Newsletter - Social Science in Eastern Europe 1996-4
THE DGS-BRANCH
"SOCIOLOGY OF EASTERN AND EAST CENTRAL EUROPE"
Presently, the DGS-branch "Sociology of Eastern and East Central Europe"
has 51 members and other interested parties. With the help of a relatively wide
range of sociological questions and topics they try to promote the
sociological clarification of the radical post-socialist changes for almost all
countries of Eastern Europe. This is a result of a survey conducted among the
members during the summer of 1996 with a return of 70,6%. Table 1 specifies,
how the 88 research projects conducted by the members and other interested
parties of the DGS-branch between 1990 and 1996 are divided up by country.
Table 1: Distribution of the 88 Research Projects and Topics Conducted by
Members of the DGS-Branch 1990-1996 by Country
(multiple classification
possible)
Country
|
Number
of Projects
|
| covering
all of
Eastern Europe
|
26
|
comparative
projects on Central Eastern Europe
|
2
|
GDR-Fmr.
East Germany
|
11
|
Hungary
|
9
|
Poland
|
11
|
SFR/Czech
and Slovak republics
|
2
|
comparative
projects on South Eastern Europe
|
2
|
Romania
|
6
|
Bulgaria
|
7
|
comparative
projects on Soviet Union/CIS (GUS)
|
2
|
Russia
|
22
|
| individual
CIS (GUS)
States (excluding Russia)
|
4
|
the
Baltics
|
3
|
The main focus of those projects and topics employing comparative analyses with
respect to many countries from very different areas of Eastern Europe, is to
detect and explain the various developmental scenarios and their origins. With
the more detailed studies involving 1-3 countries there is an indication
towards a concentration on Russia, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria und Rumania,
whereas the other CIS-states, the Yugoslavian successor states and Albania
have so far received little attention.
Table 2 specifies that the research projects and topics are presently concerned
with the most pressing practical problems in the Eastern European countries.
Table 2: Distribution of the 88 Research Projects and Topics Conducted by
Members of the DGS-Branch 1990-1996 by Subject Matter
(multiple
classification possible)
Subject
|
Number
of Projects
|
Political
Sociology
|
30
|
Industrial
Sector and Industrial Sociology
|
14
|
| Nationalism/
Ethnic Minorities/ Migration
|
13
|
Sociology
of Science
|
9
|
General
Sociology
|
7
|
Cultural
Sociology and History
|
5
|
| Social
Politics/
Social Equality
|
4
|
Urban
Sociology
|
2
|
EU-Integration
|
2
|
Rural
Sociology
|
2
|
Sociology
of Religion
|
1
|
Sociology
of Language
|
1
|
Sociology
of Catastrophe
|
1
|
The fact that projects from the field of political and industrial sociology
prevail reflects the explosive power of the transformation dilemma caught
between the requirements of democratic consolidation and economic change. Of
special significance is the problem of how to treat national conflicts and
ethnic minorities, the resolution of which has now become a question of
survival for many countries. The relatively large amount of sociology of
science projects is, for one, an expression of a backlog in terms of a
sociology on Eastern Europe and reflects, for another, the need for coming to
an understanding on sociological research on Eastern Europe before 1989.
In detail, the following research projects or topics, respectively, were
conducted (information on the year only if known):
Prof. Dr. Axt, Heinz-Jürgen, University of Duisburg, FB Political
Science:
* Structural Change and Structural Politics in Southeastern Europe: The Role of
the European Union (1996-)
Prof. Dr. Balla, Balint, TU Berlin, Institute for Sociology:
* Behaviour Theory and the Soviet System
* Towards a Sociology of Nationality With Special Respect to East and East
Central Europe.
Böhme, Britta, Leipzig University, Institute for Cultural
Science:
* On Social and Cultural History of Territories in the Ukraine (1993-1996)
Dipl.-Soz. Breckner, Roswitha, Berlin:
* European Migration Biographies Between "East" and "West" (1992-1993)
Prof. Dr. Clausen, Lars, Kiel University, Institute for Sociology,
Catastrophe Research Centre:
* End of The "Pax Sovietica" from the Perspective of a Sociological
Catastrophe:
Prof. Dr. Dittrich, Eckhard, Magdeburg University, Institute for
Sociology:
* Transformation of Business in Hungary, Poland, and Bulgaria (1993-1995);
* Labour Relations in Upheaval (1992-1994)
* Joint-ventures in Poland, Hungary, and Bulgaria (1994-1996)
Prof. Dr. Ettrich, Frank, Teachers' College Erfurt/Mühlhausen,
Institute for Sociology
* Transformation and the Political Elite (1993-1995);
* The Semantics of Transformation (1996-1998);
* Change of Management and (The Effect on) National Identity (1996-1998);
* Graduate School "Conflict and Consensus in the Eastern European
Transformation Processes" (1994 - )
PD Dr. Fehr, Helmut, FU Berlin, Political Science Department:
* Social Movement in Poland and the GDR (1989-1991)
* The Institutionalization of Democratic Structures in Post-Socialist Society.
Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia (1992-1993),
* Political Dissent and Opposition in East Central Europe (1994-1996)
Prof. Dr. Feldhoff, Jürgen, Bielefeld University, Sociology
Department:
* The Culture of Labour Relations in the Current Era of Russian Industry
(1994-1996)
Doz. Dr. habil. Geier, Wolfgang, Leipzig University, Institute for
Cultural Science:
* Bulgarian Students at Leipzig University 1845-1915 (1985-1990);
* Comparative Approaches of Social und Cultural History in Eastern, East
Central and Southeastern Europe (1990 - )
Prof. Dr. Giordano, Christian, Fribourg University, Seminary of
Ethnology:
* The Re-Privatization of Agriculture in Bulgaria (1991-);
* The Ownership of Land and Farming in Central and Eastern Europe (1992-)
Prof. Dr. Krasnodebski, Zdzislaw, Bremen University, Centre for Research
on Eastern Europe
* Project: see contribution on page 22 of this newsletter
Dr. Lissjutkina, Larissa, Bielefeld University, Institute for
Linguistics and The Science of Literature:
* Post-Totalitarianism and Post-Industrialism. Transitional Period in The East
and The West (1990-1992);
* Raoul Wallenberg. Looking for Traces (1990-1996);
* F-1. History and Theory of Russian Feminism (1989 - );
* Regionalism, Federalism, Separatism: Theories, Projects, Strategies
(1994-);
* Geopolitical Thinking in Today's Russia and "Leftist Nationalism". New Lines
of Division Between East and West (1995- );
* Reform and Everyday Life in Russia (1995-)
Dr. Lohr, Karin, Humboldt-University, Institute for Social Science:
Inter-Firm Exchange Relations Between Firms in East Germany (1992-1995);
* Working Conditions and Labour Relations in East German Small-Scale Businesses
(1994-1995)
Dr. Luchterhandt, Galina, Bremen University, Centre for Research on
Eastern Europe:
* New Formation of Political Powers in The Russian Federation (1991);
* Russia on the Way to Democracy? (1991);
* Political Parties in Russia (1992);
* Party Laws in Russia (1993);
* Political Development in the Russian Province (1992-1996);
* Communal Self-Administration in Russia (1995-);
* The Duma Vote 1995 (1996-);
* The Institutionalization Process in Russia (1996 - )
Dr. Mattusch, Katrin, Humboldt-University Berlin, Institute for Social
Science:
* Society and Politics in the Baltics (1990-1994);
* The Economic and Political Common Interests of the Hanseatic Area
(1994-1996);
* New Democracies and Local Governance (1995);
* Comparative Analysis of Political Culture and Political Structures in East
Central Europe, Southeastern Europe and Eastern Europe (1994 - );
* Possible Solutions to Ethnic Conflict; The Baltic States as Example (1995 -
)
Dr. Oswald, Ingrid, Otto-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Institute for
Sociology:
* Internal Migration: the Former Soviet Union (1992);
* "Brain-drain" out of Russia (1992);
* Ethnic Community Education in St. Petersburg and Berlin (1994-1996);
* Monitoring Russian Social Sciences (1995-1996),
* Social Consequences of Housing Privatization in St. Petersburg (1995-1996)
Pickel, Gert, Europa-University Viadrina Frankfurt/Oder, Chair for
Comparative Cultural Sociology:
* Solidarity between Young Adults in Germany and Hungary (1991-1996);
* Political Culture in Eastern Europe in Comparison with Western Europe (1995 -
)
Pickel, Susanne, Bamberg University, Centre for Social Science
Research:
* Hungary in Europe. The Political Dialogue - A Contribution to The
Stabilization and Internationalisation of the Hungarian Democracy?
(1993-1996);
* Political Culture in Eastern Europe in Comparison with Western Europe (1995
-)
Prof. Dr. Pollack, Detlef, Europa-University Viadrina Frankfurt/Oder,
Chair for Comparative Cultural Sociology
* Religion in Eastern and Central Europe (1994-1997)
Dr. Reschka, Willibald, Siegen University:
* J. Chalasinski and the Biographical Method in Polish Sociology (1992 - );
* The Methodological School of Lodz, Poland (1995-1996)
Dr. Ritter, Claudia, AG Transformation process, Max Planck Society,
Berlin:
* Political Identity in the new Federal States of Germany
* Political Understanding in East and West Germany
* The Transformation Process in The Czech Republic and Poland;
* Business Transformation Models for Switching to a Market Economy in Poland,
Hungary and Bulgaria
* (1993-1995)
Siegel, Achim, Hannah Arendt-Institute for Research on Totalitarianism,
TU Dresden:
* Reconstruction of Research Approaches for the Understanding and Explanation
of Political Terror during the Stalinist Era in Soviet Russia(1990-1991);
* Theories on Structure, Change and the End of the Socialist System in
Europe(1994-)
Dr. Sparschuh, Vera, Humboldt-University, Berlin, Institute for Social
Science:
* Secondary Analysis of GDR-Sociology (1992-1996)
Univ. Prof. Dr. Stagl, Justin, Salzburg University, Institute for
Cultural Sociology:
* "Ethnologia Austriaca": A History of Social and Cultural Science in the
Austro-Hungarian Monarchy (1994 - );
* "Das Kronprinzenwerk" (The Crown Prince Work) (1997 - )
PD Dr. Sterbling, Anton, University of the German Army, Pedagogics
Department:
* Questions on Structure and Problems of Modernization in Eastern and
Southeastern European Societies (1985 - );
* Minorities and Ethnic Conflict in Rumania (1988-1995)
Prof. Dr. Stölting, Erhard, Potsdam University:
* Forms of Nationalistic Thoughts and Emotions (1988 - );
* Informal Processes (1996)
PD Dr. Stojanov, Christo, Bonn University/ Saarbruecken University:
* 1. Industrial Relations in Eastern Europe (1991-1992);
* Business Transformation Model for Switching to a Market Economy
(1993-1994);
* Model for Co-operation in East-West Joint Ventures (1994-1995);
* Construction and Development of a Summer Academy for Social Science in
Bulgaria (1996-);
Prof. Dr. Szabo, Mate, Eötvös Lorand University, Budapest,
Faculty of Political Science:
* Political Protest in Central Europe (1993-1995);
* Political Protest in Post-Communist Democracies (1994-1996);
* Policing Mass Demonstrations in Europe (1995-1996)
PD Dr. Teckenberg, Wolfgang, Duesseldorf University, Institute for
Sociology:
* The Labour Market and Unemployment Structure in Poland (1992-1996),
* Social Inequality and Social Class Formation in East Central Europe during
the Transformation (on-going)
Theilemann, Wolfram G., M.A., Institute for the Science of History, TU
Berlin:
* "The New" Nationalism in Eastern Europe after 1989: the Fall of Romania
Dr. Tholen, Jochen, Bremen University, Centre for Research Transfer:
* Comparative Management Research (1989-1991);
* Young Entrepreneurs and their Support System in Armenia, Georgia and Ukraine
(1995-1997);
* The Restructuring of Management, Labour Relations and Labour Organizations in
Russia (1995-1996);
* Evaluation of Programs to Assist the Unemployed Youth in Post-Communist East
Central Europe
Dr. Üner, Elfriede, Leipzig University, Centre for Higher
Studies:
* History of the Impact of the Sociology of Hans Freyers (1996-1999)
Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Weber, Georg, Muenster University, Institute for
Sociology/ Social Pedagogics:
* Deportation of the Siebenburg Saxons to the Soviet Union 1945-49;
* Migration and Integration of the Siebenburg Saxons in the Federal Republic of
Germany;
* Structural Changes in the communities of the Siebenburg Saxons
Prof. Dr. Weiß, Johannes, GHS/ Kassel University:
* The Role of Sociology in Real, Existent Socialism and in Societal Upheaval;
* General Sociology and its Explanations for Transformation
Dr. Zipprian, Heinz, TU Berlin, Institute for Sociology:
* Scientific Sociological Considerations for Eastern Europe
Additional members and other interested parties of the DGS-branch that supplied
no further information on their research projects on Eastern Europe include:
Dr. Benzler, Susanne, Giessen University, Institute for Political
Science;
Prof. Dr. Engler, Wolfgang, Berlin;
Prof. Dr. Kalbe, Ernstgert, Dresden;
PD Dr. Mänicke-Gyöngyösi, Krisztina, FU Berlin, Institute
for Eastern Europe;
Prof. Dr. Meier, Artur, Humboldt-University Berlin, Institute for Social
Science;
Prof. Dr. Messelken, Karlheinz, University of the German Army,
Pedagogics Department;
Prof. Dr. Nedelmann, Birgitta, Mainz University, Institute for
Sociology;
Prof. Dr. Rehberg, Karl Siegbert, TU Dresden, Institute for Sociology;
Schmid, Sigrid, Munich;
Schoefer, Sabrina, Research Initiative Interest Groups, Hagen;
Dr. Simon, Dagmar, Centre for Sciences - Social Research, Berlin;
Prof. Dr. Srubar, Ilja, Nuernberg-Erlangen University, Institute for
Sociology;
Prof. Dr. Steiner, Helmut, Berlin;
Prof. Dr. Vonderach, Gerd, Oldenburg University, Institute for
Sociology
Publications by DGS-Branch Members and Interested parties
The following diagram illustrates the increase in publications by
DGS-branch members and interested parties between 1990 and 1996:
While in 1990 it was more a matter of thinking rather than writing about the
radical changes in Eastern Europe, increasingly more and continuous
explanations were offered during the years 1991-1993. In 1994, the sociological
enlightenment had preliminarily reached a peak in terms of what was going on in
Eastern Europe. After an outline of a "Sociology of Eastern and East Central
Europe" had been developed and the consolidation process had already begun in
some of the Eastern European countries, research, as of 1995 and especially in
1996, was coming up with results of more detailed and comparative analyses on a
multitude of different problems in the transformation process for the entire
region. A detailed list of literature can be ordered from Katrin Mattusch (see
contact address at the end of this newsletter).
Since the 1993 annual convention in Leipzig the activities of the
present DGS-branch "Sociology of Eastern and East Central Europe" acquired a
new quality. For the first time attempts were made to systematically compile
building blocks of a sociology of post-communism and thereby outline the most
central areas of this newly created branch of sociology rather than presenting,
as had been the case earlier, a variety of loosely connected and thematically
widely spread contributions. The conferences that followed were equally
committed to these same goals and made efforts to fill the previously outlined
framework with actual issues. The results of these efforts are reflected in the
three omnibus volumes on Research on Eastern Europe, published by the
DGS-branch so far:
* Balint Balla/Wolfgang Geier (ed.), Towards a Sociology of
Post-Communism. Critique, Theory, Methodology, Muenster. Hamburg: LIT 1994, 190
p., DM 48,-, ISBN 3-8258-2349-0
From the contents: Sociological Theory - Critique and new Approaches;
Sociology of the Change of Political and Social Structures; On the
Investigation of Nations; Sociology in Interdisciplinary Co-operation; Eastern
and East Central European Sociology in Upheaval
* Balint Balla/Anton Sterbling (ed.), Sociology and History - History of
Sociology. Contributions to the Research on Eastern Europe, Hamburg:
Krämer Verlag 1995, 264 p., DM 58,-, ISBN 3-926952-94-6
From the contents: Questions of Basic Theory, Interdisciplinary and
Methodological Questions. On Regional Sociology and History
* Balint Balla/Anton Sterbling (ed.), Breakdown of the Soviet System -
Challenges for Sociology, Hamburg: Krämer Verlag 1996, 360 p., DM 58,-,
ISBN 3-89622-006-3
From the Contents: The Turn of Events in Eastern and East Central Europe
and The General Sociology; Political and Institutional Change; Ethnicity,
Nation, Nationalism; The Change of Sociology from a Regional Perspective.
By 1996, a foundation was laid for the institutionalization of various
publication activities within the DGS-branch. In recent years, the publishing
house of Dr. R. Krämer in Hamburg has, in close co-operation with
activities of the DGS-branch, published a series of single volumes and omnibus
volumes on Eastern Europe, East Central Europe and Southeastern Europe. With
the collected writings "Reports on Eastern European Research", edited by Prof.
Dr. Balint Balla (Winklerstr. 18a, 14193 Berlin) and PD (independent university
lecturer) Dr. Anton Sterbling (Billetal 17, 22946 Trittau), the DGS-branch
publishing activities have achieved greater definition and set forth a broader
basis.
The focal point of the collected writings lies in social scientific work and in
addressing today's questions with respect to Eastern and East Central Europe,
and Southeastern European societies. Special interest is given to international
comparison studies as well as to historically oriented investigations. Mostly,
the intention is to emphasize that the strongly expanding Eastern European
research of the past years has clearly neglected sociological viewpoints in
favour of the viewpoints of other disciplines. A first volume expected to be
published will be collected writings edited by Anton Sterbling and Heinz
Zipprian from the conference lectures/essays: "Max Weber and Eastern Europe".
Today's branch of the German Society for Sociology on "Sociology of
Eastern and East Central Europe" was founded on the occasion of the 25th annual
German Congress of Sociology in Frankfurt a.M. in 1990 with an ad-hoc meeting
on the theme of "Eastern Europe". Faced with the massive problems of social
scientific explanations and clarification with respect to the radical changes
in Eastern Europe, there arose the clear need for conducting sociological
analyses adequate to the specific research subject as part of a new
sociological branch discipline. Between the years 1991-1994 the sociology on
Eastern and East Central Europe was able to establish itself with annual
conferences on various aspects of a sociology of post-communism as a permanent
working group within the DGS. In recognition of these activities the council
and DGS-board finally adopted the resolution to change the working group into a
DGS-branch for sociology of Eastern and East Central Europe. With this, more
favourable conditions for further continuous thought exchange and scientific
co-operation were established for those sociologists working in the research
field of Eastern and East Central Europe. In 1995, the first annual DGS-branch
conference took place "on location" in Miscolc/Hungary. This successful
conference provided the occasion for supplementing theoretical explanations
with practical insights. In addition, it allowed Eastern European sociologists
to discuss their attempts made towards the direction of "self-explanations". A
tradition was established that is to be continued in the following years. On
the twenty-eighth Congress of the German Society of Sociology (DGS) in Dresden
this year, the DGS-branch meeting will celebrate the anniversary of having had
its 10th conference since its foundation as an ad-hoc-group.
So far the following conferences have taken place:
12.10.1990, 25th German Congress of Sociology in Frankfurt a.M., as an
ad-hoc-group on the theme: "Eastern Europe"
4.-5.4.1991, TU Berlin, as Working Group "Sociology on Eastern and East
Central Europe" of the DGS-branch on the theme "Sociology of East Central
Europe"
11.-14.5.1992, The Academy for Political Education in Tutzing, "Unified
Germany and Europe in Transition"
30.9.-2.10.1992, 26th German Congress of Sociology in Duesseldorf, "Sociology
of Eastern and East Central Europe - Reports from On-going Research Work"
27.-30.9.1993, Leipzig University, "Towards a Sociology of Post-Communism -
Critique, Theory, Methodology"
1.-4.4.1994, The Academy for Political Education in Tutzing, "Sociology and
History - History of Sociology. Contributions to the Research on Eastern
Europe"
7.4.1995, 27th Congress of the German Society for Sociology in Halle/S.,
DGS-Branch "Sociology of Eastern and East Central Europe on the theme:
"Upheaval in East Central Europe"
18.-21.9.1995, University of Miscolc/Hungary, "Collapse of the Soviet System -
Challenges for Sociology"
29.4.-2.5.1996, Academy for Political Education in Tutzing, "Max Weber and
Eastern Europe"
10.10.1996, 28th Congress of the German Society for Sociology in Dresden,
"Differentiation and Integration in Eastern and East Central Europe"
The following future conferences are planned by the DGS-branch:
16.-19.5.1997, in co-operation with the Institute for Sociology and Philosophy
of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Jablona Castle in Warsaw/Poland,
"Ethnicity and National Culture"
1998 on the thematic framework "Political Culture" in Prague/Czech Republic.
Conference of the DGS-branch "Eastern and East Central Europe", Academy for
Political Education in Tutzing, 29.4.-2.5.1996:
MAX WEBER AND EASTERN
EUROPE
From the title the specifics of the conference program can be derived:
the interest lay not in Weber's thoughts on Eastern Europe nor on the reception
of Weber's writings in Eastern Europe. Instead, it was the question of whether
Max Weber's theories would have anything to contribute to the scientific
discourse about the recent developments in Eastern and East Central Europe, and
if so, what and how.
First, it should be mentioned that this small conference (about 20
participants) accomplished excellent work, especially because it was able to
produce a democratic discussion among an otherwise fairly heterogeneous circle
of participants with varying backgrounds and different experiences. This meant
that everybody made an effort to listen very carefully. It was not that the
Western party reserved the "theory" for itself and that the Eastern
sociologists were granted the role of merely stimulating the discussions a
little by reporting on analyses of Eastern European developments. Our special
thanks for this goes to the conference organizers Balint Balla (Berlin, Heinz
Zipprian (Berlin) and Anton Sterbling (Hamburg). But also other participants,
among those Iija Srubar (Erlangen), Guenter Roth (New York), Frank Ettrich
(Erlangen) and Nikolai Genov (Sofia) helped, with their questions and comments,
to close the comprehension gaps caused by contrasting viewpoints over what
Weber's relationship to Eastern Europe might have to offer in terms of
scientific depth. The spectrum of contributions ranged from the discussion
about the possibilities of applying the theory of protestantism (Katrin
Mattusch, Erlin and Zdzislaw Krasnodebski, Bremen) over conceptual questions
(G. Roth; H. Zipprian; F. Ettrich) and questions of history of theory (I.
Srubar) up to the history of Weber's reception in Eastern Europe (Rudolf
Poledna, Klausenburg; Jozsef Saad, Budapest). Johannes Weiss (Kassel) discussed
Weber's reception in Russia over the past years. His remarks on the ideological
intake of Weberian theory by Russian intellectuals within the context of a
process of self-reflection were especially interesting. Finally, main areas of
interest include questions of direct confrontation between present Eastern
European developments and traditional sociological conceptions. Larissa
Lissjutkina (Moscow/Cologne) spoke about the typology of the "new" Russians; N.
Genov spoke about the relationship between transformation and rationalization
and Andrei Roth (Klausenburg) about the connection of state bureaucracy and the
new elite in Rumania. The descriptions of new Russian life styles and the new
Russians' position in Russian society by Lissjutkina led back to the initial
question posed by Mattusch and Krasnodebski as to which world views would be
underlying these people's actions.
Two presentations spoke for themselves: A. Sterbling reflected on the
"permanent dilemma of intellectuals between East and West". Here, he linked up
with the presentation given by Weiss. Hartmann Tyrell (Bielefeld) gave a
presentation on the impact that Russian literature - Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky -
had on Max Weber.
Some of the questions traversed the entire conference. One of the main
questions was, which theory could best describe the recent processes of change.
In conjunction with this question G. Roth commented on whether the distinction
between modern and traditional society was at all feasible today and asked if
Western societies did not also display a variety of arrangements. This
discourse was carried on by Ettrich, Genov, Zipprian and A. Roth with respect
to the sociological question of transformation. A. Roth also raised the
question of whether the application of the Weberian theory of protestantism to
Eastern Europe would not be too obvious of a solution and one oriented towards
grasping quick explanations, especially since, out of Weber's work, this thesis
is known as a highly hypothetical one, which is easily overlooked nowadays. The
contributions made during the conference will be published in the first volume
of the collected writings "Contributions to the Research on Eastern Europe" by
the DGS-branch "Sociology on Eastern and East Central Europe" through the
Krämer Publishing House Hamburg. For all those interested in questions of
sociological theory and recent developments this book is recommended.
(Dr. Vera Sparschuh,
Humboldt-University Berlin,
Chair for Domestic Policy of the Federal Republic of Germany)
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