ERA Chair in Multidisciplinary Area Studies

CenMAS will address key research questions concerning the causes, dynamics, and consequences of critical contemporary developments in non-European regions and Eastern Europe. Its research will examine political, social, cultural, and institutional transformations, patterns of governance and conflict, and their implications for global and regional stability. The Center’s research strategy and specific research agenda will be developed between April 2026 and September 2027, providing a flexible and responsive framework for innovative, comparative, and policy-relevant area studies research.

CenMAS will make a strong contribution to international research by establishing a new international core research team composed of the Center’s leader and three postdoctoral researchers specializing in different global regions. This team will be embedded within and closely cooperate with five area studies departments at the Faculty of Arts, fostering cross-regional and multidisciplinary collaboration. By creating a new center of excellence for area studies in Central and Eastern Europe, CenMAS will integrate cutting-edge research with doctoral and postgraduate training, strengthen international academic exchange, and enhance the region’s visibility and impact in global area studies research.