Miller, Chad

When conflict arises our society suffers, and if it is not dealt with in a manner that appeals to both sides, then further conflict can arise. Apologies are often a means to prevent further conflict so that both parties can improve their futures. Apologies quell feelings of anger toward the aggressor and promote addressing the past. When an apology is presented it is a sign that the aggressor is willing to discuss its past with the aggrieved to create a permanent resolution. My research documents and categorizes apologies in civil and international conflict over the last few decades to evaluate an apology’s effectiveness at preventing further conflict. I expect the findings to show that cases in which an apology was offered and accepted by both parties will have a lower level of conflict reemergence than cases in which an apology was only offered or only demanded.