BLOG

Historian and political scientist Irina Nastasă-Matei examines the intersection of academic exchange and political influence through the example of Alexander von Humboldt Fellowships awarded to Eastern European scholars during the Cold War. By analyzing statistical patterns and highlighting prominent intellectuals who became political figures, Nastasă-Matei reveals how these fellowships functioned not only as instruments of scientific collaboration but also as subtle tools of soft power and cultural diplomacy.

To mark 80 years since the deportation of Romanian Germans to the Soviet Union, professor Gabriel H. Decuble led first-year German studies students at the University of Bucharest in curating Smart Hands—a literary exhibition inspired by Herta Müller’s novel The Hunger Angel. In the blog piece, Decuble recounts how the students transformed key passages from the novel into original visual and multimedia artworks, exploring themes of memory, trauma, and solidarity while engaging with literary theory through creative expression.

This blog post examines the founding of political science as an academic discipline in post-communist Romania, focusing on its development at the University of Bucharest after 1989. It highlights the decisive role of French cultural diplomacy in shaping institutional structures and curricula, demonstrating how foreign influence intersected with local reform efforts. Drawing on diverse sources, the study explores whether this cultural transfer led to mere replication or to innovative reinterpretation. The analysis positions academic institutions as both agents and outcomes of transnational cultural exchange. This blog post is an article in development for the journal Polis.

What hidden stories lie in the archives of cultural diplomacy? How can artistic installations reshape our understanding of East-West relations? In this blog post, NARDIV PhD Researcher Roxana Lapadat explores German-Romanian cultural diplomacy through academic inquiry and artistic practice. Focusing on the Goethe-Institut Bucharest—opened in 1979 under Romania’s communist regime—Lapadat examines how cultural transfer operated under censorship and how soft power shaped civil society. Drawing on extensive archival research and personal history, she uncovers the nuanced impact of cultural institutions in closed societies. Her findings inform two performative installations that engage contemporary audiences across generations, bridging East-West narratives and prompting reflection on freedom, memory, and misinformation in today’s polarized Europe.

What is life writing—and how do female authors from East Germany narrate their lives after the fall of the Wall? Jeremy Fischbach, a NARDIV PhD researcher, shares insights from his ongoing dissertation on Female Life Narratives in Germany after the Reunification and their Influence on the Mutual East-West Perception during his research stay at the University of Amsterdam. Here, he draws on interviews with authors Olivia Wenzel and Julia Franck to explore how hybrid literature blends memory, trauma, and identity. How do fact and fiction merge in these narratives—and what can they teach us today? Read on and learn more about Fischbach’s topical research on post-reunification identity, literary memory, and the shifting narrative of East-West relations in Germany.

How do Russian disinformation narratives gain traction in Western Europe? An analysis of French-speaking social media reveals telling patterns: emotionally charged and culturally resonant narratives—like Russophobia or anti-sanctions messaging—often provoke less scrutiny than content from established French outlets. Instead of outright rejecting disinformation, users tend to redirect criticism toward domestic media, blurring the lines between foreign propaganda and internal distrust. By examining user engagement on Facebook, Fleur Delannes' piece sheds light on how perception shapes (dis-)information flows, and how complex narrative ecosystems emerge—sometimes echoing Cold War ideologies, sometimes reinventing them for the digital age.

Social media might be saturated with selfies and scrollable content—but can it also foster intercultural dialogue and critical media literacy? At the NARDIV workshop 'In search of intertwined identities and credible sources of information' at HAW Hamburg, students and experts from France, Romania, and Germany came together to explore just that. Through collaborative Instagram reels and lively debates, they tackled the challenges of finding credible information online, especially across linguistic and cultural divides. The workshop, documented by Nina Nevermann, spotlighted the role of journalism, algorithms, and even cultural institutes in shaping European awareness. From AI-generated images to fact-checking hacks, the event asked: what does it take for young Europeans to become both informed citizens and digital storytellers?