Apology and Historical Memory: Navigating Crises in Sino-American Relations.

Why is apology?theoretically a simple action that could mitigate a crisis situation?not utilized more frequently in interstate relations? Apologies constitute a frequent issue among Asian countries as well as in the U.S.’ bilateral relations and can generate significant internal and interstate debate. This project considers recent incidents in which China has requested an apology from the United States, and the short- and long-term impact on international peace and stability of such discussions. Two case studies will be investigated: the apology debates over the EP-3 incident of 2001, and the NATO bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade of 1999. Both cases involved significant interstate and domestic contestation over the form, content, and definition of apologies. Indeed, certain assumptions underpin predominant readings of such incidents?whether from a legal, diplomatic, realist, or political economic framework?and most of these interpretations do not take the importance of cultural processes into adequate account. Given that these states have had difficulty in constructing shared meanings of apologies, it will be necessary to examine common understandings of ‘apologies,’ and what they are thought to entail given past history. Close investigation might provide suggestions as to how such situations could be navigated more constructively in the future and thus will add to discussions of preventive diplomacy and crisis management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]