Between hope and reality - Viadrina organises conference on transformation in Central and Eastern Europe

An exhibition will provide a vivid insight into the results of the research project on socialist modernisation in the GDR and the People's Republic of Poland. It will be officially opened on Thursday, 22 May at 6 p.m. in the Viadrina Logenhaus, Logenstraße 11. In concise, comic-like drawings and short texts, the exhibition provides information on the core questions of the joint project: How did planning and productivity work in the GDR? What hindered innovation? And how can socialism and today's entrepreneurship in Poland be reconciled? Guests are invited to the exhibition opening followed by drinks.

In the course of the conference, around 60 international academics from various disciplines will take the research findings on socialist modernisation as an inspiration to discuss political, economic, social and cultural transformation in Central and Eastern Europe. A particular focus will be placed on Ukraine as a location for current modernisation processes - from migration and EU integration to the socio-economic change triggered by the Russian war of aggression.

Guests are asked to register for participation in the conference or individual discussion rounds by Friday, 16 May, by sending an email to walerski@europa-uni.de.

Experts from the Viadrina Centre of Polish and Ukrainian Studies will be available for interviews and background discussions for reporting on conference topics. Journalists are asked to make an appointment by sending an email to presse@europa-uni.de or walerski@europa-uni.de.

Translated by DeepL and edited