New Eastern Europe Magazine Sept-Oct 2014 Vorige editie

This issue of New Eastern Europe is focused on a very small country that, to most, might seem insignificant. The country in question is the Republic of Moldova. Our authors try to help explain the processes that are taking place in this former Soviet republic, which today appears to be looking for its place in Europe. Their texts might help you decide if Moldova is indeed the star pupil of Europe’s East, as it is commonly believed in Brussels.

Naturally, no analysis of the situation in Eastern Europe today can avoid the topic of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and how it affects the arena of international politics. The questions of solidarity in regards to Russia’s aggression come first in a text written by Jacek Saryusz-Wolski, a Polish member of the European Parliament, who argues Russian action in Ukraine is dividing the EU and the member states need to jointly rethink their relations with Russia. Russian political scientist, Sergey Utkin, counters this argument, stating that the sanctions which are currently placed on Russia will be seen as a pretext to wage an even stronger battle against foreign influences at home.

Specifically on Ukraine, our journalists report on the changes that have taken place Specifically on Ukraine, three journalists report on the changes that have taken place in this country since the end of the Yanukovych regime. Sergii Leshchenko investigates today’s whereabouts of Ukraine’s oligarchs while Milan Lelich analyses how the military operation in the east is funded by the Ukrainian people, who continue to have little faith inpublic institutions and state bureaucracy.

This and much more, included a special feature on Folk Revival in our region, can be found in the issue.