Centre for East European and International Studies (ZOiS)

Was wissen wir über Menschen und Familien mit Russlandhintergrund in Deutschland? Alexey Yusupov und Félix Krawatzek sprechen über politische Einstellungen, soziale Dynamiken und persönliche Erfahrungen und zeigen, wie sich in dieser Community gesellschaftliche Entwicklungen in Deutschland widerspiegeln.

Far from alleviating hunger, Russia’s grain exports to many African states have made it worse. For the Kremlin, the grain trade with Africa is a means of securing the loyalty of autocratic regimes and expanding Russia’s geopolitical influence. Ukraine’s ‘grain diplomacy’ follows an entirely different logic.

Ukraine’s decentralisation reform has been vital to the country’s wartime resilience. Martial law has not dismantled the core achievements of decentralisation, but it does pose risks – particularly for local autonomy and ownership over the recovery process.

In her new book ‘Das Phantom der alten Grenze am Zbruč’ [‘The Phantom of the Old Border at the Zbruč’], social geographer Sabine von Löwis explores a now almost forgotten border in Western Ukraine. She shows how border spaces from the past can re-emerge in a given situation or context. It’s about memory, future expectations, space and belonging.

This KonKoop In:Security Report explores how security is perceived, experienced, and enacted by ordinary citizens — and how the notion of ‘societal security’ in Eastern Europe has changed in the wake of Russia’s war against Ukraine.

On 24 Feburary 2022, Russia began the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Our online dossier gathers relevant information in the form of videos, podcast episodes, publications and assessments of our experts in the media.

ZOiS Spotlight 18/2025

The individual projects of ZOiS are currently divided into five research clusters.

New dekoder series

With a contribution on ‘Independence à la Ukraine’ by Andrii Portnov, the online medium dekoder is launching a new series with explainers on Ukraine in cooperation with ZOiS. In dekoders article series (‘Gnosen’), researchers write scientifically sound explanatory texts, which offer concise and easy-to-read insights into specific topics.

Funding Commitment 

The SCRIPTS Cluster of Excellence will enter its second phase in 2026. In this phase, the focus will be on the resilience of democratic social orders. ZOiS will contribute social science expertise on Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Roundtable Osteuropa is a podcast by the Centre for East European and International Studies. Scholars of ZOiS and their guests discuss their research of Eastern Europe. We consider events in politics and society, while also trying to shed light on lesser-known issues – with insights from sociology, political science, geography, social anthropology, literary studies and theology.

ALL EPISODES

Video: Ukraine Research Network@ZOiS

As seen in the Ukrainian context, science and innovation are pivotal in propelling economic development and regional prosperity, even in conflict-affected areas. In this event, we discuss the intricate relationship between science, innovation, and broader regional dynamics.

Video: Ukraine Research Network@ZOiS

Russia's war against Ukraine raises ethical questions for researchers working on Ukraine. This workshop, organised by UNET, examined the situation of researchers affected by the war and compared the experiences of Ukrainian researchers with those from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Kosovo.

Reseachers from various academic disciplines do research in five clusters and publish their result in peer-reviewed journals.

Centre for East European and International Studies (ZOiS)

Identität und Politik zwischen den Welten: Menschen mit Russlandhintergrund in Deutschland

How Russia Weaponises Food Security in Africa

Ukrainian Decentralisation under Martial Law: A Balancing Act

‘Historical Borders Often Continue to Resonate To This Day’

Emancipatory Dimensions of In:Security – Strategies of Coping with War Challenges in Ukraine

Russia's War against Ukraine

Latest Publications

How Russia Weaponises Food Security in Africa

When Protest Becomes a Mode of Politics

Ukrainian Decentralisation under Martial Law: A Balancing Act

Upcoming Events

Fault Lines and Lines of Defence: Ukraine’s Infrastructure under Attack

News

Ukraine explainers with ZOiS participation

Cluster of Excellence ‘Contestations of the Liberal Script (SCRIPTS)’ with ZOiS Participation to be Continued

Roundtable Osteuropa

Event Recordings

The State of Science in Ukraine: Innovation and Regional Dynamics in Times of War

The Ethics of War and Post-war Research: Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Kosovo

Centre for East European and International Studies

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