Revanchism
Policy of revenge for territorial losses.
Revanchism is a policy or political doctrine aimed at revenge or the reversal of losses incurred in previous political or military defeats, most commonly territorial losses. The term originated in 1870s France among nationalists who wanted to avenge the French defeat in the Franco-Prussian War and reclaim the lost territories of Alsace-Lorraine. Revanchism draws strength from patriotic and retributionist thought and is often motivated by economic or geopolitical factors, with extreme ideologues advocating for achieving objectives through another war.
- field
- Political doctrine
- nationality
- French (origin)
- known_for
- Revenge and reversal of territorial losses
- related_concept
- Irredentism
Lore & Background
Revanchism emerged in 1870s France after the Franco-Prussian War, driven by nationalists seeking to avenge defeat and reclaim Alsace-Lorraine. It is linked with irredentism, the idea that part of a cultural and ethnic nation remains 'unredeemed' outside its appropriate nation-state. Revanchist politics often rely on identifying a nation with a nation state, mobilizing ethnic nationalism to claim territories based on ancient or autochthonous occupation. While German revanchism after World War I focused on territories like Alsace-Lorraine and the Polish Corridor, the Sudetenland—part of Austria-Hungary, not Germany—only became a prominent issue in the 1930s under Nazi Germany, a period less commonly described as revanchism.
Reader's Guide
Revanchism has shaped numerous historical and current conflicts across the Americas, Asia, and Europe. Examples include Argentina's claim to the Falkland Islands, Mexican nationalist claims to the Southwestern United States, China's territorial claims in the South China Sea, and Iraq's annexation attempts under Saddam Hussein. In Europe, French revanchism after 1870 influenced the Franco-Russian Alliance and the Treaty of Versailles, while German revanchism after World War I contributed to World War II. The term remains relevant for understanding nationalist movements that seek to reverse past losses through aggressive or irredentist policies.
Did You Know?
- The term revanchism originated in 1870s France from the French word 'revanche' meaning 'revenge'.
- French revanchism was a major reason France pursued the Franco-Russian Alliance of 1894.
- German revanchism after World War I called for reclamation of Alsace-Lorraine and the Polish Corridor, but the Sudetenland—part of Austria-Hungary—only became a major issue in the 1930s under Nazi Germany.
- Argentina's claim to the Falkland Islands was added to its constitution in 1994.
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