Empires of Remorse

<p>Until deep into the 20th century empire remained a source of pride for European states and their politicians. The 21st century however has seen the unexpected emergence of certain European states apologising to their former colonies.</p><p>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.</p><p>This book will be of key interest to scholars and students of peace and post-conflict resolution studies memory studies colonial studies and postcolonial theory. More broadly it will be of interest to those studying political science International Relations sociology and development.</p>