Cities are close-knit communities. When rival ethnic groups develop which refuse to concede predominance, deep conflicts may occur. Some have been managed peacefully, as in Brussels and Montreal. Other cases, such as Danzig/Gdansk and Trieste have, more or less forcefully, been resolved in favour of one of the parties. In further cases, such as Belfast and Jerusalem, protracted violence has not delivered a solution. Contested Cities in the Modern West examines the roles of international interventions, state policies and social processes in influencing such situations, with particular reference to the above cases.
Autorentext
A.C. HEPBURN is Professor of History at the University of Sunderland and Associate Director of the AHRB Centre for North East England History. He has also taught at the University of Ulster, Queen's University Belfast and the University of Tennessee. His recent books include A Past Apart: Studies in the History of Catholic Belfast (1996) and Ireland 1905-25 (1998).
Zusammenfassung
Cities are anonymous yet intimate communities, in which people from a variety of backgrounds typically live and work cheek-by-jowl. In many modern cities however, ethnic groups choose - or are compelled - to live segregated lives. What happens in circumstances where the cultural ethos or national status of the city itself is questioned, where there is no common acceptance of what language should predominate or even of what sovereign state the city should form a part? In such circumstances serious conflicts may occur. Sometimes these are managed peacefully, as in Brussels and Montreal. Other historical cases, such as Danzig/Gdansk and Trieste, have been resolved in favour of one of the parties after a major war. In cities such as Belfast or Jerusalem, protracted violence has failed to deliver a solution. Contested Cities in the Modern West examines the role of international interventions, state policies and social processes in influencing such situations.
Inhalt
Contested Cities: Social Change, State Action and International Intervention Surrender: From Danzig to Gdansk Resistance: The Survival of Italian Trieste Peaceful Reconquest: Montreal Peaceful Contest: Brussels The Failure of the Chronic Violence: Belfast The Failure of Acute Violence: Jerusalem Conclusion Bibliography