Partitionthe physical division of territory along ethno-religious lines into separate nation-statesis often presented as a successful political "solution" to ethnic conflict. In the twentieth century, at least three new political entitiesthe Irish Free State, the Dominions (later Republics) of India and Pakistan, and the State of Israelemerged as results of partition. This volume offers the first collective history of the concept of partition, tracing its emergence in the aftermath of the First World War and locating its genealogy in the politics of twentieth-century empire and decolonization.

Introduction : drawing the line, writing beyond it : toward a transnational history of partitions / Arie M. Dubnov and Laura Robson -- From minority to nation / Faisal Devji -- The architect of two partitions or a federalist daydreamer? : the curious case of Reginald Coupland / Arie M. Dubnov -- "The meat and the bones" : reassessing the origins of the partition of Mandate Palestine / Motti Golani -- "Indian ulsterisation", Ireland, India, and partition : the infection of example? / Kate O'Malley -- "Close parallels"? : interrelated discussions of partition in South Asia and the Palestine Mandate (1936-1948) / Lucy Chester -- Analogical thinking and partition in British Mandate Palestine / Penny Sinanoglou -- Rejecting partition : the imported lessons of Palestine's binational Zionists / Adi Gordon -- Arab liberal intellectuals and the partition of Palestine / Joel Beinin -- Poets of partition : the recovery of lost causes / Priya Satia -- Epilogue : partitions, hostages, transfer : retributive violence and national security / A. Dirk Moses.