When Saying Sorry is Not Enough: The paradox of a political apology offered to Irish mother and baby home survivors
Dublin Core
Title
When Saying Sorry is Not Enough: The paradox of a political apology offered to Irish mother and baby home survivors
Subject
Reconciliation
Creator
Kristen Walker
Electronic Resource Item Type Metadata
Journal Name
Political Psychology
Publication Date
2024
Publisher
John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Document Type
Journal article
Language
English
Region
Ireland
Access
Open Access
Abstract
While political apologies cannot undo what has been
done, they are often perceived as highly relevant for healing and reconciliation. However, these apologies are often
mired in controversy and highly political. While research
on political apologies has focused on the role of intergroup
relations, limited research has explored the intragroup
dynamics involved. The present article explores how the
paradoxical features of a political apology to ingroup
members have their source in partisanship. The analysis
used methods derived from discursive psychology. Using
data from six parliamentary statements that were given in
response to the political apology offered to Irish mother
and baby home survivors, we demonstrated how these
speakers constructed and understood the apology and
how these constructions relate to their own political positions. Specifically, the apology to mothers and babies is
used for political purpose, allowing majority members of
government to position the wrongdoings experienced by
mothers and babies in the past and to encourage the national collective to move on. Others seeking progressive
social change—a parliamentary minority—use the apology to shape a political narrative that demands national
collective action. Our work highlights the important role
that identity-based power relations play in confronting
historical injustice, and how this may result in a dual
schism with people within a nation becoming divided over
both the apology and the appropriate response.
done, they are often perceived as highly relevant for healing and reconciliation. However, these apologies are often
mired in controversy and highly political. While research
on political apologies has focused on the role of intergroup
relations, limited research has explored the intragroup
dynamics involved. The present article explores how the
paradoxical features of a political apology to ingroup
members have their source in partisanship. The analysis
used methods derived from discursive psychology. Using
data from six parliamentary statements that were given in
response to the political apology offered to Irish mother
and baby home survivors, we demonstrated how these
speakers constructed and understood the apology and
how these constructions relate to their own political positions. Specifically, the apology to mothers and babies is
used for political purpose, allowing majority members of
government to position the wrongdoings experienced by
mothers and babies in the past and to encourage the national collective to move on. Others seeking progressive
social change—a parliamentary minority—use the apology to shape a political narrative that demands national
collective action. Our work highlights the important role
that identity-based power relations play in confronting
historical injustice, and how this may result in a dual
schism with people within a nation becoming divided over
both the apology and the appropriate response.
Citation
Kristen Walker, “When Saying Sorry is Not Enough: The paradox of a political apology offered to Irish mother and baby home survivors,” ICMGLT Digital Library, accessed June 12, 2026, https://icmglt.org/library/items/show/488.