The Centre for East European and International Studies (ZOiS) is an independent, international, publicly funded research institute. It focuses on foundational and socially relevant academic research on Eastern Europe and shares the results with policymakers, the media, and the broader public.

The importance of dedicated regional research undertaken in long-term projects for providing the necessary profound knowledge is clearer today than ever before. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine underscores the value of our nuanced view of the region. Russia’s war on Ukraine is a watershed that presents major challenges not only to political actors worldwide but also to researchers. Data collection has become difficult or impossible in some cases, and cooperations have been terminated, adapted or newly established.

Our goal is to carry out comprehensive research on the various political, economic and security-related implications of the war against Ukraine. Only high-quality regional research across a wide range of academic disciplines can rise to the challenges that entails and provide crucial impetus for research, politics and public discourse.

Thematic focus

Our researchers’ individual projects fall within five main topic areas: Societies between Stability and Change; Conflict Dynamics and Border Regions; Migration and Diversity; Youth and Generational Change; and Political Economy and Integration. ‘Eastern Europe’ is defined in broad terms. Our research covers Eastern and Central Europe as well as the South Caucasus and Central Asia.

ZOiS is independent in how it sets its research agenda and implements its research projects. The topics chosen for its research priorities and projects reflect its aim of exploring and awakening interest in various aspects of Eastern Europe, with topical relevance and background analysis carrying equal weight here. However, we also think it is important to show that Eastern Europe is not confined to the eastern part of our continent but is present in diverse forms in this country too, for example through (forced) migration or disinformation.

Detailed analysis of the complex developments taking place in Eastern Europe is only possible with a multi-perspective approach. ZOiS researchers therefore come from a range of disciplines, including political science, sociology, social anthropology, economic and social geography, political economy and cultural studies.

Our vision

Empirical data collection is a key element of the basic research conducted at ZOiS. We combine qualitative and quantitative methods, use interviews, surveys and text analysis, and adopt innovative methods in our fieldwork, for example by engaging with artistic research and other interdisciplinary collaborations. In particular, we place a high value on cooperation with colleagues from our research region. An Ethics Committee ensures compliance with research ethics standards, thereby contributing to the sustainable and transparent design of research processes at ZOiS.

However, ZOiS’s work does not begin and end with research. We actively participate in public debate, shape current discourses and bring new perspectives on – and from – Eastern Europe. ZOiS researchers regularly share their findings with policymakers, the media and an interested public, using a variety of events and publication formats for this purpose. Research on Eastern Europe relies on new perspectives and a willingness to engage with unconventional topics. Supporting junior researchers is also a priority for ZOiS here.

For ZOiS, Eastern Europe is more than just an object of research. We actively engage with the research being produced in the region itself and collaborate with Eastern European and international scholars. And lastly, ZOiS sees itself as a place for networking and exchange for universities, research institutes, think tanks, foundations and other organisations with a connection to Eastern Europe.