Studies of partitions have usually focused on individual cases. These innovative volumes use comparative analysis to fill the gap in partition studies.

The partition of the Indian subcontinent, the collapse of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia, the reunification of Germany, the continuing feud between two Koreas, the Irish peace process, the case of Israel/Palestine and the lingering division of Cyprus, have together given rise to a huge body of literature. However, studies of partitions have usually focused on individual cases. This innovative volume uses comparative analysis to fill the gap in partition studies and examines cross-cutting issues such as:
* violence
* state formation
* union and regional unification
* geopolitics
* transition.