Group for Central and Southeast European Political Research (GCSEPR)

Közép- és Délkelet-Európai Politikai Kutatócsoport

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The role of Central Europe and its significance in world politics have changed constantly over the past centuries. As a transitional zone between the South, East and West, it has always tried to act as a kind of bridge and to provide a framework for thought and mentality. At the same time, it has also served as a dividing line, not only geographically but also in political, religious and social-organisational terms.

Throughout history, the states of Central Europe have always been bound to the Balkans, Russia and Turkey by important political and economic ties, though with varying intensity. The 21st century is no different: while political systems change, economic and cultural relations remain in place, successive crises are increasing interdependence, and challenges can only be overcome successfully through cooperation. It is therefore no coincidence that the role of Central Europe and of South-Eastern Europe in the broader sense is growing in importance. Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Croatia, Greece and Bulgaria form the external border of the European Union, while Ukraine, Moldova, Serbia, Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Turkey have signalled their intention to become part of the European community.

We believe that a research group focusing on Central and South-Eastern Europe, established under the auspices of the Department of Political Science and International Studies at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Pécs, and with a broad outlook towards the Balkans and Turkey, can bring new perspectives and dimensions to social science research. These can lay the groundwork for new and closer forms of cooperation in higher education. Beyond research, this broad scope also makes it possible to build capacities that can later provide an effective framework for joint degree programmes.

Our research focuses primarily on the region that forms a natural arc from the Visegrád Group countries through the Balkan states to Turkey and the Eastern Mediterranean.

Our research covers not only the domestic and foreign policy processes of the countries in the region, their political, economic and social phenomena, and their institutional actors (parties, government actors, diplomacy, etc.), but also non-formal actors (movements, non-profit organisations and civil society networks).

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Group for Central and Southeast European Political Research (pdf)

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