This book contains a critical consideration of the apology in politics. It provides a detailed overview of all aspects of the phenomenon of the apology made by states, a phenomenon that increased significantly from the mid-1980s. It is the product of a decade's research and reflection on the subject and thus provides an overview of all the key debates and issues.These aspects include a consideration of the relationship between the personal apology and the apology in politics, the political and cultural factors behind its emergence and the philosophical problems generated by the state apologizing and in particular the question of responsibility across generations. Also considered are the dynamics of domestic apologies and the relationship of the apology to the field of international relations.

The book will appeal to readers beyond the apology itself because the apology is related to, and part of, a wider trend of interest in reconciliation, transitional justice and the importance of memory in history and the construction of identity. These are areas that cut across disciplines and inform those of politics, sociology, philosophy, history, theology and conflict resolution. Although the book deals with philosophical and political concepts, it is written in a clear and jargon-free style which makes it accessible to undergraduates in the disciplines outlined and also to readers beyond the academy.