Introduction
Public apologies are a familiar ritual in contemporary political life. They often follow scandals, policy failures, or public backlash. But not all apologies are created equal. Many political apologies—crafted through careful language and delivered via choreographed media appearances—are designed not to accept blame but to avoid it. These non-apologies or strategic apologies function as Blame Avoidance Strategies (BAS), offering the illusion of ethical responsibility without the substance of accountability. This article explores how the rhetoric of regret is mobilized in political discourse, and how problematization can expose the strategic ethics embedded in these performances…
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