Showcase
A look back at a year of intensive research and discussions: Point Alpha Research Institute in 2023
The year 2023 was a significant chapter for the Point Alpha Research Institute in its ongoing mission to deepen understanding of democracy, the Cold War and themes of borders and border regions in Europe and around the world. So through a variety of events, including conferences, workshops and public discussion events, the Institute not only demonstrated its commitment to research excellence, but also made a contribution to promoting broader understanding and awareness in these key areas.
Positive impact
The past year was characterized by an impressive variety of events that brought together both experts and the interested public. Point Alpha Research Institute organized several conferences, including the highly acclaimed “Reforms Long Shadows”, which focused on current challenges for democratic systems worldwide. Numerous workshops allowed researchers and participants to delve deeply into Cold War and Border Studies topics. The public discussion events, such as the “Geisa talks”, created a platform for a constructive dialog on current developments in the political landscape.
Challenges
Despite the progress made over the past year, the Point Alpha Research Institute’s field of research continues to face significant challenges. One of the key challenges is to keep pace with the rapid evolution of global political landscapes. Ever-changing geopolitical relationships, technological advances and social upheavals require continuous adaptation of research approaches and methods. Similarly, the increasing restrictions on the international exchange of ideas and knowledge are a hurdle that must be overcome. The Institute is faced with the task of finding innovative ways to maintain interdisciplinary dialog while meeting the demands of a changing world. The coming years offer the opportunity to address these challenges and develop new perspectives to further advance research in the field of democracy, conflicts and Border Studies. Only through continued and bold engagement with these challenges can we ensure comprehensive and relevant research that has a lasting impact on shaping our global future.
List of events
- Public lecture by Prof. Dr. David Chandler (University of Westminster) "Hope in the Anthropocene" on January 16, 2023 in Fulda
- Public lecture by Prof. Dr. Claudia Wiesner "Democracy, the Global Order and the War against Ukraine" on February 7, 2023 in Fulda
- PARI workshop with members of the Board of Directors, members and fellows on February 9-10, 2023 in Fulda
- Geisa Talk "Beauty in the GDR" with Dr. Stefanie Eisenhuth (ZZF Potsdam) and contemporary witnesses Edith Hidebrand, Gusti Spiegel and Manuela Henkel, moderated by Vivian Seidel (PARI) on 27 April 2023 in Geisa
- Emerging Scholars Workshop with the PARI Fellows on April 27-28 and May 22, 2023 in Geisa
- Symposium "The German-German Basic Treaty 1972/73: International Context, Consequences, Memory" in cooperation with the Point Alpha Foundation and the Berliner Kolleg Kalter Krieg on May 31 to June 2, 2023 in Geisa
- Public panel event "From Ostpolitik to the Russian invasion of Ukraine" with Michael Brand, MP (Fulda), Prof. Dr. Hope Harrison (George Washington University), Dr. Matthias Uhl (DHI Moscow), Prof. Dr. Claudia Wiesner (Fulda University of Applied Sciences), moderated by Prof. Dr. Philipp Gassert (University of Mannheim) and Philipp Metzler (Point Alpha Foundation) on June 1, 2023 in Geisa
- Workshop "Democracy and the Global Order: New Perspectives, New Challenges" on June 5-7, 2023 in Fulda
- Public panel discussion "Entangled Perspectives of (Post)Modernity - What's at Stake?" with Prof. Dr. David Chandler (University of Westminster), Prof. Dr. Niilo Kauppi (University of Helsinki), moderated by Prof. Dr. Claudia Wiesner on June 6, 2023 in Fulda
- Joint appointment with Fellows at the Berlin Center for Cold War Studies and subsequent lecture by Prof. Dr. Bernd Greiner on 13 June 2023 in Berlin
- Emerging Scholars Workshop in cooperation with the Chair of Contemporary History at the University of Mannheim and the Chair of Contemporary History at the University of Siegen on September 25-26, 2023 in Mannheim
- Conference "Reform's Long Shadows: Global Reactions to Perestroika and 'Reform and Opening Up,' 1978-1991" in cooperation with Prof. Dr. Timothy Nunan (University of Regensburg) on October 5-7, 2023 in Geisa
- Conference "Democracy and / in the Anthropocene" in cooperation with the University of Fulda on October 9-11, 2023 in Geisa
- Conference "Europe and the World" in cooperation with Fulda University of Applied Sciences on November 30-December 1, 2023 in Fulda
In 2023, the Point Alpha Research Institute not only expanded knowledge, but also built bridges between research and the public. The events of the past year reflect the Institute’s commitment to a profound examination of the pressing issues of our time and give us hope that the knowledge gained will have a lasting impact on the shaping of the world.
English 
German 
