The main objective of this departmental centre (Centro per l’Europa centro-orientale e balcanica) is to develop basic and applied research with an interdisciplinary focus on history, politics, anthropology, culture, as well as the legal, social and economic changes in Central and Eastern Europe and the Balkans. The centre focuses on two major geopolitical patterns: on the one hand, on Russia’s economic, political and social role and the New Neighbourhood’s development prospects and the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union. On the other hand, special attention is devoted to the problems of reconciliation and democratization in the Balkans, the relations between the EU and Southeast Europe, the role of the Adriatic-Ionian macro-region (EUSAIR) and its migration routes. Given the growing geopolitical importance of the Caucasus and Central Asia, the Department has launched a new learning and training programme covering these territories. Particular attention is also paid to dealing with differences – in terms of their socio-political and institutional implications – in the European context.
Research Topics
The centre’s research activity is interdisciplinary and promotes contributions in the fields of history, political science, law, and socio-cultural and area studies. It is mainly developed along the following themes:
- Russia's foreign policy in its multipolar relations, with particular reference to China, the European Union, NATO and the Eurasian Economic Union. Special focus is given to Russia’s approach to norms in international organizations, as well as to the political and cultural relations between Russia and Ukraine, and between Russia and the countries of the South Caucasus. Within the framework of Russian foreign policy, the centre also promotes research on the relations between Russia and the Baltic countries, especially Lithuania, from a historical perspective and in terms of recent developments.
- The evolution of the nation-state during the twentieth century in Europe, fragmentation processes in both Eastern and Western Europe, particularly in relation to Brexit and its implications for the European Union. Within this framework, the controversial and wide-ranging issue of borders – whether geopolitical or mental and cultural – currently under investigation takes into account the political perceptions and cultural and historical legacies that still affect Eastern Europe.
The Balkans and the Adriatic-Ionian macro-region are another area under research: studies are conducted by constantly monitoring the phenomena relating to the configuration and reconfiguration of states since the Balkan crises at the beginning of the 20th century, the wars of Yugoslav succession, the post-war consolidation processes, and relations with the EU in the framework of its enlargement to South-Eastern Europe. The centre, in collaboration with the Europe and the Balkans International Network – a large international network that has been operating since 1992 and which the centre coordinates – also deals with other themes, such as the dialogue and reconciliation between Serbia and Albania and in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the respect for human rights and minorities, gender policies, policies for both internal migration flows and migrations across the macro-region.
ERC sectors
- SH2_5 Democratization, social movements
- SH2_6 Violence, conflict and conflict resolution
- SH2_7 Political systems and institutions, governance
- SH2_8 Legal studies, constitutions, comparative law, human rights
- SH2_9 Global and transnational governance, international studies
- SH5_11 Cultural heritage, cultural memory
- SH6_6 Modern and contemporary history
- SH6_9 Gender history
SH6_11 Cultural history, history of collective identities and memories
National and International Collaborations
The centre collaborates with several institutions, including:
- Association for the Studies of Nationalities, Columbia University, New York
- Petersburg State University
- Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas
- University of Zagreb
- University of Sarajevo
- Round Table of Ethnic Relations, Bucharest
- New Bulgarian University, Sofia
- ADA University, Baku
- Uniadrion – Association of Universities of the Adriatic and Ionian area
- iASK (Institute of Advanced Studies – University of Pannonia, Köszeg)