Archive

The online event offers four different zoom breakout rooms around the main theme of activism: each room has a focus. Choose three of the topics and get into conversation with experts from science and practice. After 30 minutes the experts* change - and the topic!

The Covid-19 pandemic has focused more attention on the relationship between citizens and the state. With begin of the crisis, it seemed that authoritarian states were better able to manage the situation. Five months later, the results of the individual states are completely different?

Belarus’ handling of the Corona pandemic has raised severe criticism domestically and evoked astonishment by external observers. Public information policy and official data in the country is met with civic disbelief. ZOiS researcher Nadja Douglas will focus on this situation with Olga Dryndova and Andrei Yeliseyeu.

The 1,5-day workshop “Religious Activism” seeks to discuss concepts and practices of mobilizing and mediating the religious in post-socialist Eastern Europe and in the Caucasus from different disciplinarian points of views: anthropology, theology, sociology.

In countries such as Russia and Poland, right-wing parties and authoritarian governments use "Christian values" to promote conservative social policies. On the one hand, the anti-gender and pro-family agenda of right-wing populist movements strengthens eurocritical and nationalist actors. On the other hand, these movements are also part of international Christian ultraconservative alliances, which see a new bastion of the defence of their values in Eastern Europe.

In his lecture at ZOiS, Rico Isaac will be discribing the process and discourse of nation-building in post-Soviet Kasakhstan and in what way it was shaped by nationalism.

Stanislav Klimovich and Ulla Pape coordinate the project "Variations of Governance in Hybrid Regimes. Enterprises, State and Civil Society in Contemporary Russia.” In their presentation they concentrate on the development dynamics of corporate social responsibility in the area of conflict between international markets and national objectives.

At ZOiS, Stephan Ganoff will present his film "The Transfiguration" and then discuss with artists and academics how migration processes in Eastern Europe are radically changing gender identities and social norms.

Using photos and video material, activists, artists, and social scientists will show how diverse and dynamic contemporary urban activism in Eastern Europe is: from grassroots actions in Russian Murmansk and the mobilisation of street protests against construction projects in Tbilisi, through to artistic interventions in Ukrainian and Polish cities.

China’s ambitious New Silk Road project is a key element of its foreign policy strategy. At ZOiS, we will explore the political implications for the region, the problems associated with the project’s practical implementation, and will also take a closer look at China’s ambitions in Eastern and Central Europe.

Diana Bogishvili's dissertation examines the migration of young Georgians to Germany and analyses the transformation of social inequalities within the society of origin. At the research colloquium she will discuss the theoretical and methodological approach of her dissertation project.

This event focuses on the representation of Eastern Europe in Western European media outlets and vice versa: What ideas does Germany have about Eastern Europe and how do they see “us” there? To what extent do reports in the media influence our perception of East and West and the construction of the stereotypes associated with them?

In her dissertation, Yana Zabanova draws on historical institutionalism to analyse and contrast Russia and Kazakhstan’s state-led and politically contested approaches to developing renewable energy under the conditions of strong carbon lock-in.

This event at ZOiS will feature readings by two young writers whose works have been translated as part of the DAAD project “(No) More Utopias? – A Forum for Engaged Young Literature”. They will be joined by literary experts for a discussion on what kind of impetus literature can generate in support of pluralism, democracy and civil society.

Youth often plays a key role in bringing about political and social change. This is especially true in moments of crisis, where youth can provide a highly contested imaginary of a country’s experiences and expectations. This workshop wishes to explore the role of youth in these two interrelated dimensions, youth as actor and object.

Félix Krawatzek will present his book "Youth in Regime Crisis: Comparative Perspectives from Russia to Weimar Germany". After the presentation, the author discusses key results with Jussi Lassila, Anne Muxel and Hilary Pilkington and puts them in a relation with the larger research agenda in the field of youth and politics.