Apology Diplomacy: The International Image Effects of Interstate Apologies

IF 8.2 1区 社会学 Q1 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Michaela Mattes, Jessica L.P. Weeks
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Can states improve their international image by apologizing for past wrongs, or do apologies hurt countries’ reputations? We argue that apologizing can boost a country’s international image by providing reassurance about future behavior and conveying appropriate values. Yet apologies could also signal weakness, and their international effects could depend on reactions in the sending and receiving countries. To test these arguments, we pair large-scale US-based survey experiments involving Russia’s invasion of Ukraine with the historical case of Germany’s 1951 Holocaust apology. In our experiments, respondents learned whether a foreign state apologized for past offenses, how the target of the apology responded, whether key domestic groups in the sender opposed the apology, and whether the sender was democratic or not. We found that apologies boosted foreign favorability and willingness to cooperate, and did not indicate weakness. These effects persisted even if the target rejected the apology or the apology provoked backlash inside the sender, and did not depend on whether the sender was described as democratic. The case of Germany’s 1951 Holocaust apology corroborates these patterns. Together, our findings suggest that apologies may be a powerful tool of public diplomacy.
道歉外交:州际道歉的国际形象效应
国家能够通过为过去的错误道歉来改善自己的国际形象吗?或者道歉会损害国家的声誉吗?我们认为,道歉可以通过提供对未来行为的保证和传达适当的价值观来提升一个国家的国际形象。然而,道歉也可能是软弱的信号,其国际影响可能取决于发送国和接收国的反应。为了验证这些观点,我们将涉及俄罗斯入侵乌克兰的大规模美国调查实验与德国1951年大屠杀道歉的历史案例相结合。在我们的实验中,受访者了解到外国是否为过去的罪行道歉,道歉的目标如何回应,发送者中的关键国内群体是否反对道歉,以及发送者是否民主。我们发现道歉提高了外国的好感度和合作意愿,并不表示软弱。即使目标拒绝道歉或道歉在发送者内部引起强烈反应,这些影响也会持续存在,并且与发送者是否被描述为民主无关。德国1951年大屠杀道歉的案例证实了这些模式。总之,我们的研究结果表明,道歉可能是公共外交的有力工具。
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来源期刊
CiteScore
14.50
自引率
1.30%
发文量
25
期刊介绍: International Organization (IO) is a prominent peer-reviewed journal that comprehensively covers the field of international affairs. Its subject areas encompass foreign policies, international relations, political economy, security policies, environmental disputes, regional integration, alliance patterns, conflict resolution, economic development, and international capital movements. Continuously ranked among the top journals in the field, IO does not publish book reviews but instead features high-quality review essays that survey new developments, synthesize important ideas, and address key issues for future scholarship.
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