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Its never too late to say sorry

Carneholm, Tuva LU (2025) SANK03 20251
Social Anthropology
Abstract
This study explores the phenomenon of apologies, which has been established within western democratic societies since the late 1980s, situating public apologies as a formalised response to human rights and historical injustices. It examines how public apologies have emerged as a post-colonial mechanism, through which institutions acknowledge historical wrongdoings and engage in reconciliation efforts, aiming to enhance and uphold indigenous rights. With a special focus on the public apology given by the Church of Sweden to Swedish Sami people in 2021. This study demonstrates how the apology elicited strong emotional responses, ranging from feelings of pride in Sami identity to anger toward unaddressed resolutions of rights of Sami land. As... (More)
This study explores the phenomenon of apologies, which has been established within western democratic societies since the late 1980s, situating public apologies as a formalised response to human rights and historical injustices. It examines how public apologies have emerged as a post-colonial mechanism, through which institutions acknowledge historical wrongdoings and engage in reconciliation efforts, aiming to enhance and uphold indigenous rights. With a special focus on the public apology given by the Church of Sweden to Swedish Sami people in 2021. This study demonstrates how the apology elicited strong emotional responses, ranging from feelings of pride in Sami identity to anger toward unaddressed resolutions of rights of Sami land. As emotions are fragmented, the possibility of reconciliation is divided by differing interests among Sami people and of the Church of Sweden. By integrating theories of reciprocity and postcolonial perspectives, the possibility of reconciling and aligning to act accordingly with human rights is shown to be complex. The Sami perception of a public apology, as a way for rectification, a symbolic act and as an institutional responsibility is examined. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Carneholm, Tuva LU
supervisor
organization
course
SANK03 20251
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
offentlig ursäkt, postkolonialism, reciprocitet, samer, socialantropologi
language
Swedish
id
9194714
date added to LUP
2025-06-08 14:31:41
date last changed
2025-06-08 14:31:41
@misc{9194714,
  abstract     = {{This study explores the phenomenon of apologies, which has been established within western democratic societies since the late 1980s, situating public apologies as a formalised response to human rights and historical injustices. It examines how public apologies have emerged as a post-colonial mechanism, through which institutions acknowledge historical wrongdoings and engage in reconciliation efforts, aiming to enhance and uphold indigenous rights. With a special focus on the public apology given by the Church of Sweden to Swedish Sami people in 2021. This study demonstrates how the apology elicited strong emotional responses, ranging from feelings of pride in Sami identity to anger toward unaddressed resolutions of rights of Sami land. As emotions are fragmented, the possibility of reconciliation is divided by differing interests among Sami people and of the Church of Sweden. By integrating theories of reciprocity and postcolonial perspectives, the possibility of reconciling and aligning to act accordingly with human rights is shown to be complex. The Sami perception of a public apology, as a way for rectification, a symbolic act and as an institutional responsibility is examined.}},
  author       = {{Carneholm, Tuva}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Its never too late to say sorry}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}