Apology and Reconciliation in Great Britain, Northern Ireland, Canada, the United States, and Australia

Abstract

This chapter provides historical context and contemporary views of ordinary people from Australia, Canada, Great Britain, Northern Ireland, and the United States regarding matters of historical abuse, apology, and possibilities for reconciliation. The historical context focuses on historical abuses including displacement and persecution of aboriginal, indigenous, and native peoples, slavery of African Americans, and internment of Japanese during World War II, as well as religious persecution and colonial domination. Contemporary views of ordinary people from the five countries are reported based on their responses to survey items concerning the value of apologies after historical abuses and the possibility of reconciliation after historical abuses. This chapter concludes with a discussion of common elements of historical abuse and addresses a number of concerns that remain controversial.