Why are we still researching Eastern Europe After 1989?

2024/09/30 by Elisa Satjukow, LEaF Translations
Social Sciences · #Budapest #Central European and Russian historical studies #Contemporary history #Diplomatic history #East Central Europe #Eastern European Communism and Reforms #Education #George #German Democratic Republic #Historical Geopolitical and Social Dynamics #History of eastern europe #History of science #Hungary #Intellectual history #Soros #Transformation #University (Institution)

paper · doi:10.25355/mzbm-pp74

openalex publication_date 2024/09/30 · openalex created_date 2025/12/05 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/01

Abstract

Why are we still conducting research on Eastern Europe? In this article, I use two empirical case studies from the post-socialist period – the founding of the Central European University or "CEU" in Budapest and Eastern European research in the German Democratic Republic – to discuss how questions regarding the legitimacy and orientation of academic research into Eastern Europe were answered by the stakeholders in the field in the East and West following the end of the Cold War.

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