Research Centre for East European Studies at the University of Bremen

The Research Centre for East European Studies (Forschungsstelle Osteuropa – FSO) is an independent research institute attached to the University of Bremen. It is funded jointly by the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs and the State of Bremen. Founded during the Cold War in 1982, the FSO today combines two goals: the (re)examination of societies and cultures in the Eastern Bloc and the analysis of contemporary developments in the post-Soviet region. 

 

Archive and Research News

New journal article: Jan Matti Dollbaum: When Does Diffusing Protest Lead to Local Organization Building? Evidence from a Comparative Subnational Study of Russia’s “For Fair Elections” Movement, in: Perspectives on Politics » online first

New journal article: Gulnaz Isabekova: Mutual learning on the local level: The Swiss Red Cross and the Village Health Committees in the Kyrgyz Republic, in: Global Social Policy » online first (open access)

New book: Esther Somfalvy: Parliamentary Representation in Central Asia. MPs Between Representing Their Voters and Serving an Authoritarian Regime » read more


 

Archive With an archive and library spezialising in the literature on dissent, emigration and repression in Eastern Europe after 1945/1953 and the political transformation after 1989/1991, the Research Centre offers scholars from the humanities unique conditions to conduct research on the history of "Dissent and Consensus" in Eastern Europe after 1945. Researchers who plan to use the archive are kindly requested to contact us 4 weeks in advance. We are extremely grateful to anyone wishing to give documents to our archive or willing to inform us of materials related to our profile! » read more

Research The guiding concept of the centre's research is "Dissent and Consensus". This posits that deviant opinions, political opposition, defiance or forms of obstinacy can only be understood in the context of the political system, its discourses and repressive measures. To this end, historians, political scientists, sociologists, and specialists in literary and cultural studies collaborate using interdisciplinary approaches. This approach places particular emphasis on the following areas: the shared worlds of representatives of dissent, consensus, state and party; networks and corruption; the functioning of (post-) authoritarian regimes. » read more