Within the Research Network KonKoop, we look at conflict and cooperation in Eastern Europe since the end of the Cold War. Nowhere else in the world have there been so many wars of secession – some of them unresolved to this day – and newly founded states. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine is the latest shocking example.

The research network examines various conflict constellations and dynamics of cooperation in Eastern Europe, Southeast Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus. Our aim is to understand and explain interactions and integrate the expertise available in Germany.

The research is especially done by five doctoral students and three post-docs, who collaborate with established researchers from the network and its partner institutions on detailed studies and comparative qualitative and quantitative analyses. The doctoral students and the post-docs are organised in the Junior Research Group (JRG).

Two laboratories make the results of the research available to the professional community: The Multi-method Data Lab based at ZOiS (DataLab) is an interdisciplinary platform that processes and links quantitative and qualitative research data. It also tests novel methods for analysing them. The Multi-perspective Laboratory for Peace and Conflict Cartography located at IfL (VisLab) explores how cooperation partners and conflict parties represent their specific interests by means of maps. On this basis it develops and tests visualisations (maps, infographics or artistic graphic (online) tools) that represent conflicting or multiple interests.