In the third phase of the project, “Lost in Transition? – Understanding and Overcoming Crises,” we aim to connect the legacy of the 1990s transition with the contemporary challenges and new forms of transformation we are currently facing. From the war in Ukraine to the political crisis in Georgia, the dire situation of Belarusian civil society, and the loss of Nagorno-Karabakh for Armenia — all of these events trace their roots to the collapse of the Soviet Union and the turbulent transition that followed.
Ten new contemporary witnesses – “Eyewitnesses of Democracy” – share their personal insights, helping us better understand the past and present struggles of their countries. They shed light on the complex path that led to today’s crises and speak about how they actively tried to shape a more open and democratic society in their countries. In doing so, we also focus on key moments from the late 1990s and 2000s, including the “Colored Revolutions,” which were pivotal chapters in the ongoing process of political and societal transformation across the region.
Topical Focuses: "3 D's" –
Democratization, Decolonization,
and Demographic Challenges
Our team of experts has identified three key areas—Democratization, Decolonization, and Demographic Challenges—that have shaped the post-Soviet experience, particularly for Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, and Ukraine, since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. These issues lie at the heart of many current crises and points of escalation in the region. They bridge national concerns with broader, transnational dynamics, and our eyewitnesses each represent one of these critical categories.
Eyewitnesses
These eyewitnesses represent different social groups and communities in accordance with the topics above.
The videos are suitable for preparing a meeting with eyewitnesses or for lessons on the topic of transition and civic engagement in general. They have been tested and used by educators within the “Lost in Transition?” project.
The project “Lost in Transition?” ties in with the work of the project network “Transition Dialogue”, with which Austausch e.V. and its partners have been providing key input for how to deal with the transition period in the field of education and beyond in several countries in Eastern Europe since 2015.
The project is funded by the German Federal Foreign Office and the German Federal Foundation „Aufarbeitung“ and implemented by Austausch e.V. in cooperation with Congress of Cultural Activists (Ukraine), Sovlab (Georgia), SIQA (Georgia), Hazarashen (Armenia), Human Doc (Poland) and Perspektive3 (Germany).
Partners
Partners
Kindly supported by
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