Abstract
This chapter focuses on views and experiences related to apology and reconciliation in a Western European context. We first go through the history of Western Europe and the different sources of conflict and oppression as well as different definitions and theories around apology and reconciliation. We look at the conflicting vision around the building of nation states versus rights of minorities, which is a key to understand present days’ need for apologies and reconciliation in the region. We also look into efforts of reconciliation between states that have been in war, especially France and Germany, as well as the different strategies in the region for dealing with dark chapters in recent history—for example, civil wars, dictatorships, genocide, and colonialism.
Participants from six different Western European countries completed the Personal and Institutional Rights to Aggression and Peace Survey, which included two open-ended items on apology. The responses revealed some hesitation concerning the relevance of apologies and the possibilities for reconciliation. Many are tired of words and are reluctant to accept a “cheap reconciliation” without justice or apologies that do not come from the heart. Answers in the survey can be said to reflect an individualistic western view of crime and punishment instead of a view reflecting wholeness and shared responsibility.
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Hellqvist, K. et al. (2013). Apology and Reconciliation in Western Europe. In: Malley-Morrison, K., Mercurio, A., Twose, G. (eds) International Handbook of Peace and Reconciliation. Peace Psychology Book Series, vol 7. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5933-0_23
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