Revanchism
A policy of revenge for territorial losses, often fueling nationalist movements and conflicts.
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Revanchism is a policy or political doctrine seeking revenge or reversal of losses from previous political or military defeats, especially territorial losses.[1] The term originated in 1870s France among nationalists wanting to avenge the Franco-Prussian War defeat and reclaim Alsace-Lorraine.[1] Patriotic and retributionist thinking provides the foundation for revanchism, which frequently arises from economic or geopolitical motivations.[2]
Quick Facts
- Field
- Political doctrine
- Nationality
- French (origin)
- Known for
- Revenge and reversal of territorial losses
- Related concept
- Irredentism
Facts from the source article.
Key facts and history
Georges Clemenceau opposed colonial adventures that would divert France from reclaiming Alsace-Lorraine.[3] Clemenceau supported Georges Ernest Boulanger, nicknamed Général Revanche, who might have overthrown the Republic in 1889.[3] This ultranationalist tradition influenced French politics up to 1921 and helped produce the Franco-Russian Alliance of 1894.[3] German revanchism developed after World War I, with Pan-Germanists calling for reclamation of pre-war borders.[4]
Following the Franco-Prussian War, a profound resentment and call for vengeance against Germany emerged in France, centered on the territories of Alsace and Lorraine.[5] Adolf Hitler backed these territorial demands, and the subsequent invasion of Poland triggered World War II.[4] Those with extreme revanchist views frequently propose that their goals can be realized through a favorable outcome in a subsequent conflict.[2]
What the cited sources add
A 2024 news article states that Greek revanchism for territories should be seen carefully by the Albanian government.[6] The same article asserts that Greece is in rampant revanchism towards Albanian territories.[6] A 2020 book titled "Conservatives and Right Radicals in Interwar Europe" was published by Taylor & Francis Group.[7] A 2005 book titled "Wars and Peace Treaties" was published by Taylor & Francis Group with 288 pages.[8]
References
- Wikipedia, "Revanchism" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Jay, "Alphonse de Neuville's 'The Spy' and the Legacy of the Franco-Prussian War", Metropolitan Museum Journal, 1984, p. 151–162; Blandin, "1914, la France responsable?", L'Artilleur, 2016 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Revanchism" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Margaret MacMillan, The War That Ended Peace: The Road to 1914 (2013), ch. 6. (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Revanchism" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: See W. Schivelbusch, The Culture of Defeat, p. 106 (Henry Holt and Co. 2001); Blandin, "1914, la France responsable?", L'Artilleur, 2016 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Revanchism" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Antisemitism: A Historical Encyclopedia of Prejudice and Persecution, Volume 1. Richard S. Levy, 528–529, ABC-CLIO 2005 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Revanchism" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Karine Varley, "The Taboos of Defeat: Unmentionable Memories of the Franco-Prussian War in France, 1870–1914." in Jenny Macleod, ed., Defeat and Memory: Cultura; Karine Varley, Under the Shadow of Defeat: The War of 1870–71 in French Memory (2008); Jay, "Alphonse de Neuville's 'The Spy' and the Legacy of the Franco-Prussian War", Metropolitan Museum Journal, 1984, p. 151–162 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Dedja, "Greece continues to hinder Albania on its European path", Sot News, 22 January 2024. facts only, no text reused. sot.com.al
- Open Library record, ISBN 9780429275272 ("Conservatives and Right Radicals in Interwar Europe"). CC0 (metadata); book content not read. openlibrary.org
- Open Library record, ISBN 9781134899128 ("Wars and Peace Treaties"). CC0 (metadata); book content not read. openlibrary.org
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Revanchism (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Revanchism (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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