The Guilt of Nations: Restitution and Negotiating Historical Injustices - Softcover

Barkan, Elazar

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0393350355 ISBN 13: 9780393350357

Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company, 2000

Synopsis

How do nations and aggrieved parties, in the wake of heinous crimes and horrible injustices, make amends in a way that acknowledges wrongdoing and redefines future interactions? How does the growing practice of negotiating restitution restore a sense of morality and enhance prospects for world peace? Where has restitution worked and where has it not? The Guilt of Nations explores this increasingly important dynamic in world politics today. Beyond its moral implications, restitution reflects a critical shift in political and economic bargaining. While preserving individual rights, restitution also enables victimized groups to receive growing recognition as groups. Elazar Barkan traces instances of historical crimes, such as the incarceration of Japanese Americans in the United States during World War II, the sexual abuse of "comfort women" by Japanese soldiers, and the recent controversy over the financial dealings between Swiss banks and Nazi Germany. He argues that, as countries including the United States, Australia, and New Zealand come to recognize past injustices toward indigenous peoples within their borders, both governments and minority groups are compelled to redress the history of colonialism and redefine national identity. While restitution is not a panacea, this ever-spreading trend represents a new moral order in world politics.

About this title

Review:

"Tightly focused, highly readable." -- Shashi Tharoor, Los Angeles Times Book Review

"An important and very necessary addition to post-Cold War political discourse." -- Kirkus Reviews

"A remarkably lucid and even-handed account... Barkan makes a persuasive case that, despite all the difficulties, the recent vogue for apologies and restitution should be welcomed." -- Economist

"[One of] the most important books of the year... Magisterial... Destined to dominate future discussion... Primed to become a bible for all, from Holocaust survivors to African American activists, who believe reparations for historical wrongdoing are possible." -- Carlin Romano, Philadelphia Inquirer

"Both an invaluably detailed catalog of various groups' past and present claims for restitution and a theoretical consideration of the idea's practicality and morality, this book will no doubt take its place as the starting point for a full understanding of these highly complex issues." -- Jonathan Groner, Salon

"Barkan's presentation of these cases [for restitution] is comprehensive and interdisciplinary. His knowledge of local cultures, history, sociology, and international law meets the book's high demands. Although there is no doubt that he welcomes the whole process of restitution, his evaluations of the complicated cases are quite well balanced." -- Waldemar Hanasz, American Political Science Review

"A welcome contribution to the literature... Most works focus on one case study or possibly a handful of very similar ones, but rarely attempt comparison across a wide spectrum of historical injustices. The book's comparative framework allows us to see how seemingly different cases engage many similar issues, and how 'reciprocity' and negotiation can take myriad forms. Its clear writing style and even-handed accounts makes The Guilt of Nations an excellent book for graduate and undergraduate courses on large-scale violence." -- Ernesto Verdeja, H-Genocide, H-Net Reviews

"Well-researched and discriminating." -- Michael Ignatieff, New York Times Book Review

"İOne of¨ the most important books of the year... Magisterial... Destined to dominate future discussion... Primed to become a bible for all, from Holocaust survivors to African American activists, who believe reparations for historical wrongdoing are possible." -- Carlin Romano, Philadelphia Inquirer

"Barkan's presentation of these cases İfor restitution¨ is comprehensive and interdisciplinary. His knowledge of local cultures, history, sociology, and international law meets the book's high demands. Although there is no doubt that he welcomes the whole process of restitution, his evaluations of the complicated cases are quite well balanced." -- Waldemar Hanasz, American Political Science Review

About the Author:

Elazar Barkan is chair of the Cultural Studies Department and associate professor of history at Claremont Graduate University.

About this edition

• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0393350355
• ISBN 13: 9780393350357
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 462