Amnesty

Abstract

Amnesty, in its most general sense, is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as “an act of oblivion, a general overlooking or pardon of past offences, by the ruling authority.” In the contemporary political sense, amnesty is the act of granting forgiveness for political crimes or transgressions committed by an individual against other individuals, groups, or, most notably, the state itself. Technically, amnesty always takes place within the political realm: it is an official act of forgiveness granted by a representative of the state (or other ruling authority) for those convicted of major political offenses. Unlike pardons, then, amnesties are granted by the state to those who have willfully violated the civil compact, and by extension, state sovereignty.