Bücher der Reihe Nationalisms Across the Globe

Memories of the Second World War play an important role in contemporary politics and society across Eastern Europe. One of the most controversial yet least studied pages of Ukraine's wartime history is that of the Waffen SS 'Galicia' Division, whose members are usually portrayed either as war criminals or as freedom fighters. The history of this unit is not limited to the Ukrainian context; it also has relevance throughout Eastern Europe, as well as in Britain, Canada and the USA. In the aftermath of the war, the 'Galicia' Division surrendered to British and American troops, but was not repatriated to the USSR, despite Soviet demands. Instead, its members were brought to the UK and eventually allowed to settle in the West, and this unexpected turn of events continues to cause much controversy. This book explores why over 8,000 members of the Waffen SS were allowed to move permanently to the West, by analysing the complex series of events and decisions that characterized the journey of the 'Galicians' from capitulation to acceptance into civilian life. Drawing on a rich range of different sources, the book examines the variety of often conflicting narratives created by the Division members, their supporters and their opponents, as well as the continuing influence of these narratives today. In doing so, the book sheds light on the complex processes of memory politics.

Nach fast vier Jahrzehnten, in denen eine mögliche Vereinigung der beiden deutschen Staaten BRD und DDR kein aktuelles Hauptthema war, avancierte es im Herbst 1989 ganz überraschend zu einer Schlüsselfrage europäischer Politik. Der Autor versucht aufzuzeigen, wie der deutsche Einigungsprozess im nationalen und internationalen Rahmen in Gang gesetzt wurde. Im Mittelpunkt der Studie steht nicht nur eine differenzierte Analyse der inneren und äußeren Bestimmungsfaktoren dieses Prozesses, sondern auch eine systematische Erörterung der Interessen und Perzeptionen der Siegermächte beziehungsweise der östlichen und westlichen Nachbarstaaten Deutschlands. Dabei wird deutlich, dass eine Vereinigung der beiden deutschen Staaten nur im Kontext einer schrittweisen Vertiefung und Erweiterung der EU-Integration mit Ansätzen für eine gesamteuropäische Perspektive möglich war. Dieses Buch ist eine Übersetzung des polnischen Originals «Od status quo do Planu Kohla» welches 2005 an der Universität Oppeln erschienen ist. Übersetzer: Jens Frasek.

This book argues that the "international community" created and managed the dysfunctional state of Bosnia and Herzegovina by effectively rewarding ethnic cleansing, drawing up a transitional constitution which encouraged ethnification. It offers a radical new perspective on post-war state-building in the Balkans.

Basque self-determination was long curtailed by political violence. In 2011, ETA announced a permanent cessation of operations. This book describes the contemporary re-imagining of Basque nationhood in both Spain and France. It explores the new debates that emerged since the demise of non-state militancy and analyses local transformations.

This book argues that postnational and postsovereign multi-level governance regimes, including the EU, are mechanisms of global capitalism aimed at privatizing democracy. Through detailed analysis of the Basque case, it illustrates how democratization is closely linked to territory, collective empowerment and institutional political capacity.

Contested Ethnic Identity

Under what conditions do ethnic minorities become violent? How credible are the theories of relative deprivation and greed in explaining the outbreak of conflict? Is the use of coercive diplomacy a superior alternative to direct military forms of intervention? This book provides an analytical account of the socio-economic roots of ethnic conflict.

This book addresses the themes of language, identity and linguistic politics in Europe, drawing on approaches and methodologies from a range of disciplines from socio- and contact linguistics to cultural history, psychology and policy studies. It makes a significant contribution to our understanding of the linguistic landscape of today's Europe.