The Long View of Transitional Justice: Apologies and History

Apology has emerged quite forcefully in the long-established democracies of Canada and Australia. In these countries, harms and human rights abuses began with colonial settlement and the displacement of Aboriginal people and continue up through the present day. Government apologies have helped to al...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inSocial research Vol. 87; no. 4; pp. 943 - 963
Main Author Nobles, Melissa
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published New York Johns Hopkins University Press 01.12.2020
New School for Social Research
Subjects
Aboriginal Australians
Analysis
Apologies
Apologizing
Colonialism
Economic aspects
Harper, Stephen
Human rights
Native North Americans
Political aspects
Political parties
Politics
Prime ministers
Reconciliation
School systems
Social aspects
Social change
Transitional justice
Australia
Canada
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:Apology has emerged quite forcefully in the long-established democracies of Canada and Australia. In these countries, harms and human rights abuses began with colonial settlement and the displacement of Aboriginal people and continue up through the present day. Government apologies have helped to alter political landscapes by supporting and advancing political claims of Aboriginal groups. Apologies, once given, set in motion government and societal action that aim to instantiate their meanings. These political, economic, and social changes require explanation and defenses. Historical interpretations are frequently enlisted. There is a dynamic interplay between apologies and historical interpretation, which government apologies and their outcomes in Australia and Canada demonstrate.
ISSN:0037-783X
1944-768X
1944-768X
DOI:10.1353/sor.2020.0071