Skip to main content

Forgiveness in the Aftermath of War

Topic Host: Carri Hulet

The topic for this month concerns societal rebuilding after war, and focuses specifically on the subject of forgiveness. The topic of forgiveness in the context of the aftermath of war is both deeply personal, and highly political, and will be interesting to discuss in light of the current geopolitical climate around the world. The United States, our allies, and various ethnic and tribal groups have been engaged in a tremendously controversial war in Iraq for several years. A great deal of hatred has developed in the hearts of those who have suffered or been otherwise affected by the crisis. Our purpose here is not to debate whether this anger and hatred is justifiable (though that would be an interesting discussion, too); rather, it is to acknowledge that the hatred exists and anticipate that in the coming years it will be dealt with one way or another.

The assigned reading, "Between Vengeance and Forgiveness," by Martha Minow is a piece that offers some insight on ways that individuals in post-conflict societies cope with their sense of injustice. It is a reading that profoundly affected me when I first read it a few years ago, and is the only required reading for this month. The second article is an excellent case-study about a successful post-war rebuilding effort in Mali*. It does not deal directly with forgiveness, but it does provide useful context for our discussion, and is optional reading.

*The optional piece is titled "Peace and Aid: The 'Programme Mali Nord' and the Search for Peace in Northern Mali" by Henner Papendieck and Barbara Rocksloh-Papendieck

Comments