The book series Changing Europe contains edited volumes dealing with current political
economic and social affairs in Eastern Europe and the enlarged EU. The core of the series is
formed by contributions to the Changing Europe Summer Schools which are being organised by the
Research Centre for East European Studies at the University of Bremen. The series is edited by
Dr. Sabine Fischer (EU Institute for Security Studies Paris) Dr. Heiko Pleines (Research
Centre for East European Studies at the University of Bremen) and Prof. Dr. Hans-Henning
Schröder (University of Bremen and German Institute for International and Security Affairs
Berlin). Utilizing a wide range of empirical cases the contributions in this edited volume
highlight the different aspects of the role development and societal background of civil
society in Central and Eastern Europe. The first part of the book deals with dissent under
socialism. The second part of the book looks at the role of civil society in the Western
Balkans in the context of the breakup of the former Yugoslavia and the related ethnic
conflicts. The third part goes on to examine the role of civil society in the post-Soviet
region which is marked by authoritarian tendencies. The fourth part returns to Central Eastern
Europe with an analysis of the impact of EU accession on the role of civil society and
considers the underlying aspects of a common European memory . The final section of the book
looks at two cases one from Central Eastern Europe one from the CIS region of political
participation and lobbying by civil society organizations. This book presents a selection of
the papers discussed at the Changing Europe Summer School on Civil Society in Central and
Eastern Europe held at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy (NAUKMA) Ukraine in
July 2009.
