Dating Through Revolutions: Romantic Life in Times of Political Upheaval MTA
Courtship, exile, and partnership during wars, revolutions, and social crises

About this book:

*Dating Through Revolutions* explores the complex interplay between political upheaval and romantic life, arguing that major social ruptures—wars, revolutions, and economic crises—do not suspend intimacy but rather reorganize it. By examining historical case studies ranging from the French Revolution and the World Wars to the Arab Spring and the ongoing war in Ukraine, the book traces how the domains of courtship, exile, and partnership are transformed by shifting laws, surveillance, and displacement. It reframes private life as a public fact, showing how state policies on marriage, housing, and welfare directly dictate the terms under which individuals meet, commit, or separate.

The narrative highlights the resilience and adaptability of human connection under extreme pressure. In the face of danger, courtship often accelerates; in the face of scarcity, it becomes pragmatic, valuing resourcefulness and care over traditional status. The book explores how technology—from trench letters in the Great War to encrypted apps in Hong Kong and Cairo—acts as both a lifeline for intimacy and a vector for state surveillance. It also delves into the "intimate state," showing how regimes use family law and housing as tools for social engineering or population control, forcing couples to navigate a bureaucratic maze to legitimize their unions.

Special attention is given to the crossing of boundaries, whether religious, ideological, or national. From the tragic interfaith stories of the 1947 Partition of India to the "war brides" of the post-1945 era and the queer activists of the Arab Uprisings, the text examines the immense personal costs of defying communal norms. It demonstrates that in times of crisis, the choice of a partner becomes an act of political defiance or a strategic gamble for survival. These "forbidden" or "transnational" loves reveal the limits of state power and the stubborn persistence of individual agency.

Ultimately, the book concludes with a reflection on the long-term legacies of love after the "barricades" fall. It addresses the slow process of healing from collective trauma, the challenges of transitioning from revolutionary intensity to domestic normalcy, and the way memory shapes the next generation. By combining demographic data with personal narratives, the study illustrates that the quiet work of making a life together—finding a home, raising children, and maintaining trust—is a fundamental form of resilience that both mirrors and drives the larger movements of history.

What You'll Find Inside:

• Explores how political upheaval reshapes courtship, exile, and partnership through case studies ranging from the French Revolution to modern Arab uprisings.
• Shows how laws, surveillance, and economic shocks alter marriage, divorce, and cohabitation patterns, changing who can marry and under what terms.
• Examines the role of technology—from handwritten letters to encrypted apps—in mediating intimacy, risk, and secrecy during crises.
• Highlights how gender, class, race, sexuality, and generation influence romantic choices and household formation in turbulent times.
• Traces the lasting legacies of love formed in turmoil, including memory, healing, transnational bonds, and post-crisis renegotiation of partnership.

Who's It For:

This book will be valuable for scholars of family, gender, and social movements seeking interdisciplinary perspectives on intimacy in crisis; for history and sociology students interested in the interplay of macro‑politics and private life; for policymakers and practitioners working on displacement, migration, and post‑conflict reconstruction who need insight into how personal relationships affect stability; and for general readers curious about how people build and sustain love when the world feels unsteady.