Sorry States: Apologies in International Politics

by Jennifer Lind

Governments increasingly offer or demand apologies for past human rights abuses, and it is widely believed that such expressions of contrition are necessary to promote reconciliation between former adversaries. The post-World War II experiences of Japan and Germany suggest that international apologies have powerful healing effects when they are offered, and poisonous effects when withheld. West Germany made extensive efforts to atone for wartime crimes-formal apologies, monuments to victims of the Nazis, and candid history textbooks; Bonn successfully reconciled with its wartime enemies. By contrast, Tokyo has made few and unsatisfying apologies and approves school textbooks that whitewash wartime atrocities. Japanese leaders worship at the Yasukuni Shrine, which honors war criminals among Japan's war dead. Relations between Japan and its neighbors remain tense.

Examining the cases of South Korean relations with Japan and of French relations with Germany, Jennifer Lind demonstrates that denials of past atrocities fuel distrust and inhibit international reconciliation. In Sorry States, she argues that a country's acknowledgment of past misdeeds is essential for promoting trust and reconciliation after war. However, Lind challenges the conventional wisdom by showing that many countries have been able to reconcile without much in the way of apologies or reparations. Contrition can be highly controversial and is likely to cause a domestic backlash that alarms--rather than assuages--outside observers. Apologies and other such polarizing gestures are thus unlikely to soothe relations after conflict, Lind finds, and remembrance that is less accusatory-conducted bilaterally or in multilateral settings-holds the most promise for international reconciliation.

Genres: History, Politics, Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2008

Reviews

[Alison Fong · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting history and case studies. Some of her logic and reasoning was confusing

[Clayton]

#read for class

interesting look at how countries apologizing to one another and offering contrition can reduce threat perceptions, and when done incorrectly, it can be "bad medicine" to international relations. i wish this book focused more on domestic/internal apologies and contrition efforts and not just between two countries. i don't think this argument needed to be book-length, but it was a phd dissertation, so fair! very much drives home the point with an exuberant amount of examples.

[Zoey Bornstein · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another book for class… I found the stark differences on how Germany and Japan issued apologies interesting. I wonder if there was no Cold War how relations would be on either side with their respective countries they had or are still working on making amends with.