Politicians and political institutions in Central Asia and Eastern Europe are confronted with a multitude of external and internal challenges affecting their policy options and everyday political actions also in relation to Europe and European institutions. E.g. internal tensions in Central Asian states range from religious extremism and ethnic diversity to the repercussions of social change. Eastern European statesociety-relations also seems to be under stress. Along with a civil society demanding a further democratization, political developments in both regions increase on the one hand the internal conflict potential and restrict on the other hand the options for political action even further. How do Central Asian and Eastern European politics adapt to these changing circumstances? What impact do they have on state-society relations; is there a tendency towards closer cooperation or increased opposition? How does the shrinking space of civil society manifest itself in Central Asia and Eastern Europe and which role does youth play with regard to the future prospects of democratization and development?
This workshop is going to discuss these and further questions against the background of the diverse research expertise by the participating institutions and in a comparative perspective in particular including other Islamic and post-communist societies and the relationship between Europe and both regions. Furthermore, the workshop serves also as a platform for identifying future ways of cooperation in research and teaching between the participating higher education and research institutions in Bishkek, Marburg and Giessen.