, with the focus on public apologies by state officials for a past wrongdoing. The chapter provides the definition of basic concepts and a classification of public apologies, as well as describes the major categories of apologies that have been given or demanded. Although the range of the types of wrongdoing that state apologies are given for is expanding as apologies become a more widely accepted practice, most apologies until now have been issued in relation to the Holocaust and colonialism, as well as egregious international and domestic human rights violations. The chapter also discusses available explanations of the emergence of the phenomenon of state apologies, as well as reviews the most influential arguments regarding the meaning, the significance, and the impact of apologies. The chapter focuses on the interdisciplinary understanding of apologies as state-driven attempts to redefine historical identity narratives within the framework of contemporary international norms and human rights standards.