Nationalism and Empire

"This volume studies the problems of domination and nationalism in the two great multi-ethnic land empires - the Soviet Union and the Habsburg monarchy. The Habsburg Monarchy dissolved in 1918 in part because of conflict among its nationalities, while the Soviet Union managed to stabilize its multinational empire on the heels of the Russian Revolution. The former Soviet Union has faced a political crisis directly rooted in such ethnic discontent. As republic after republic declared its independence issues such as language, ethnicity and national identity moved to the forefront. This volume delves into the Soviet crisis in the light of both the Habsburg experience and the Soviet experience in the early 20th century. Using an interdisciplinary, comparative approach, the contributors (from eight different countries) give insights into the terrible pressures faced by the centre as it tries to hold together the territories and peoples of a multinational state. The nationality issue in the former Soviet Union and its effects will clearly remain the most important factor in world politics during the 1990s, and this book provides a comprehensive guide to understanding all that is involved.