Blog
CBA-Spring School - "Peace and Post-War Societies" (24.-26. März 2025)
After two Winter Schools, the first Spring School of the Cologne/Bonn Academy in Exile took place from 24 to 26 March 2025 at the Universities of Cologne and Bonn. Under the highly topical theme ‘Peace and Post-War Societies‘, nine of the CBA-Fellows discussed with other members and invited guests in thematic panels and discussion rounds.
In four interdisciplinary panels, the CBA-Fellows presented their current research on questions of international law in the 20th and 21st centuries, on Ukraine‘s role in a fast-changing Europe, on Ukraine‘s special position in the world structure, and on the role of the Russo-Ukrainian War as part of a new world order. Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Dr. h.c. Angelika Nußberger, Director of the Academy for European Human Rights Protection at the University of Cologne, opened the Spring School. Prof. Dr. Andreas Heinemann-Grüder, Senior Fellow at the Center for Advanced Security, Strategic and Integration Studies (CASSIS) at the University of Bonn, followed with a keynote speech on imperialism and war in the 21st century. In the first panel, CBA-Fellow Dr. Gleb Bogush addressed questions of pacifism and militarization in the context of international law against the backdrop of war. Dr. Sergei Akopov spoke on the phenomenology of rescue, addressing, among other things, the question of resistance, which Gleb Bogush had already raised in the previous lecture. The second panel was highly interdisciplinary and included an art-historical lecture by Dr. Kateryna Mikheienko, who shed light on the architecture of Kievan Rus. The cultural scientist Dr. Iryna Petrova spoke about the activities of Ukrainian cultural and scientific institutions during the war. Sociologist Dr. Daria Vystavkina expanded the discussion to include perspectives on the culture of remembrance and cultural memory. In Panel 3, which featured literary scholars and historians, Dr. Tatiana Khripachenko discussed the feminist, autofictional war diary of activist Victoria Amelina who died in 2023. Dr. Alena Pantiukhina took a comparative perspective and shed light on the post-war Soviet Union in the work of Friedrich Gorenstein. In panel 4, economist Dr. Halyna Matviienko ventured a look at the possibilities of green energy in a Ukrainian post-war economy and presented concepts of agroforestry and agrivoltaics in particular. The social scientist Dr. Galina Selivanova expanded the discussion to include aspects of transnational Russian repression in the rapidly changing world order.
Two keynote lectures completed the programme. On 24 March, the head of the Center for East European and International Studies (ZOiS) and Einstein Professor for Comparative Democracy and Authoritarianism Research at Humboldt University of Berlin, Prof. Dr. Gwendolyn Sasse, gave a lecture on ‘Society during and after War: Between Unity and Diversity‘ at the University of Cologne. This was followed on 25 March by the lecture ‘Writing War, (Re)Inventing Identity: Ukrainian Literature and Culture after 2014‘ by literary and cultural scholar Dr. Alexander Chertenko of Justus Liebig University Gießen at the University of Bonn. While Prof. Sasse presented the latest research results from the field of empirical social research on questions of diversity and unity within Ukrainian society in her lecture, Dr. Chertenko took a look at identity constructions in Ukrainian literature and culture since the beginning of the war in Eastern Ukraine (Donbas) in 2014 from the perspective of cultural studies.
In addition to personal statements by the participants, the final discussion on the possibilities of post-war societies also included thoughts on a peaceful future in Europe and the contribution that German politics as well as German academic culture can make to this.
The academic programme was complemented by a cultural programme on 26 March, during which the academy members visited Augustusburg Castle and the Max Ernst Museum in Brühl.
CBA-Workshop Life of Researchers in Exile – Conflicts and Encounters
On December 2–3, 2024, the Cologne/Bonn Academy in Exile hosted an enriching and thought-provoking workshop facilitated by Anastasia Vorobyeva, Yuliia Terentieva, and Valentine Hoffmann at the University of Bonn. These experienced professionals brought their expertise in Playback Theater to guide the Fellows through a journey of storytelling, emotional exploration, and shared reflection. Playback Theater, an improvisational art form where personal stories are enacted on the spot, was the central methodology, fostering connection, healing, and understanding among participants.
The workshop introduced the Fellows to the principles and techniques of Playback Theater while providing a safe and inclusive environment for dialogue. Over the two days, participants engaged deeply with themes of resilience, personal and collective challenges, and visions for the future. The group explored emotions and experiences in the context of war and displacement, delving into personal stories that highlighted moments of overcoming adversity.
The Fellows responded enthusiastically to the workshop, noting the warmth and inclusivity fostered by the facilitators. The diverse backgrounds of the leadership team, encompassing Ukrainian, Russian, and German perspectives, brought a unique sensitivity to the discussions, which resonated deeply with the participants. The methodologies employed not only encouraged personal expression but also strengthened bonds within the group, enabling a sense of solidarity and mutual understanding.
Many participants expressed how transformative they found the Playback Theater approach. They valued the opportunity to share their experiences in a supportive space and to witness the power of storytelling as a tool for building empathy and fostering collective healing. The workshop was praised for its ability to inspire hope and provide meaningful tools for navigating challenging times.
This event reinforced the importance of creative and participatory methods in the Academy’s program, highlighting their potential to address complex emotional and social dynamics. The success of this workshop encourages the Academy to continue offering innovative, community-focused initiatives that empower scholars in exile and promote dialogue and resilience.
The Workshop was funded by the Ministerium für Kinder, Jugend, Familie, Gleichstellung, Flucht und Integration des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen
Russian and Ukrainian Societies in the time of War: State, Civil Society, Exile
Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022, shocked Europe and the whole world. Two years of brutal military conflict have led to significant changes in the political and social landscapes of both countries. Ukrainian society continues to demonstrate resilience, mobilisation, and unwavering commitment to progressive democratic values. However, contradictions and ruptures are beginning to emerge in Ukraine, once united in resistance to the invasion. Meanwhile, the Russian regime has solidified its grip as a dictatorship of fear, intensifying repression and suppressing any internal dissent.
The lecture series “Prspectiven der Moderne 2024” invites to discuss transformations in Russian and Ukrainian state and society, focusing on both internal and external aspects. Experts will explore societal dynamics, government reactions, and new visions for the future in both countries in their presentations. Additionally, the war led to significant changes in Germany and across the European continent, our lecture series will expand understanding of the war's consequences for German and European socio-political landscapes and regional stability.
From January 22 to 25, 2024, a winter school on “The History and Future of Research in Exile” will take place at the University of Bonn and the University of Cologne. The fellows of the CBA as well as invited speakers will present and discuss their projects and visions from their specific key areas.
The interested public is invited to attend the public key lectures:
January 22, 2024
Bonner Universitätsforum, Heussallee 18-24, 53113 Bonn
11:30 am Prof. Werner Gephart & Dr. Daria Vystavkina: Science in Exile: Some Ambivalences of a Stranger in Society
4:15 pm Dr. Juergen Warmbrunn (Herder Institute for Historical Research on East Central Europe - Institute of the Leibniz Association)
From the Baltic Sea to the Marburg Castle Hill - Baltic Exile Collections in the Herder Institute as both academic resources and places of memory
January 25, 2024
International House, Kringsweg 6, 50931 Köln
2:15 pm: Dr. Kateryna Kobchenko (University of Münster)
Ukrainian Displaced Persons after the World War II: Historical Experience of a Mass(e)Migration
4:15 pm: Debate with Prof. Dr. Angelika Nußberger and Dr. Irina Scherbakova (Founding member of Russian Human Rights Organisation Memorial, Nobel Peace Prize co-Laureate 2022) on "Outside the door – inside a new world" - online via zoom
Please register until January, 17 via cb-academy(at)uni-bonn(dot)de, cb-academy(at)uni-koeln(dot)de
Ukraine Days NRW at the University of Duisburg-Essen, 29. – 28. September 2023 of the German-Ukrainian Academic Society (DUAG) & the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
On September 28 and 29, the University of Duisburg-Essen and the German-Ukrainian Academic Society (DUAG) with the support of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) hosted the “Days of Ukraine in North-Rhine Westphalia 2023” in Essen. The Advisor to the Vice Rector for International Affairs of the University of Bonn, Amanda Henson, attended the two-day conference as a representative of the Cologne/Bonn Academy in Exile (CBA). The CBA was represented among the poster presentations and the connection of two of our Ukrainian CBA fellows, Professor Dr. Iryna Petrova and Professor Dr. Daria Vystavkina, to DUAG activities was also recognised. With talks from representatives of the DUAG, DAAD, universities in NRW, as well as universities and civil society organizations in Ukraine on numerous collaborative academic projects in research, learning and teaching; not only on the scientific level, but also in higher education administration, our advisor walked away with a better understanding of the bi-national project and funding landscape. The attendance of the conference – which also included a speech from the Consul General of Ukraine in Düsseldorf, Iryna Shum, and a musical performance from the folk music trio from Donetsk, Dyvyna, as well as ample opportunities for networking with researchers and representatives of various organizations – certainly enriched the foundational knowledge the Academy needs to progress in its work.
The Brussels Declaration at the Democratic Russia Forum in the European Parliament
Together with other Russian lawyers, legal scholars and human rights activists, our CBA fellow Dr Gleb Bogush supports the establishment of an international tribunal to investigate the crime of aggression against Ukraine.
“The Brussels Declaration unequivocally condemns Russia’s war of aggression and related atrocity crimes in Ukraine, noting the resolution of the UN General Assembly and binding order of the International Court of Justice.
You can find the document in English, Russian and Ukrainian languages here: BRUSSELS DECLARATION
More information on the Brussels Declaration can be found on the site of Just Security: "The Brussels Declaration: Russian International and Human Rights Lawyers’ Statement on Accountability", written by Gleb Bogush and Sergey Vasiliev.
An interview with Gleb Bogush can be found on the site of the Deutsche Welle in Russian: Трибунал для Путина": российские юристы начали действовать and Ukrainian language: Про "трибунал для Путіна" заговорили російські юристи (interview by Xenia Polskaya, 09.06.2023)
Submit your project - The second selection round of the Cologne/Bonn Academy in Exile is open!
The Cologne/Bonn Academy in Exile (CBA), founded in June 2022 by the Universities of Cologne and Bonn, is inviting further scholars from Ukraine as well as researchers at risk from Russia and Belarus to join the Academy in the second selection round. The Academy focuses on law, political science, history, cultural studies and linguistics. Of central importance are projects on comparative politics, law and linguistics as well as on European history. Scholars who wish to continue their research at the Universities of Cologne or Bonn are cordially invited to submit their projects. In addition to administrative support, the CBA offers working spaces and academic supervision through subject-specific mentorships in the respective disciplines to facilitate the integration of the researchers into the local, national and European university landscape. In addition to the integration of the fellows into existing networks of the individual institutes, the CBA researchers receive comprehensive advice and support from the Refugee Scholar Support Departments of the Universities of Cologne and Bonn as well as the opportunity to participate in accompanying workshops and other academic formats.
If you would like to continue your research in the CBA network and your project corresponds to the Academy's profile, please feel free to fill out this form and send your project description, CV and relevant references to
cb-academy(at)uni-koeln(dot)de and cb-academy(at)uni-bonn(dot)de.
New submission deadline: 15.06.2023
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
We look forward to receiving your application!
Statement of the Cologne/Bonn Academy in Exile on 24 February 2023
One year after Russia escalated its prior uses of force against Ukraine into an outright war of aggression against that State we all had to learn bitter lessons.
“Fighting for peace does not mean yielding to pressure of the aggressor, it means protecting people from its cruelty.” (Oleksandra Matviichuk)
We do not know what Europe will look like in yet another year. But we understand that – being researchers and teachers – we cannot rest idle, but have to invest all our efforts to support those fighting and suffering by showing our solidarity with them and reflecting on solutions to restore justice and rule of law.
The Future of Eastern Europe" - a review by Elena Brandenburg and Fabius Wittmer
The future of Eastern Europe - this was the topic addressed by the selected visiting scholars of the Cologne/Bonn Academy in Exile, founded in 2022, and their academic mentors at the Universities of Cologne and Bonn. The interdisciplinary Winter School provided the opportunity for the Ukrainian, Russian and Belarusian fellows to present their research projects to the Academy and to enter into dialogue with other actors of the academic public. As Prof. Dr. Johanna Hey, Vice-Rector for International Affairs at the University of Cologne, and Prof. Dr. Birgit Ulrike Münch, Vice-Rector for International Affairs at the University of Bonn, emphasized at the opening of the Winter School, the question of the future of Eastern Europe is central to the issues of democracy, peacekeeping and human rights in Europe. "We would like to encourage our visiting scholars to continue their research at the Universities of Cologne and Bonn in order to contribute with their expertise to the vision of a sustainable and peaceful future of Eastern Europe," said Prof. Dr. Johanna Hey in her opening speech. Prof. Dr. Birgit Ulrike Münch stressed: "Scientific research, exchange and cooperation are a remedy to xenophobia and war, science creates dialogue and plays a decisive role in steps towards peace".
Prof. Dr. Angelika Nußberger, Director of the Academy for European Human Rights Protection, and Prof. Dr. Claus Kreß, holder of the Chair for German and International Criminal Law and Director of the Institute for Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure at the University of Cologne, shed light on the political situation in Ukraine and Russia from a legal perspective. Academy members Dr. Sergii Masol and Dr. Gleb Bogush complemented the legal horizon with their lectures on topics of international criminal jurisdiction and international criminal law.
The historical dimension of the development of German and international Eastern European policy since 1989 was analyzed in the plenary lectures by Prof. Dr. Martin Aust, holder of the Chair for History and Culture of Eastern Europe at the Institute of History of the University of Bonn, and Prof. Dr. Fabian Klose, holder of the Chair of International History and Historical Peace and Conflict Research at the Institute of History of the University of Cologne.
Historian Dr. Tatiana Khripachenko provided insights into the interconnections between Russian emigrants and international law in the history of the Soviet Union from 1918 to 1939. Dr. Anna Medvedovska and Dr. Kateryna Mikheienko were two other historians (of art) whose contributions on the future of Holocaust studies in Ukraine since its independency and on development concepts in the architecture of Kievan Rus, respectively, spanned the thematic arc from the Middle Ages to current research debates in Ukraine.
In addition to the legal and historical foci of the Winter School, sociological, cultural and linguistic perspectives contributed to lively debates among the participants of the Winter School: Dr. Darya Vystavkina discussed the issue of polarization of Ukrainian civilians under the influence of Russian aggression; and the lecture on cultural practices during the war of the cultural studies scholar Dr. Iryna Petrova aroused lively interest among Academy members as well as the audience, too. In his lecture, political scientist Dr. Sergei Akopov presented the "politics of loneliness" practiced by the Russian state in connection with the issues of masculinity and loneliness. Sociolinguistic analyses of the Belarusian language as an instrument of resistance against Russian imperialism was the subject of a contribution by a visiting scholar from Belarus. With the lecture of Dr. Halyna Matviienko on green economy as a central factor for sustainable development in Ukraine, socio-economic aspects also came up during the Winter School.
Prof. Dr. Andreas Heinemann-Grüder, Honorary Professor at the Institute for Political Science and Sociology and Senior fellow at CASSIS and BICC at the University of Bonn, and Prof. Dr. Christoph Witzenrath, Cluster Professor at the Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies, discussed how wars end and what visions might be possible for the time after the end of the Russian war of aggression as well as aspects of liberation and dependency in Russian history.
The program was complemented by two external speakers, Prof. Dr. Adam Bodnar, Professor at the SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Warsaw) and visiting scholar at the University of Cologne, and Dr. Grazyna Baranowska, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellow at the Hertie School (Berlin) and Assistant Professor at the Polish Academy of Sciences. They presented their expertise on topics such as the future of the Council of Europe and international legal obligations regarding missing persons.
The scientific lectures and discussions were rounded off by a cultural program, during which the academy members visited inter alia the Cologne Cathedral and the House of History in Bonn.
The Winter School ended with a panel discussion about the present challenges for the future of Europe as a whole. Besides personal statements, the participants articulated visions and thoughts on a future for Europe that is as peaceful as possible and on how the German politics could contribute to this.
Following the closing of the Winter School by the Rector of the University of Bonn, Prof. Dr. Michael Hoch, and the Vice-Rector for International Affairs, Prof. Dr. Birgit Ulrike Münch, the guest researchers from Ukraine, Russia and Belarus had the opportunity to discuss the past four days as well as future research projects and cooperations with their mentors and colleagues from the Universities of Cologne and Bonn during a festive reception. Generous financial support to the Winter School was offered by the Marga and Kurt Möllgaard Foundation.
In the end the four-day winter school enabled the academy members and their mentors to exchange ideas about their respective research projects in a calm and collegial working atmosphere at a high scientific level, to get to know each other personally, and to foster new networks. The resulting collegial and harmonious cooperation forms the basis for the future work of the Cologne/Bonn Academy in Exile and should be the reason for a cautiously optimistic view of a common future for the whole of Europe.
Winter School & Public Opening and Closing Ceremonies | 16.01.2023 - 19.01.2023
From January 16 to 19, 2023, a winter school on “The Future of Eastern Europe” will take place in Cologne and Bonn as an opening event of the CBA. 10 fellows of the CBA as well as Professors of the Universities of Cologne and Bonn involved in the CBA will discuss the Future of Eastern Europe from the perspectives of history, political science, law, culture and economics, among others.
The interested public is invited to attend the public opening of the winter school on January 16, 2023 at 9:30 a.m. in Cologne (Küpperstift library, Kerpener Str. 30, 50937 Cologne) and the public closing on January 19, 2023 at 18:00 p.m. (Room Lyra, Alte Sternwarte, Poppelsdorfer Allee 47, 53113 Bonn). Please register beforehand per email with fwittmer(at)uni-koeln(dot)de.
The Universities of Cologne and Bonn are joining forces to support scientists from Ukraine who have been affected by the war. The newly founded academy is also open to scientists from Russia and Belarus who are being persecuted for their opposition to the war. Its work focuses on European integration and strengthening knowledge about the affected region.
The Universities of Cologne and Bonn, two of the largest Universities in Germany, have jointly founded the Cologne/Bonn Academy in Exile (CBA). The goal of the new academy is to support the work of renowned scholars who have been forced to flee their home countries due to Russia's war against Ukraine. The academy invites researchers from Ukraine to continue their work in Cologne and Bonn. It also supports researchers of other nationalities who have been affected by the war, such as people from Belarus and Russia who have been persecuted for their opposition to the war.
The main focus of the Academy is on law, history, cultural studies and linguistics. In line with Ukraine's membership perspective in the European Union, contributing to European integration is an overarching goal of the Academy. However, it will also work to preserve and expand region-specific knowledge. Therefore, projects in the fields of comparative politics, comparative law, comparative linguistics, and European history are of central importance.
The CBA will host a group of about twenty researchers who have completed their studies and, if possible, already hold a PhD, are junior scholars or experienced researchers at their home universities, or already hold a professorship.
The universities of Bonn and Cologne provide office space and administrative support and facilitate the integration of the researchers into the local scientific community. In addition, they will assist in finding individual financial support from public or private funds.
The universities will also promote all forms of academic exchange within the CBA, including seminars and workshops, and try to reach out to scientists:inside outside the CBA, for example through summer schools, which are already planned for summer 2022; online programs are also planned. A joint website is under construction.
Initial information on the structure of the academy can be obtained at cb-academy@uni-koeln.de or cb-academy@uni-bonn.de.
Contacts for content:
University of Cologne
Professor Dr. Dr. h.c. Dr. h.c. Angelika Nußberger
Academy for European Human Rights Protection
Professor Dr. Johanna Hey
Vice Rector for International Affairs
cb-academy(at)uni-koeln(dot)de
Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms University Bonn
Professor Dr. Martin Aust
Institute of History, Department of Eastern European History
Professor Dr. Birgit Ulrike Münch
Vice Rector for International Affairs
cb-academy(at)uni-bonn(dot)de
Press and Communication:
University of Cologne
Eva Schissler
+49 221 470 4030
e.schissler(at)verw.uni-koeln(dot)de