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  • © 2015

Apologies and the Legacy of Abuse of Children in 'Care'

International Perspectives

Palgrave Macmillan

Part of the book series: Palgrave Studies in the History of Childhood (PSHC)

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Table of contents (16 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xiii
  2. Introduction

    1. Introduction

      • Johanna Sköld, Shurlee Swain
      Pages 1-9
  3. Transitional Justice and the Legacy of Child Welfare

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 11-11
    2. Apology Politics: Transnational Features

      • Johanna Sköld
      Pages 13-26
    3. Contested Memories: Caring about the Past — or Past Caring?

      • Jacqueline Z. Wilson, Frank Golding
      Pages 27-41
    4. Contextualizing Reparations Politics

      • Malin Arvidsson
      Pages 70-82
    5. Why Sexual Abuse? Why Now?

      • Shurlee Swain
      Pages 83-94
  4. National Particularities

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 95-95
    2. Denmark: The Godhavn Inquiry

      • Maria Rytter, Jacob Knage Rasmussen
      Pages 97-105
    3. Sexual Abuse in Dutch Child Protection, 1945–2010

      • Jeroen J. H. Dekker, Hans Grietens
      Pages 106-113
    4. The Politics of Apology: The Norwegian Case

      • Eva Simonsen, Karen-Sofie Pettersen
      Pages 114-123
    5. Scotland: Historic Abuse in Care and Human Rights

      • Andrew Kendrick, Moyra Hawthorn, Samina Karim, Julie Shaw
      Pages 124-133
    6. Canadian Inquiries Stumble Towards Redress

      • Gerald Cradock
      Pages 134-143
  5. Challenges for Professionals

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 145-145
    2. The Role and Importance of History

      • Nell Musgrove
      Pages 147-158
    3. Truth-Seeking in Oral Testimonies and Archives

      • Johanna Sköld, Åsa Jensen
      Pages 159-171
    4. Dilemmas of Care: Social Work and Historic Abuse

      • Andrew Kendrick, Moyra Hawthorn
      Pages 172-180

About this book

This book positions inquiries into the historical abuse of children in care within the context of transitional justice. It examines investigation, apology and redress processes across a range of Western nations to trace the growth of the movement, national particularities and the impact of the work on professionals involved.

Editors and Affiliations

  • Linköping University, Sweden

    Johanna Sköld

  • Australian Catholic University, Australia

    Shurlee Swain

About the editors

Johanna Sköld is Lecturer in Child Studies at Linköping University, Sweden, and has written extensively about the history of foster care. She is a former member of the Swedish Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse and Neglect in Institutions and Foster Homes, and now researches comparative studies of similar inquiries internationally.


Shurlee Swain is Professor of Humanities at Australian Catholic University in New South Wales, Australia, and is a chief investigator on Australia's Find & Connect web resource project. She has published widely in the area of child and family welfare and her research has informed several of Australia's inquiries into the legacy of abuse in care.

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access