Editing Irredentism (section)

== Importance, reactions, and consequences ==
[[File:Locator map Iran Khuzestan Province.png|thumb|In the [[Iran–Iraq War]] (1980–1988), [[Saddam Hussein]]'s [[Iraq]] claimed it had the right to hold sovereignty to the east bank of the [[Shatt al-Arab]] river held by [[Iran]].{{sfn|Goldstein|2005|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=KWWKAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA133 133]}} The war claimed the lives of more than a million people.{{sfn|Hussain|2023}}]]
Irredentism is a widespread phenomenon and has been an influential force in [[Global politics|world politics]] since the mid-nineteenth century. It has been responsible for countless conflicts. There are still many unresolved irredentist disputes today that constitute discords between nations.{{sfn|Ambrosio|2011|pp=1346–1348|loc=irredentism}}{{sfn|Clarke|Foweraker|2003|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=eT9PEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA375 375–376]}}{{sfn|Kornprobst|2008|p=11}} In this regard, irredentism is a potential source of conflict in many places and often escalates into military confrontations between states.{{sfn|White|Millett|2019|p=420}}{{sfn|Griffiths|O'Callaghan|Roach|2008|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=9vU7xX4eNf4C&pg=PA175 175–177]}}{{sfn|Hinnebusch|2002|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=OOGTyh675JYC&pg=PA7 7–8]}} For example, [[international relation]] theorist Markus Kornprobst argues that "no other issue over which states fight is as war-prone as irredentism".{{sfn|Kornprobst|2008|p=11}} Political scholar Rachel Walker points out that "there is scarcely a country in the world that is not involved in some sort of irredentist quarrel ... although few would admit to this".{{sfn|Clarke|Foweraker|2003|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=eT9PEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA375 375–376]}} Political theorists Stephen M. Saideman and R. William Ayres argue that many of the most important conflicts of the 1990s were caused by irredentism, such as the wars for a Greater Serbia and a [[Greater Croatia]].{{sfn|Saideman|Ayres|2000|pp=[https://www.jstor.org/stable/2647868 1126–1144]}} Irredentism carries a lot of potential for future conflicts since many states have kin groups in adjacent countries. It has been argued that it poses a significant danger to human security and the [[international order]].{{sfn|Siroky|Hale|2017|p=1}} For these reasons, irredentism has been a central topic in the field of [[international relations]].{{sfn|Ambrosio|2011|pp=1346–1348|loc=irredentism}}

For the most part, international law is hostile to irredentism. For example, the [[United Nations Charter]] calls for respect for established territorial borders and defends state sovereignty. Similar outlooks are taken by the [[Organization of African Unity]], the [[Organization of American States]], and the [[Helsinki Final Act]].{{sfn|Griffiths|O'Callaghan|Roach|2008|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=9vU7xX4eNf4C&pg=PA175 175–177]}} Since irredentist claims are based on conflicting sovereignty assertions, it is often difficult to find a working compromise.{{sfn|Clarke|Foweraker|2003|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=eT9PEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA375 375–376]}} Peaceful resolutions of irredentist conflicts often result in mutual recognition of de facto borders rather than territorial change.{{sfn|Kornprobst|2008|pp=7–8}} International relation theorists [[Martin Griffiths]] ''et al.'' argue that the threat of rising irredentism may be reduced by focusing on [[Pluralism (political philosophy)|political pluralism]] and respect for [[minority rights]].{{sfn|Griffiths|O'Callaghan|Roach|2008|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=9vU7xX4eNf4C&pg=PA175 175–177]}}

Irredentist movements, peaceful or violent, are rarely successful.{{sfn|Griffiths|O'Callaghan|Roach|2008|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=9vU7xX4eNf4C&pg=PA175 175–177]}} In many cases, despite aiming to help ethnic minorities, irredentism often has the opposite effect and ends up worsening their living conditions. On the one hand, the state still in control of those territories may decide to further discriminate against them as an attempt to decrease the threat to its [[national security]]. On the other hand, the irredentist state may merely claim to care about the ethnic minorities but, in truth, use such claims only as a pretext to increase its territory or to destabilize an opponent.{{sfn|Griffiths|O'Callaghan|Roach|2008|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=9vU7xX4eNf4C&pg=PA175 175–177]}}{{sfn|Orabator|1981|pp=[https://www.jstor.org/stable/41857111 166–181]}}