Books in the Contemporary European History series

An examination of the role of history and memory is vital in order to better understand why the grand design of a United Europe-with a common foreign policy and market yet enough diversity to allow for cultural and social differences-was overwhelmingly turned down by its citizens.

The region of Alsace, located between the hereditary enemies of France and Germany, served as a trophy of war four times between 1870-1945. With each shift, French and German officials sought to win the allegiance of the local populace. In response to these pressures, Alsatians invoked regionalism-articulated as a political language, a cultural vision, and a community of identity-not only to define and defend their own interests against the nationalist claims of France and Germany, but also to push for social change, defend religious rights, and promote the status of the region within the larger national community. Alsatian regionalism however, was neither unitary nor unifying, as Alsatians themselves were divided politically, socially, and culturally. The author shows that the Janus-faced character of Alsatian regionalism points to the ambiguous role of regional identity in both fostering and inhibiting loyalty to the nation. Finally, the author uses the case of Alsace to explore the traditional designations of French civic nationalism versus German ethnic nationalism and argues for the strong similarities between the two countries' conceptions of nationhood.

Exploring the visions of the end of the Cold War that have been put forth since its inception until its actual ending, this volume brings to the fore the reflections, programs, and strategies that were intended to call into question the bipolar system and replace it with alternative approaches or concepts.

Modern military history, inspired by social and cultural historical approaches, increasingly puts the national histories of the Second World War to the test. New questions and methods are focusing on aspects of war and violence that have long been neglected. What shaped people's experiences and memories? What differences and what similarities exist

It is hard to imagine nowadays that, for many years, France and Germany considered each other as "arch enemies." And yet, for well over a century, these two countries waged verbal and ultimately violent wars against each other.

Due to the demand for flexible working hours and employees who are available around the clock, the time patterns of childcare and schooling have increasingly become a political issue. The book compares the development of different time policiesA" of half-day and all-day provisions in a variety of Eastern and Western European countries...

The neighboring boroughs of Friedrichschain and Kreuzberg shared a history and identity until their fortunes diverged dramatically following the construction of the Berlin Wall, which placed them within opposing political systems. This revealing account of the two towns during and after the Cold War...

An examination of the role of history and memory is vital in order to better understand why the grand design of a United Europe - with a common foreign policy and market yet enough diversity to allow for cultural and social differences - was overwhelmingly turned down by its citizens.

This volume explores the history of migration and diversity in Germany from 1945 onward, showing how conceptions of "otherness" developed while memories of Nazism were still fresh, and identifying the continuities and transformations they have exhibited up until today.

German attitudes toward migrants have been profoundly shaped by the legacies of the Second World War. This volume explores the history of migration and diversity in Germany from 1945 onward.

In studies of a common European past, there is a significant lack of scholarship on the former Eastern Bloc countries. This volume offers a reflection on memory in an Eastern European historical context, one that can be measured against and applied to historical experience in other parts of Europe.

Despite the interest in general European history, the European dimension is surprisingly absent from much of the writing of contemporary history. In most countries, the historiography on the 20th century is dominated by national perspectives. This book focuses on the development of a shared conception of European history.

This volume offers a new understanding of how information flowed between East and West during the Cold War as well as the much broader circulation of cultural products that was instigated and sustained by these practices.

In Europe and around the world, social policies and welfare services have faced increasing pressure in recent years as a result of political, economic, and social changes. Just as Europe was a leader in the development of the welfare state and the supportive structures of corporatist politics from the 1920s onward...

This volume offers the first extensive analysis of entreaties from persecuted Jews in the Nazi era, demonstrating their largely unappreciated value as a historical source and as an attempt to reclaim agency in increasingly desperate political circumstances.

This groundbreaking study looks at the tension between realism and idealism in Swedish diplomacy during the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe and 1975 Helsinki Accords.