In 1992, the East and Central Europe Program launched a research-oriented
Initiative: Substantive Research Working Groups. Based
on the conviction that there has been a considerable convergence
in the kinds of questions that are most pressing in the structuring
of democratic societies both East and West, the Working Groups
were established to deal with research and policy problems of
common interest. The groups are small (6-12), drawn from the disciplines
of political science, economics, history, and sociology to work
together on specific themes. The topics of the groups concern
the content of public policies in the areas of interest representation,
nationalism, gender, and political culture, and are entitled:
Nationality and Diversity: Challenges to Liberalism and Democracy,
led by Professors Aristide Zolberg and Ira Katznelson (1992 -
1994) Political Parties and Party Systems in East and Central
Europe, led by Professors Andrew Arato and Jan Gross (NYU)
(1992 - 1994)
Finding the Tradition of Women's Movements in East and Central
Europe, led by Professors Ann Snitow and Elzbieta Matynia
(1993 - 1995) Social Memory and Post-Communism, led by
Prof. Jeffrey C. Goldfarb (1994 - 1996)The participants of these
groups come from Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Bulgaria,
Romania, Germany, and the U.S.(There are also proposed Working
Groups on Media and Constitutionalism in the pipeline.)The results
of the various Working Groups have been published in Constellations,
East European Politics and Society, and in the volume Grappling With Democracy.
The Group on Finding the Tradition of Women's Movements in East
and Central Europe anticipates the publication of its research
at the end of 1996 in the former of a Gender Reader. The Group
on Social Memory and Post-Communism is also at present edited
its findings for publication.