revanchism

plural revanchisms · alternative revanchisme

1. uncountableusuallyThe political policy of endeavouring to regain lost territory.

   Fleury had correctly grasped the wisdom of forestalling possible Austrian revanchisme over Lorraine, while France's biggest international problems emanated from England […]

   2002, Colin Jones, The Great Nation, Penguin, published 2003, page 233

   2 more examples

   The EU lobby may have cobbled together institutions for a united states of Europe, but it was a fool's errand, and one that could only play into the hands of German revanchism.

   2011 November 10, Simon Jenkins, The Guardian

   But couple the tightening of Chinese authoritarianism with Russia's turn toward revanchism and dictatorship, and then add the rise of radical Islam, with its violent intolerance, and the grand victory of Western liberalism can seem hollow, its values under threat even within its own societies.

   2015 September 12, Steven Erlanger, “Are Western values losing their sway?”, in The New York Times (print version: Did liberalism win? It's not clear, International New York Times, 14 September 2015, p. 7)

2. uncountableusuallyMetaphorical endeavouring to regain lost political or cultural territory.

   But Trump, proud son of Queens, believes firmly that stirring up division is essential to his success, and he’s always looking for ways to promote right-wing revanchism and resentment. He’s particularly drawn to symbolic fights where he can take an angry stand against cultural change.

   2020 June 11, Paul Waldman, “Why Donald Trump is standing up for the Confederacy”, in Washington Post