Central East European Countries Research Articles

Im Umbruch der Zeit: Richard Wagners Romane und rumäniendeutsche Bezüge1

Abstract This paper is dedicated to the Romanian-German author Richard Wagner, who died in Berlin in March 2023. The purpose of the article is to analyse the novels of Richard Wagner, who, as mentor of the literary group „Aktionsgruppe Banat”, became one of the most important contemporary German-language authors. Most of his novels are largely autobiographical and deal with the political events of the time and with live in poverty during the oppressive regime of Ceaușescu. Wagner‘s writings focus also on the political, cultural and linguistic challenges that immigrants from East-Central European countries face in West Germany. This article aims to shed light on central aspects of the Romanian-German influences in Richard Wagner‘s novels.

A Reusable Past. Opportunities for the Utilization of Industrial Heritage in Salgótarján, Hungary

AbstractIndustrial heritage is not just the industrial landscape, buildings, and material objects, but also the highly complex cultural heritage created by industrial society, with many unique features. The former industrial towns of East-Central European countries have little memory of their early capitalist industrial past, and their socialist legacy is mostly seen as an unwanted and unwelcome burden. Industrial heritage preservation in Hungary was also adversely affected by the ideology of de-industrialization in the late 1980s, and this was compounded by struggles over the politics of memory. Salgótarján, as the seat of Nógrád County, is a city with county rights that has one of the worst social and economic indicators in the country, with dozens of slums, many of them on former industrial sites. The number of sites suitable for greenfield investment in the valley town is low, while the proportion of under-utilized brownfields is high. The real turning point in the development of the settlement was the opening of the mines and the mining boom in the second half of the 19th century. The opening of the mines was soon followed by the construction of larger industrial plants: the steel mill, the hollow-glass and later flat-glass factory, and the ironworks (stove factory). Initially, skilled workers were recruited from abroad, which laid the foundations for a unique society, as much of the population had no ties to the settlement, or even to Hungary—only to the work and their employer. The industrial society of Salgótarján formed a well-defined local community with a sense of identity. The management of the companies and factories, the network of workers' welfare institutions, the managed leisure programs and facilities, and of course the built environment of the colonies played a major role in all this. Under state socialism, the factories continued to operate with an artificially inflated workforce, and after the political regime change in 1989, the privatized plants closed down with dramatic abruptness, leading to social trauma and high unemployment in the settlement. The preservation and presentation of industrial heritage is also important for the city's identity while the built environment is undergoing a radical transformation, which is why buildings that are deemed worthy of preservation should be given a new function as soon as possible so that they may remain an integral part of the settlement.

Authoritarian Demand in East‐Central Europe Post‐Pandemic and Amid Neighbouring War

Recent years have witnessed a noticeable democratic decline worldwide, revealing a tendency of voters to elect leaders with authoritarian tendencies. In East-Central European countries, authoritarian attitudes reached unprecedented heights since their accession to the EU. Existing academic literature highlights key drivers of support for authoritarianism in this region of the continent, including anti-elite sentiments, political anxiety, economic threat, and perceived injustice. However, there is little scientific evidence related to the strength of these variables in a post-pandemic context and amid a neighbouring war. Drawing on original public opinion data collected in Poland, Hungary, and Romania, the current study identifies the main driving forces behind public demand for authoritarianism in these countries. The article develops a comparative perspective and thus contributes to a nuanced comprehension of the resurgence of authoritarianism in this part of the world.

Circulation patterns of East-Central European films on European SVoD catalogues

Combining statistical, quantitative analysis with qualitative examination of film titles, the article explores the presence and circulation patterns of films from five East-Central European (ECE) countries (Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia) in European SVoD catalogues. The scene’s continuous change and adaptation pose challenges for analysis due to its fluidity. While examining streaming libraries, it becomes apparent that distinguishing between commissioned and licensed content, a fundamental consideration in such analyses, may hold greater relevance for larger markets compared to smaller, peripheral ones like those in the ECE region. Moreover, while exclusive content is valued among leading streaming providers, there is limited competition for exclusive streaming rights to ECE films. Additionally, classic films from the region’s cinematic history are readily accessible online, often free of charge, offering opportunities for viewers to explore Romanian or Polish cinema without subscription requirements. However, access to classics from other ECE countries may be more limited. Market shares based solely on film quantity require contextual analysis, as they are influenced by niche platforms specializing in specific regions or genres. Notably, recent years have seen shifts in local film cultures and trends in theatrical and VoD distribution, with distinct characteristics observed in different ECE countries. While certain trends, such as the rise of successful genre films like comedies and crime thrillers, are evident, the visibility and distribution of ECE films on European VoD platforms remain influenced by various factors, including festival success, auteur directors and genre preferences. Furthermore, the inclusion of globally popular genres and actors recognized beyond the region can enhance a film’s market reach. The study suggests that peripheralization is not unique to the ECE region, with similar dynamics potentially affecting other European small and peripheral film markets. Ultimately, analysing SVoD presence represents only one aspect of a multifaceted ecosystem, highlighting the complexity of the streaming landscape.

Die EU-Osterweiterung nach 20 Jahren: Kann die Konvergenz sozial und wirtschaftlich nachhaltig gestaltet werden?

Abstract The twenty years since the Eastern Enlargement of the EU in 2004 have generally borne out the hopes that at the time were placed in what was seen as the reunification of the continent. Economic performance in the new member states have steadily converged with those in the EU15. The substantial initial income gaps did lead to very substantial labour migration, some of it of a circular nature. The ensuing problems led to policy initiatives such as the revised posted workers directive and he European Labour Authority. The social model in east-central European countries remains underdeveloped. Among other issues this should be addressed as the EU considers a reinforced cohesion policy and a likely renewed wave of eastern enlargement, which, though, will likely occur under very different conditions.

Consistency of Aerosol Optical Properties between MODIS Satellite Retrievals and AERONET over a 14-Year Period in Central–East Europe

Aerosols influence Earth’s climate by interacting with radiation and clouds. Remote sensing techniques aim to enhance our understanding of aerosol forcing using ground-based and satellite retrievals. Despite technological advancements, challenges persist in reducing uncertainties in satellite remote sensing. Our study examines retrieval biases in MODIS sensors on Terra and Aqua satellites compared to AERONET ground-based measurements. We assess their performance and the correlation with the AERONET aerosol optical depth (AOD) using 14 years of data (2010–2023) from 29 AERONET stations across 10 Central–East European countries. The results indicate discrepancies between MODIS Terra and Aqua retrievals: Terra overestimates the AOD at 16 AERONET stations, while Aqua underestimates the AOD at 21 stations. The examination of temporal biases in the AOD using the calculated estimated error (ER) between AERONET and MODIS retrievals reveals a notable seasonality in coincident retrievals. Both sensors show higher positive AOD biases against AERONET in spring and summer compared to fall and winter, with few ER values for Aqua indicating poor agreement with AERONET. Seasonal variations in correlation strength were noted, with significant improvements from winter to summer (from R2 of 0.58 in winter to R2 of 0.76 in summer for MODIS Terra and from R2 of 0.53 in winter to R2 of 0.74 in summer for MODIS Aqua). Over the fourteen-year period, monthly mean aerosol AOD trends indicate a decrease of −0.00027 from AERONET retrievals and negative monthly mean trends of the AOD from collocated MODIS Terra and Aqua retrievals of −0.00023 and −0.00025, respectively. An aerosol classification analysis showed that mixed aerosols comprised over 30% of the total aerosol composition, while polluted aerosols accounted for more than 22%, and continental aerosols contributed between 22% and 24%. The remaining 20% consists of biomass-burning, dust, and marine aerosols. Based on the aerosol classification method, we computed the bias between the AERONET AE and MODIS AE, which showed higher AE values for AERONET retrievals for a mixture of aerosols and biomass burning, while for marine aerosols, the MODIS AE was larger and for dust the results were inconclusive.

Memorability of Romanian dissidence: Ordinary people, secret files and artistic remediations

The article explores the conditions necessary for a narrative recounting of past events to become memorable and incorporated into collective memory. The analysis is focused on the role played by artistic remediations in creating such memorability. In Romania, as well as in other East Central European countries, the production of memorability and the management of the resulting collective memories are interlinked with the narratives of communism that dominate the memorialisation of the recent past. The article reviews several examples of acts of dissent, based on their representativeness and the existing literature, and question the memorability of dissident acts by considering the memory discourse on communism and the involvement of different agents of memory. It also interrogates the use of the Romanian secret police (Securitate) files in artistic productions, examining this acknowledgement of the role played by the Securitate in creating the narratives of the communist past. Two artistic productions based on reworkings of the Securitate files are analysed: a documentary theatre play staged by Gianina Cărbunariu, Uppercase Print (2013), and Radu Jude’s 2020 film of the same title, both presenting the story of Mugur Călinescu. The article argues that these productions question mainstream frames of memory by revisiting the narratives and biographies created by the Securitate files and give new, artistically mediated voices to victims, perpetrators and collaborators.

The Problem of Multiculturalism in the Countries of East-Central Europe

The article addresses the question of the possibility of the development of a multicultural andmulti-religious society in East-Central Europe. What prevents such a process is the limited receptionof the Enlightenment in the region, the fundamental role of religion in defending national identities,and the delayed opening to otherness in comparison with the countries of the West. Present-daydynamic changes in all spheres of life – from demography, through politics, to technology – andthe concomitant reactive policies with regard to the problem of immigration are also far fromconducive to such a possibility. The primary solution is the development of long-term educationalprogrammes aiming at a redefi nition of a multicultural society.

Re-evaluating the East-West divide in the European Union

ABSTRACT This introduction argues that the East-West divide in Europe continues to be politically salient since the fall of the Berlin Wall and two decades since the accession of most East Central European (ECE) countries to the European Union. We re-evaluate the nature of the East-West divide in the EU, consider its sources, and examine the interplay between political variation and cross-border economic inequalities. The fundamental question posed here is whether such divisions are persistent, intractable, or transitional. We note that earlier scholarship on the East-West divide emphasised economic divergence as a primary explanatory factor. As relevant as the economy still is, our contribution is to argue that the divide also needs to be assessed against the broader political backdrop of democratic backsliding and new geopolitical developments. Although we find that the East-West divide is still highly salient, the articles here specify how fluid categories are and how variation has emerged – both between and within countries in the ECE region. Finally, the very perception of an East-West divide is politically consequential. If unaddressed, East-West divisions and tensions will impede future reforms of the EU’s internal governance processes and limit its power on the global stage.

Drivers of household saving in East Central European countries. A push and pull model perspective

ABSTRACT There is no consensus in the economics theory about the determinants of household saving. The article composes vector error correction (VEC) models to identify the determinants of household saving in the East Central European countries from 2005–2020. Its novelty is that it identifies push and pull factors in accordance with the Keynesian and neoclassical theories whose mixed approach has not been included in the methodology of relevant papers in relation with East Central European countries. The examined countries are indicated to be homogenous from macroeconomic perspective. Results confirm that household saving increases because of decreases in consumer confidence, unemployment, and inflation rates. Increases in the deposit rate and real house price index are related to these pull factors, while decreases in the official share index correlates withincreases in household saving. Results can serve as guidelines for policy makers about incentives which stimulate household saving most effectively in the region.

Saving newborns, defining livebirth: The struggle to reduce infant mortality in East-Central Europe in comparative and transnational perspectives, 1945-1965.

After World War II, infant mortality rates started dropping steeply. We show how this was accomplished in socialist countries in East-Central Europe. Focusing on the two postwar decades, we explore comparatively how medical experts in Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and East Germany saved fragile newborns. Based on an analysis of medical journals, we argue that the Soviet Union and its medical practices had only a marginal influence; the four countries followed the recommendations of the World Health Organization instead, despite not being members. Importantly, we analyze the expert clashes over definitions of livebirth, which impact infant mortality statistics. We analyze the divergent practices and negotiations between countries: since the infant mortality rate came to represent the level of socioeconomic advancement, its political significance was paramount. Analyzing the struggle to reduce infant mortality thus helps us understand how socialist countries positioned themselves within the transnational framework while being members of the "socialist bloc."

Working 40 years as medical doctors.

The health status of health professionals, including medical doctors is an important topic, although it is an under-researched area in Hungary and in the East-Central European countries as well. Our quasi-cohort research was focused on the health status, morbidities, anthropometric parameters, lifestyle and professional career of Hungarian medical doctors who graduated in 1979, following them 25y, 30y and 40y after graduation, seeking differences between professional groups and genders. In 2019, the mean age of participants was 64.9y, the average number of children was 2.08, higher among surgical professionals (2.43). Men reported higher number of own children. The number of night shifts decreased during the past decades. Most of them is already retired, 70% is working besides receiving a pension. 27% changed their medical specialty, 36% intended to work in another field of medicine, when graduated. About 10% of them achieved scientific (PhD) degree, most of them were satisfied with own professional carrier. The body weight and BMI significantly increased during decades, without statistical difference between genders and professional groups. Diabetes was self reported in 7%, hypertension in 44%. Men neglected more frequently their regular health check-up. Compared to their patients at the same age, 71% rated their own health status better. Among those, who reported regular physical activities, the ratio of men was higher; the average time spent on sport was the same as in the past decades, although the ratio of persons who had regular physical activity decreased, fewer participated in team sport activities. Their sleeping habit is quiet, the time is 6.3 h between workdays and 7.7 h on weekends. Burn-out was not reported. The ratio of smokers decreased; the self-reported daily intake of alcoholic beverages was 1.3, the weekly 3.7 units. Differences described earlier between professional groups disappeared. The problems of the recent Hungarian health care system were similarly rated, although the income of Hungarian physicians has increased to a great extent in the past years. Orv Hetil. 2023; 164(29): 1127-1133.

Marked Genotype Diversity among Reoviruses Isolated from Chicken in Selected East-Central European Countries.

The concern that the vaccines currently used against Avian orthoreovirus (ARV) infections are less efficient in the field justifies the need for the close monitoring of circulating ARV strains. In this study, we collected necropsy samples from various chicken breeds and tested for ARV by virus isolation, RT-PCR assay and sequence analysis. ARVs were isolated from birds showing runting-stunting syndrome, uneven growth, lameness or increased mortality, with relative detection rates of 38%, 35%, 6% and 25%, respectively. Partial σC gene sequences were determined for nearly 90% of ARV isolates. The isolates could be classified into one of the major genetic clusters. Interestingly, cluster 2 and cluster 5 were isolated from vaccinated broiler breeders, while clusters 1 to 4 were isolated from unvaccinated broilers. The isolates shared less than 75% amino acid identities with the vaccine strains (range, 44.3-74.6%). This study reaffirms the global distribution of the major genetic clusters of ARVs in chicken. The diversity of ARV strains isolated from unvaccinated broilers was greater than those detected from vaccinated animals, however, the relative importance of passive and active immunity on the selection of novel strains in different chicken breeds needs to be better understood.

Mandate management: a field theory approach to the EBRD’s adaptive practice in Egypt

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) was created in the early 1990s to promote the transition to a market economy and advance democracy in the post-communist countries of East Central Europe. How and why did this international organization, established for an entirely different purpose, then become an active investor in Egypt? Building on field theory, we explain the EBRD’s move to Egypt as an attempt to overcome the hysteresis effect of its anachronistic operational logic (habitus) within a changing field. Once in Egypt, the EBRD aspired to leverage its symbolic capital of technical assistance, democratic commitment and the privileging of the private sector. However, given Egypt’s increasingly autocratic and state capitalist evolution, it found delivering on its symbolic capital problematic. Its solution was to adapt to the very active European development finance field’s modalities. However, the European field’s logic ultimately de-prioritized democracy, human rights promotion, and poverty reduction and instead focused on sustainable investment, migration mitigation and containing Europe’s geo-economic rivals. In our case study, we demonstrate that the EBRD operated deftly within this field, while it also gained permission and even reward for its mandate management. It is a problematic finding for the future of the EU development policy.

Managing the atomic divorce: The challenges of East Central Europe’s nuclear energy decoupling from Russia

The war in Ukraine has accelerated Europe’s decoupling from Russia in the energy sphere. Nuclear energy is no exception. Most East Central European countries traditionally reliant on Russian nuclear technologies and services are diversifying away from Rosatom to seek alternative vendors. This paper analyzes the difficulties and risks associated with the decoupling process. Despite a range of apparently available options, East Central European countries pursuing decoupling may struggle to find both technically competent and (geo)politically viable nuclear energy vendors to fulfill their new-build, maintenance, and fuel supply needs – a concerning scenario given the importance of nuclear energy to the energy security and decarbonization agenda of the region and wider Europe. Avoiding this scenario requires efforts from all actors. First, Western vendors must improve their capacity to deliver viable reactor designs as well as competitive fuel and maintenance services to the region’s existing reactors. Second, regional nuclear industry stakeholders must further develop local expertise and equipment manufacturing capacity while exploring non-Western vendor options. Last but not least, local and international political actors must reduce their interference in the technical and commercial process of vendor selection so as not to exclude the most competent suppliers based on their country of origin.

Non-performing Loans in Central-East European Countries: Investigation of Macroeconomic, Policy, and Global Risk Determinants

Non-performing Loans in Central-East European Countries: Investigation of Macroeconomic, Policy, and Global Risk Determinants

Non-performing loans in Central-East European countries: investigation of macroeconomic, policy, and global risk determinants

Non-performing loans in Central-East European countries: investigation of macroeconomic, policy, and global risk determinants

Diversification of policies for the development of electric public transport in the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia

Urban transport in countries of East-Central Europe, including the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia, played an important role in the residents’ daily mobility. The underdevelopment of individual motorisation contributed to the lasting significant role of public transport. Due to the operating characteristics of electric vehicles, as well as emerging fuel crises, electric public transport played a key role, especially in large cities. Differences in the development of economies in the electrotechnical segment influenced the structure of public transport in the analysed countries. The higher level of development of the Czechoslovak transport sector contributed to a greater share of trams and trolleybuses in total transport. Despite many development plans in Poland, the process of developing traditional means of electric transport slowed down with the political change in 1989. The situation was slightly different in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, where, despite financial difficulties, the development of tramway and trolleybus networks continued. Modernisation of public transport began after joining the European Union. Technological development has led to the emergence of a new means of transport –electric buses. The apparent ease of putting them into service revolutionised the situation in Poland, thus popularising electric transport. The situation was different in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, where the main focus was on the development of tramway and trolleybus transport. The article reconstructs the development of urban electric transport after 1989 in the analysed countries and identifies factors that differentiate contemporary transport development policies in the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia.

Approaches to Crime and Punishment in a Historical Context: Roman Polanski’s Death and the Maiden

Roman Polanski’s Death and the Maiden (1994), the adaptation of a play written by Ariel Dorfman, can be interpreted on various levels. Although not stated explicitly, it is unambiguous that the background of the story is the Chilean dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet, though it could equally have been any East-Central European or Latin American country with a dictatorial past. This motion picture raises questions concerning human consciousness, guilt, pain and torture (both emotional and physical), revenge and moral uncertainty. Three episodes of Polanski’s life may add a special significance to this adaptation. Being a Holocaust survivor, the Polish director experienced the repression of a dictatorship and the effects of human cruelty. Furthermore, his pregnant wife was brutally murdered by the Manson Family. Also, taking into consideration that he was found guilty of unlawful sex with a minor, he knows how society and individuals punish someone for his or her crimes. The aim of my article is to examine the possible interpretations of the movie, paying special attention to Polanski’s approach towards tragedies, dictatorships (in both East-Central Europe and Latin America), and personal guilt, and also to highlight what message the film may transmit to future generations.

Na pograniczu narodów i kultur: Polska–Europa–Ameryka [At the borderlands of nations and cultures: Poland—Europe—America

<i>Na pograniczu narodów i kultur: Polska–Europa–Ameryka</i> [At the borderlands of nations and cultures: Poland—Europe—America