Forgiveness,the Unforgivable and International Relations

Abstract

This article turns to the idea of political forgiveness as one response to the temptation to eradicate or reject completely actors or regimes that are identified as evil. The possibility for forgiveness, however, hinges on the degree to which our identities are connected to our deeds. If our deeds are intimately connected to defining who we are, then loosening the idea of identity may help us evade the rejection-of-evil position. Derek Parfit’s reductionist perspective is used to make sense of such loosening at the level of individuals and regimes. Even if we believe that there are absolutely unforgivable acts the reductionist perspective may open the door to forgiveness and partially inoculate us from the temptation to reject evil-doers completely.