Profile

The Südost-Institut (Institute for Southeast European Studies) is an independent academic institute whose purpose is research into the history and current affairs of Southeast Europe. The Institute resources the field of Southeast European History by making available journals and books, its large public library and its numerous events. Reference works, advice and lectures are available to the general public.

In its research, the Institute for Southeast European Studies takes a perspective which transcends national and state borders and which focuses on the broader region. Additionally, it is also interested in topics which only apply to particular parts of the region. The term "Southeast Europe" in application by the institute is a broad one. The geographical area covers the fifteen states which make up the region today (Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Slovenia) as well as parts of Turkey and the Ukraine. The Institute cultivates close contacts with colleagues in the region and cooperates with other partners at national and international level.

The Institute for Southeast European Studies is governed by a public-law foundation and is financed by the State of Bavaria. Its statutes are oriented towards cooperation with various Bavarian institutions. The University of Regensburg, the Ludwig-Maximilians University in Munich, the Bavarian State Chancellery, the State Ministry of Science, Research and Art are represented in the foundation's board. Three prominent representatives of Southeast European research and German Southeast European politics have personal seats on the board.

The Institute has cooperation contracts with other members of the Research Centre for Eastern and South Eastern Europe in Regensburg (Institute for East European Law München e.V., Institute for East European Studies, Hungarian Institute) and with the University of Regensburg. Since 2007 the Institute is linked to the University of Regensburg, both as an associated institute and via its director (Department of History of Southeast and Eastern Europe).