Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Partition, secession and peace in our time

  • Postmodernity and the Territorial Discourse of Peace
  • Published:
GeoJournal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper deals with the comparative issues of partition and secession, both as territorial issues and as problems of sovereignty, focussing on the state system. The democratic principle of national self-determination is recognised by the international community but is unequally and cynically applied, designed to protect the existing system of states. Partition, division, and secession, may heighten tensions between the parties and greatly magnify the extent of any future conflict, by creating new sovereign states. The weakening of the nation-state within its own borders by forces of globalization unleashes intensely nationalist sentiments, increasing instability within the state, and to partition or secession which, in turn, further destabilize the interstate system.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Agnew, J.A.; Corbridge, S.: Mastering Space. Routledge, London, 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alonso, W.: Citizenship, nationality and other identities. Journal of International Affairs 48(2), 585–599 (1995).

    Google Scholar 

  • Baram, A.: Territorial nationalism in the Arab world. Middle Eastern Studies 26(4), 425–449 (1990).

    Google Scholar 

  • Bell-Fialkoff, A.: A brief history of ethnic cleansing. Foreign Affairs 72(3), 110–121 (1993).

    Google Scholar 

  • Brawer, M.: Dissimilarities in the evolution of frontier characteristics along boundaries of differing political and cultural regions. In: Kliot N., Waterman S. (eds.), Pluralism and Political Geography, pp. 159–172. Croom Helm, Beckenham, 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  • Christie C. J.: Partition, separatism and national identity: a reassessment. Journal of Politics 61, 68–78 (1993).

    Google Scholar 

  • Christopher, A. J.: South Africa: the case of a failed state partition. Political Geography 13(2), 123–136 (1994).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, S. B.: The world geopolitical system in retrospect and prospect. Journal of Geography 89, 2–12 (1990).

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, S. B.: Global geopolitical change in the post-Cold War era. Annals of the Association of American Geographers 81, 551–580 (1991).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, S. B.: The emerging world map of peace. In: Kliot N., Waterman S. B. (eds), The Political Geography of Conflict and Peace, pp. 18–36. Belhaven Press, London, 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, S. B.: Policy prescriptions for the post-Cold War world. The Professional Geographer 44(1), 13–16 (1992).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Darwin, J.: The End of the British Empire: The Historical Debate. Basil Blackwell, Oxford, 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  • Diehl, P. F.; Goertz, G.: Interstate conflict over exchanges of homeland territory, 1816–1980. Political Geography Quarterly 10(4), 342–355 (1991).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Emizet, K. N.; Hesli, V. L.: The disposition to secede: an analysis of the Soviet case. Comparative Political Studies 27(4), 493–536 (1995).

    Google Scholar 

  • Fraser, T. G.: Partition in Ireland, India and Palestine: Theory and Practice. Macmillan, London, 1984.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gallusser, W. (ed.): Boundaries and Co-operation. University of Basel, Institute of Geography, Basel, 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  • Galnoor, I.: Territorial partition of Palestine — The 1937 decision. Political Geography Quarterly 10(4), 382–404 (1991).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Galnoor, I.: The Partition of Palestine: Decision Crossroads in the Zionist Movement. SUNY Press, Albany, 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goertz, G.; Diehl, P. F.: Territorial Changes and International Conflict. Routledge, London and New York, 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gurr, T. R.: Why minorities rebel: a global analysis of communal mobilization and conflict since 1945. International Political Science Review 14(3), 161–201 (1993).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hadjipavlou-Trigeorgis M.; Trigeorgis, L.: An evolutionary approach to conflict resolution. Journal of Conflict Resolution 37(2), 340–360 (1993).

    Google Scholar 

  • Harris, C. D.: Unification of Germany in 1990. Geographical Review 81, 170–182 (1991).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Henderson, G.; Lebow, R. N.: Conclusion. In: Henderson G., Lebow R. N., Stroessinger J. G. (eds), Divided Nations in a Divided World, pp. 433–456, David Mackay, NY, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horowitz, D. L.: Irredentas and secessions: adjacent phenomena, neglected connections. International Journal of Comparative Sociology 33(1-2), 118–130 (1992).

    Google Scholar 

  • Katz, Y.: The crystallisation of the Jewish Agency proposal over the partition borders 1937–1938. Tzion 51, 1–39 (1991).

    Google Scholar 

  • Knight, D. B.: Identity and territory: geographical perspectives on nationalism and regionalism. Annals of the Association of American Geographers 72(4), 514–531 (1982).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knight, D. B.: Self-determination as a geopolitical force. Journal of Geography 82(4), 148–152 (1983).

    Google Scholar 

  • Knight, D. B.: The dilemmas of nations in a rigid state-structured world. In: Kliot N., Waterman S. (eds), Pluralism and Political Geography, pp. 114–137. Croom Helm, London, 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kosinski L. A.: Changes in the ethnic structure in east-central Europe, 1930–1960. Geographical Review 59, 388–402 (1969).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kreyenbroek P. G.; Allison, C. (eds.): Kurdish culture and identity. Zed, London, 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lapidoth, R.: Sovereignty in transition. Journal of International Affairs 45(2), 325–346 (1992).

    Google Scholar 

  • Lendvai, P.: Yugoslavia without the Yugoslavs. International Affairs 67(2), 251–261 (1991).

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayall J.; Simpson M.: Ethnicity is not enough: reflections on protracted secessionism in the Third World. International Journal of Comparative Sociology 33(1-2), 5–25 (1992).

    Google Scholar 

  • Mikesell M. W.; Murphy A. B.: A framework for comparative study of minority-group aspirations. Annals of the Association of American Geographers 81, 581–604 (1991).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mingione, E.: Italy: the resurgence of regionalism. International Affairs 69(2), 305–318 (1993).

    Google Scholar 

  • Murphy A. B.: The emerging Europe of the 1990s. Geographical Review 81(1), 1–17 (1991).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murphy A. B.: International law and the sovereign state: challenges to the status quo. In: Demko G. J., Wood W. B. (eds), Reordering the World, pp. 209–224, Westview Press, Boulder, 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murphy A. B.: The sovereign state system as political-territorial ideal: historical and contemporary considerations. In: Biersteker, T., Weber, C. (eds), State Sovereignty as Social Construct, pp. 81–120. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pettifer J.: The new Macedonian question. International Affairs 68(3), 475–485 (1992).

    Google Scholar 

  • Philpott D.: Sovereignty: An introduction and brief history. Journal of International Affairs 48(2), 353–368 (1995).

    Google Scholar 

  • Pounds N. J. G.: History and geography: a perspective on partition. Journal of International Affairs 18, 161–172 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  • Rhode G.: Peace through partition. In: Collier D. S., Glaser K. (eds), The Conditions for Peace in Europe, Problems of Détente and Security, pp. 129–137. Foundation for Foreign Affairs, Washington, DC, 1969.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith F. M.: Politics, place and German reunification: a realignment approach. Political Geography 13(3), 228–244 (1994).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smooha S.; Hanf T.: The diverse modes of conflict regulation in deeply-divided societies. International Journal of Comparative Sociology 33 (1-2), 26–47 (1992).

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor P. J.: The Way the Modern World Works. Wiley, Chichester, 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walzer Michael: Notes on the new tribalism. In: C. Brown (ed.), Political Restructuring in Europe: Ethical Perspectives, pp. 187–200. Routledge, London, 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  • Waterman S.: Partition as a problem in Political Geography. In: Taylor P. J., House J. W. (eds), Political Geography, Recent Advances and Future Directions, pp. 98–116, Croom Helm, Beckenham, 1984.

    Google Scholar 

  • Waterman S.: Partitioned states. Political Geography Quarterly 6(1), 90–106 (1987).

    Google Scholar 

  • Waterman, S.: Partition and modern nationalism. In: Williams C. H., Kofman E. (eds), Community Conflict, Partition and Nationalism, pp. 117–132. Croom Helm, Beckenham, 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whebell C. F. J.: A model of territorial separatism. Proceedings of the Association of American Geographers 5, 295–298 (1973).

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams C. H.: Ethnic resurgence in the periphery. Area 11(4), 279–283 (1979).

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams C. H. Ethnic separatism in Western Europe. Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie 71, 142–159 (1980).

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, C. H.: Identity through autonomy: ethnic separatism in Québec. In: Burnett A. D., Taylor P. J. (eds), Political Studies from Spatial Perspectives, pp. 389–418. Wiley, Chichester, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams C. H.: When nationalists challenge: when nationalists rule. Environment and Planning ‘C’ 3, 27–48 (1985).

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams C. H.: Towards a new world order: European and American perspectives. In: Williams C. H. (ed), The Political Geography of the New World Order, pp. 1–19. Belhaven, London, 1993.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, University of Haifa, Mount Carmel, Haifa, Israel

    Waterman Stanley

Authors
  1. Waterman Stanley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

This paper was written while an Academic Visitor in the Department of Geography, Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Waterman, S. Partition, secession and peace in our time. GeoJournal 39, 345–352 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02428497

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02428497

Keywords

Search

Navigation