Description
Book SynopsisUntil deep into the 20
th century, empire remained a source of pride for European states and their politicians. The 21
st century, however, has seen the unexpected emergence of certain European states apologising to their former colonies.
Analysing apologies from Germany, Belgium, Britain and Italy, this book explores the shifting ways in which these countries represent their colonial pasts and investigates what this reveals about contemporary international politics, particularly relations between (former) coloniser and colonised. It is argued that, far from renouncing colonialism in its entirety, the apologies are replete with discourses that are reminiscent of the core legitimising tenets of empire. Specifically, the book traces how the apologies both illuminate and recycle many of the inequalities, mind-sets and ambivalences that circulated at the height of empire.
This book will be of key interest to scholars and students of peace and post-confli
Table of Contents
1 Introduction 2 On apology 3 Collective memory, postcolonialism and the (in)glorious past 4 The German apology for the Herero genocide 5 The Belgian apology for involvement in the assassination of Patrice Lumumba 6 The British apology for the Bloody Sunday 7 The Italian apology for colonialism in Libya 8 Conclusion
