State destruction and state creation in the aftermath of the First World War - Detailseite

In the aftermath of the First World War, a number of new states and mandates emerged out of the dissolution of three Empires which, in a relatively short period of time, ceased to exist after several centuries as crucial key actors in International politics. The territories of the Russian, Habsburg and Ottoman Empires became the subject of a complex process of succession which saw a wide spectrum of modes of transition to the new structures of statehood or imperial domination. While some were peaceful, others were not and ranged from low level violence and social disintegration to open war. The process of change in territorial re-arrangements was contested and the consequences of the resulting settlements continue to be of importance to our contemporary world. This seminar will offer students a theoretically informed critical review of these territorial changes and will link the specific case studies to the larger question of how states are destroyed and created in the International Order. Students are expected to read extensively, to actively participate in the weekly discussions and the course is intended for participants with previous knowledge of Modern International History.