Irredentism in European Politics
Argumentation, Compromise and Norms

Considers how the emergence of the territorial status quo norm in post-1945 Europe has reversed the pattern of disputes.

Markus Kornprobst (Author)

9780521895583, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 18 December 2008

317 pages, 2 maps 15 tables
23.6 x 16 x 2.1 cm, 0.64 kg

'International relations scholars owe thanks to Kornprobst for deepening our understanding of how creative agents draw from incipient and existing cultural resources to lay down the tracks of international action in more peaceful directions.' Michael Barnett, University of Minnesota

Territorial disputes and irredentist disputes are very prone to escalation and very difficult to resolve. Since the end of the Second World War, however, European states have tended to resolve their irredentist disputes peacefully. Markus Kornprobst argues that this pattern has arisen due to the emergence of a territorial status quo norm in the region. A study of all territorial claims made in Europe since 1848 and in the world since 1945 provides the background for detailed examinations of German and Irish irredentism, through which the author traces the development of the territorial status quo norm based on argumentation and compromise. Developing new theoretical and methodological tools to study norm selection, this book will be of interest to scholars and students of international relations, nationalism and European studies.

Introduction
1. Irredentism in Europe
2. Argumentation and compromise
3. Broadening a vision for Europe
4. Towards a new beginning
5. From exclusion to inclusion
6. Constitutional change
Conclusion.

Subject Areas: International relations [JPS], Sociology [JHB], European history [HBJD]