The Dark Side of Nation-States

"This instructive text offers a useful analysis of ethnic cleansing that drills into acts often conflated with genocide... Neatly written in a case study style, the chapters help readers understand the complex interplay of cultural bias and the politics of nation-states... The annotated bibliography that concludes the text is excellent, providing a range of sources that touch on country-specific literature and collective memory. This well-researched text will empower readers to carefully consider the intersections and differences between ethnic cleansing and genocide. - Highly Recommended." * Choice

"Throughout his analysis, the author pays special attention to the ways in which international treaties have facilitated or halted ethnic cleansing in modern Europe and beyond...This emphasis makes Philipp Ther's sophisticated book a valuable contribution not just to the field of ethnic cleansing and genocide studies but also to the field of twentieth-century international history." * European History Quarterly

"This is a very fine book worthy of wide scholarly attention. Unlike most other scholars, who see genocide and ethnic cleansing as closely interrelated, Philipp Ther emphasizes the differences between them... I admire its clarity and succinctness and the mastery of a vast material demonstrated by its author. His erudition and courage let him make new and surprising connections and offer truly illuminating insights." * Slavic Review

"...an interesting and thorough contribution to the literature on ethnic cleansing. It will undoubtedly create a lively discussion and, hopefully, further research on the role of international principles and actors in the process that leads to ethnic cleansing." * CritCom - Council for European Studies

"Philipp Ther's newest contribution to the burgeoning literature on ethnic cleansing, forced deportation, and population transfer in the Twentieth Century is admirable in a number of ways. [It] is a genuinely comprehensive treatment of one of the most central problems of modern European history." * Norman Naimark, H-Soz-u-Kult

"His synthesis is especially innovative in assessing the role of nationalism, pointing out the influence of writers, colonialism and of the idea of the national state...Ther provides a highly informative synthesis that both summarizes existing research and contributes a thought-provoking interpretation." * American Historical Review

"A groundbreaking study...based on an impressive amount of facts and balances... This analytically dense, well-written book is highly recommended for a broad audience." * Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

"Throughout his book, Ther develops a brilliant conceptual history (Begriffsgeschichte) of 'ethnic cleansing' and other crucial semantics, such as the extremely negatively connoted notion of 'minority' in the history of modern nation-states. His multilayered history of concepts also demonstrates his impressive language skills, proof of which is found in the annotated bibliography at the end of the book. He is also able to take up the challenging task of writing about an entire century and a wide range of different types of 'ethnic cleansings'...Moreover, he has excellent knowledge of the voluminous literature about the various cases of ethnic cleansing in twentieth century Europe." * Journal of Genocide Research