Department of Central and Eastern Europe and Post-Soviet Studies

Scientific research directions
conducted in Department of Central and Eastern Europe and Post-Soviet Research

Here are the two leading research topics of the Department:

1. Central Europe, Central and Eastern Europe: definitions, borders, identity

Prof. Wojciech Roszkowski proposes two definitions: that the discussed area should be called Central and Eastern Europe in the broadest sense, and Central Europe in a narrower sense. In this approach, Central Europe includes the following NATO and EU member states: Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovenia and Croatia, as well as Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

On the other hand, Central and Eastern Europe includes Central Europe and, moreover, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova and the countries of the Western Balkans.

In light of a different approach, Central Europe is the territory of twelve countries: Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovenia and Croatia, as well as Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, and also, with some reservations, Austria. They are countries united by membership in the EU and cooperation within the Three Seas Initiative.

The collective monograph entitled East of West? Questions about the identity of Central Europe, due in 2022. We presented some of our conclusions at the international conference on March 21, 2022, entitled What is Central Europe and what is Eastern Europe? The name of the region in the academic discourse in Poland and France (program and details below). It was an important event that inspired a further discussion on the definition of Central Europe – in response to the changes taking place in international relations at the regional and global levels. In cooperation with other centers, we are continuing to work on developing such a definition.

2. The Three Seas Initiative as a new example of regional cooperation in Europe

Since 2018, the Department has been conducting research on the Three Seas Initiative. Details of the project are presented on the website https://trojmorze.isppan.waw.pl/ Regional cooperation has been one of our main areas of interest for many years. The plant has become one of the leading research centers on the Three Seas Initiative. The main questions we focus on in 2022 concern the importance of the Three Seas Initiative Investment Fund, the cultural dimension of the Three Seas Initiative and its development as an example of regional cooperation.

Other research topics:

A separate section of scientific research conducted at the Department, referred to as post-Soviet research and eastern issues, includes:
– historical and contemporary aspects of the demarcation of Central and Eastern European states with the Soviet Union and the Russian Federation
– issues of political transformation and Russia’s foreign policy
– the concept of Central and Eastern Europe in the political thought of Józef Piłsudski

The employees of the Department also conduct research in terms of their scientific interests, regarding the broadly understood post-communist transformation in the countries of the Visegrad Group, Bulgaria, Georgia, Ukraine and Belarus.

The 50th anniversary of scientific work of prof. Wojciech Roszkowski

In 2022, a special event for the Department will be the 50th anniversary of scientific work of prof. Wojciech Roszkowski. The leading idea of the book that is being created on this occasion is The East of the West, Questions about the Identity of Central Europe, which refers to the title edited by prof. Wojciech Roszkowski, a series published by the Institute of Political Sciences of the Polish Academy of Sciences. The scientific conference accompanying the celebration of the jubilee will be an opportunity to discuss the problems raised in the rich scientific achievements of prof. Wojciech Roszkowski. Among his most recent works, the book Communism World, which is a kind of warning against totalitarianism in various dimensions, draws attention. In the work entitled Direction Targowica the Author analyzed the period of the rule of PiS and the PO-PSL coalition as an example of a new type of political conflict in Poland, i.e. the symptoms and causes of this conflict and its potential consequences. In the books Shattered Mirror and Rebellion of the Barbarians, prof. Wojciech Roszkowski made an attempt to capture the spiritual and social causes of the crisis and the collapse of Western civilization – from the Enlightenment to the present day, which resulted in the demographic and institutional crisis of the European Union, the decline in the role of the West in politics and the world economy. The last two books generated considerable media interest, discussion and were awarded with prestigious awards.

Schedule of the Department’s open seminars in 2022 – PDF, 199 KB

We are honored to invite you to participate in the Polish-French conference entitled What is Central Europe and what is Eastern Europe? The name of the region in the academic discourse in Poland and France organized by the Department of Central and Eastern Europe and Post-Soviet Studies of Polish Academy of Sciences and the Europes-Eurasia Research Centre (CREE) of the National Institute for Oriental Languages and Civilizations (Inalco). The conference will be held on March 21, 2022, on the ZOOM platform.

Invitation and Programme – PDF, 503 KB

Summary of the Conference – PDF, 538 KB