CBEES turns 20: from optimism to geopolitical reality

Research covered issues such as party systems, public opinion and establishing a rule of law. Many researchers worked from the assumption that East and West would gradually become more united, an idea that was rooted in the political circumstances of the time.

A rapidly changing landscape

However, developments took a different direction. In the 2010s, nationalist and populist movements began advancing in several of the new EU member states and, at the same time, political controls in Russia were tightened. These changes also meant a shift in the focus of researchers in the field of Eastern European studies.

Ekman says this indicated that questions needed to be reformulated.

“We went from studying how democracy could be enhanced to analysing why it was declining. It became clear that democratic development is not linear,” he says.

From the start, CBEES established an interdisciplinary structure that made it possible to combine political analyses with historical, economic and cultural perspectives. This proved valuable when the region began to undergo more rapid change.

A research hub that has followed developments in real time

When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the situation changed dramatically. Issues that had long been in the background, such as energy security, geopolitics and European cohesion, became vital.

Ekman describes this as a turning point that affected the entire field of research.

“The war in Ukraine overshadows everything. It demands an understanding of both rapid developments and long-term structures,” he says.

The role of CBEES is therefore clearer than it perhaps ever has been. The region is not just a subject to be studied – it is a vital element of Sweden’s security policy and its economic future. The centre’s researchers possess specialist knowledge of languages, politics and history, enabling them to analyse developments both close up and from a distance.

Looking ahead to the next 20 years

In association with its anniversary, researchers at the centre are reflecting on what has been built up over two decades: international networks, a strong environment for doctoral studies and the ability to quickly orientate themselves in complex situations. But questions about the future dominate the conversation.

“This is a region that continues to change and has a direct impact on Sweden. This is why we need long-term research and environments such as CBEES,” says Ekman.

After 20 years, CBEES remains at the heart of issues that are shaping Europe’s future. And although much has changed since it started in 2005, one thing remains constant: the need to understand the area of Europe that is perhaps moving the fastest and affecting us the most.