Centre for East European and International Studies (ZOiS)

A woman in grey clothing leans over a ballot paper lying on a table

The Republic of Moldova is facing yet another crucial election – what is at stake for the EU accession candidate and what role does Russia really play in the elections?

Many countries in South-Eastern Europe have been experiencing recurring waves of mass protests for years, often leading to the fall of governments and new elections. This cycle shapes the political system – and, despite the resulting instability and political crises, keeps the promise of democracy alive.

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 17/2025

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.

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