«Ο θεσμικός λόγος της απολογίας – Κριτική ανάλυση του απολογητικού λόγου του προέδρου της Δημοκρατίας της Γερμανίας, Χοακίμ Γκάουκ, για τα εγκλήματα του Β' ΠΠ στην Ελλάδα».
Date Issued
March 5, 2022
Type
Μεταπτυχιακή Διπλωματική Εργασία
Abstract
Abstract
Since the end of the 20th century, formal apologies have become commonplace. A discourse, once considered a sign of weakness, has become a tool for image repair and reconciliation. Increasingly, state entities, official bodies, religious denominations, organizations and businesses, are expressing remorse for past injustices or crimes. Formal apology is now the subject of research across a wide range of humanities in an attempt to decode its necessity, its mode of operation and its objectives.
Crimes committed in Greece during the Second World War, have been the subject of an institutional apology. More specifically, in March 2014, the then President of Germany, Joachim Gauck, during an official visit, had apologized in the most formal way, for the atrocities committed by the occupying Nazi forces. On the occasion of a commemorative event in Ligiades, Epirus, in the presence of the Greek President, he spoke about the need to heal the wounds of the past and the value of reconciliation.
The subject of our research, is the German president's apologetic discourse. Using critical discourse analysis as a vehicle, we first attempt to highlight its structure and its direct or indirect aims. Then, by involving the victims' side, we examine whether and to what extent, this discourse finally achieves its aims. We also discuss the political function of this discourse, in order to highlight those elements that act as an obstacle, to the already difficult task of restoring relations and achieving reconciliation. Our analysis will highlight the lack of remedy in the German president's apologetic discourse. It will also highlight the ideologies involved that form that discourse as a part of a wider political strategy.
Subjects