Focusing on U.S. involvement in Vietnam, Nicaragua, and Iraq, this book presents a cogent and compelling analysis of why contrition can be an essential element in American foreign policy and the enormous obstacles that might well prevent this from taking place.
Mark Gibney,University of North Carolina-Asheville
What would it take for the lone superpower to apologize for the past wrongs of its foreign policy? Loramy Gerstbauer takes a gutsy intellectual risk by exploring the unlikely case in the growing literature on apologies in global politics. Acknowledging that interests cannot be ignored, she shows through the cases of Vietnam, Nicaragua, and Iraq/the War on Terror that identities are even more importantleaving us with hope that leadership can make a difference for contrition.
Daniel Philpott,University of Notre Dame
Loramy Gerstbauers book makes a rare, valuable effort to address the lack of contrition by the U.S. for its wrongdoings in postwar interventions. Although reconciliation would be important to U.S. identity and foreign relations, Gerstbauer argues convincingly that it is a difficult task given the complex strategic, cultural, and domestic political conditions existing on both sides of conflicts. Her case studies of Vietnam, Nicaragua, and Iraq are particularly enriched by interviews with officials, veterans, activists, victims, and expats from both the U.S. and its former enemy country.
Yinan He,Lehigh University
International relations scholars have paid considerable attention to transitional justice, mainly via court trials and truth commissions. Less attention has been paid to apologies or, as presented here, acts of contrition. Loramy Gerstbauers systematic and well-written study helps fill that void with attention to U.S. statements and policies regarding Vietnam, Nicaragua, and Iraq. The question of how a state should address past controversial (if not misguided) policies remains complex, but anyone interested in that topic will profit from Gerstbauers careful analysis and reflection.
David P. Forsythe,University of Nebraska-Lincoln
In this stimulating and provocative book, Gerstbauer explores the possibilities and limitations of contrition in promoting a just world order based on three U.S. interstate conflictsVietnam, Nicaragua, and Iraq. This study is an important contribution to the scholarship on international political ethics.
Mark Amstutz,Wheaton College
U.S. Foreign Policy and the Politics of Apology
Acts of contrition and transitional justiceadmission of wrong, apology, and reparationshave become fashionable in the discourse of international affairs. Using a case-study approach that inspires student discussion of concrete examples, this text addresses important questions about the politics of apology in relation to some of the most controversial cases of U.S. foreign policy over the past fifty years: Vietnam, Nicaragua, and the most recent war in Iraq. Loramy Gerstbauer offers an original, transdisciplinary, and accessible argument for the practical value of contrition, forgiveness, and reconciliation in international relations while examining why the United States has been a less than contrite nation and offering a prescription for how to change this state of affairs.
Loramy Gerstbauer is Associate Professor of Political Science and Peace Studies at Gustavus Adolphus College.
International Studies Intensives
Series Editors: Shareen Hertel and Michael J. Butler
Series Advisory Board
Robin Broad, American University
A. Cooper Drury, University of Missouri
Natalie Hudson, University of Dayton
Mahmood Monshipouri, San Francisco State University
Javier Morales-Ortiz, Baldwin Wallace University
Anna Ohanyan, Stonehill College
Series Description
International Studies Intensives (ISI) is a book series that springs from the desire to keep students engaged in the world around them. ISI books are meant to offer an intensive introduction to subjects often left out of the curriculum. Our authors are from a range of disciplines and employ many different methodological approaches to teaching about international issues. Yet each and every ISI book packs a wealth of information into a small space, and does so in ways that students find compelling and instructors find useful. ISI books are relatively short, visually attractive, and affordably priced. Examination/inspection copies for course adoption may be requested from the Webpage of any book in the series. Book proposals for the series should be directed to the co-editors: .
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U.S. Foreign Policy and the Politics of Apology
Loramy Gerstbauer
Published 2017
by Routledge
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and by Routledge
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Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
2017 Taylor & Francis
The right of Loramy Gerstbauer to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Gerstbauer, Loramy, author.
Title: U.S. foreign policy and the politics of apology / Loramy
Gerstbauer.
Other titles: United States foreign policy and the politics of
apology
Description: New York, NY : Routledge, 2016. | Series:
International studies intensives | Includes bibliographical
references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2016019706 | ISBN 9781138206366
(hardback) | ISBN 9781138206380 (pbk.) |
ISBN 9781315465135 (ebook)
