revanchism

• revanchisme

From the French revanche (“revenge”) +‎ -ism, based on revanchisme.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ɹɪˈvæn(t)ʃɪz(ə)m/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ɹəˈvɑnt͡ʃɪz(ə)m/

revanchism (usually uncountable, plural revanchisms)

1. The political policy of endeavouring to regain lost territory.
   • 2002, Colin Jones, The Great Nation, Penguin, published 2003, page 233:

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

   • 2011 November 10, Simon Jenkins, The Guardian:

     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.

   • 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):

     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.

2. Metaphorical endeavouring to regain lost political or cultural territory.
   • 2020 June 11, Paul Waldman, “Why Donald Trump is standing up for the Confederacy”, in Washington Post‎:

     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.

• revanche