Understanding Dutch political apology in a postgraduate international higher education context

This research aims to explore the perceptions of members of the Institute of Social Studies (ISS) community on the Dutch political apology on slave crimes. It also encountered some randomly interviewed Dutch Caribbean citizens during the Keti-Koti festival, to know their thoughts and meanings they give to the Apology. The research methodology adopted combines a mix of ethnographic writing and knowing with others, from a decolonial approach. The concept of political apology considered in this apology is specifically related to state apology (government) towards past wrongs done to a victim group. This research finds that the meanings interpreted are complex and varied, and there are many factors that influence the respondents’ perceptions of political apology such as identity, historical consciousness, responsibility of the citizens and societal disconnect, which considerably hamper the relevance of political apology to each group. The analysis in this research is centred on decolonial framework to encourage diversity, reconciliation, and inclusion, in addition to a theoretical framework that expresses broader understanding of political apology, to encourage peaceful co-existence.