For kin or country : xenophobia, nationalism, and war / Stephen M. Saideman, R. William Ayres.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Saideman, Stephen M.

Contributor:

Ayres, R. William.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Nationalism--Europe, Eastern.

Nationalism.

Nationalism--Former Soviet republics.

Post-communism--Europe, Eastern.

Post-communism.

Post-communism--Former Soviet republics.

Xenophobia--Europe, Eastern.

Xenophobia.

Xenophobia--Former Soviet republics.

Europe, Eastern--Ethnic relations--Political aspects.

Europe, Eastern.

Europe, Eastern--Ethnic relations.

Europe, Eastern--Politics and government--1989-.

Former Soviet republics--Ethnic relations--Political aspects.

Former Soviet republics.

Former Soviet republics--Ethnic relations.

Former Soviet republics--Politics and government.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xi, 288 pages) : illustrations, maps

Place of Publication:

New York : Columbia University Press, 2008.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

The collapse of an empire can result in the division of families and the redrawing of geographical boundaries. New leaders promise the return of people and territories that may have been lost in the past, often advocating aggressive foreign policies that can result in costly and devastating wars. The final years of the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman empires, the end of European colonization in Africa and Asia, and the demise of the Soviet Union were all accompanied by war and atrocity.These efforts to reunite lost kin are known as irredentism-territorial claims based on shared ethnic ties made by one state to a minority population residing within another state. For Kin or Country explores this phenomenon, investigating why the collapse of communism prompted more violence in some instances and less violence in others. Despite the tremendous political and economic difficulties facing all former communist states during their transition to a market democracy, only Armenia, Croatia, and Serbia tried to upset existing boundaries. Hungary, Romania, and Russia practiced much more restraint. The authors examine various explanations for the causes of irredentism and for the pursuit of less antagonistic policies, including the efforts by Western Europe to tame Eastern Europe. Ultimately, the authors find that internal forces drive irredentist policy even at the risk of a country's self-destruction and that xenophobia may have actually worked to stabilize many postcommunist states in Eastern Europe.Events in Russia and Eastern Europe in 2014 have again brought irredentism into the headlines. In a new Introduction, the authors address some of the events and dynamics that have developed since the original version of the book was published. By focusing on how nationalist identity interact with the interests of politicians, For Kin or Country explains why some states engage in aggressive irredentism and when others forgo those opportunities that is as relevant to Russia and Ukraine in 2014 as it was for Serbia, Croatia, and Armenia in the 1990s.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

Acknowledgments

List of tables and figures

Introduction to the 2015 Edition

Introduction

1. Irredentism and Its Absence

2. Dueling Irredentisms

3. Reunification at Any Price

4. Pushing the Envelope

5. Romania's Restraint?

6. Breaking Up Is Hard to Do

7. War and Peace in Eastern Europe, the Former Soviet Union, and Beyond

8. Findings and Implications

References

INDEX

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (p. [253]-275) and index.

Description based upon print version of record.

ISBN:

9780231514491

0231514492

OCLC:

818855990