{"id":20026,"date":"2026-04-15T07:59:41","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T07:59:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/paris.pan.pl\/?post_type=mec-events&p=20026"},"modified":"2026-04-15T07:59:41","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T07:59:41","slug":"interest-groups-in-post-socialist-central-europe-a-cross-analysis-of-historical-political-economic-and-cultural-transformations","status":"publish","type":"mec-events","link":"https:\/\/paris.pan.pl\/en\/events\/interest-groups-in-post-socialist-central-europe-a-cross-analysis-of-historical-political-economic-and-cultural-transformations\/","title":{"rendered":"Interest Groups in Post-Socialist Central Europe: A Cross-Analysis of Historical, Political, Economic and Cultural Transformations"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Centre de Recherche Europes-Eurasie-CREE (Inalco), with the support of the Inalco Doctoral School and in partnership with the Polish Academy of Sciences \u2013 Scientific Centre in Paris, and the Free University of Brussels, invites you to study days entitled : “Interest Groups in Post-Socialist Central Europe: A Cross-Analysis of Historical, Political, Economic and Cultural Transformations”.<\/p>\n

Summary of the scientific event<\/strong><\/p>\n

The study day on April 14 and 15, 2026 at INALCO focuses on the transformations of interest groups and lobbying practices in post-socialist Central Europe, considering historical, political, economic, and cultural shifts. It highlights recent developments, such as Ukraine\u2019s 2024 lobbying law aimed at fostering transparent engagement between private and public actors. The event brings together early-career social science researchers examining actors, networks, practices, and regulatory attempts in the region. It also debates the relevance of the term \u201clobbying\u201d and its analytical value for understanding private influence in politics. Since the end of socialism, new non-state actors (businesses, associations, unions, religious groups) have transformed interactions between the private sector and political power. Contributions are expected to explore historical and institutional dynamics shaping influence relations, the ambiguous role of interest groups in democratic processes, and the transnational dimensions of lobbying in Central Europe. Discussions will address how these groups affect public decision-making, their effects on democratic institutions, and issues of transparency, conflicts of interest, and clientelism. Finally, the study day will examine the impact of European integration on influence practices in the region and the challenges of legally regulating lobbying across various Central and Eastern European countries.<\/p>\n

Program of the scientific event<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tuesday, April 14, 2026
\n<\/strong>Inalco – Maison de la Recherche
\n<\/strong>Auditorium Dum\u00e9zil
\n<\/strong>2, rue de Lille – Paris 7e<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

– 9:20 – 9:40 :<\/strong> Welcome coffee
\n– 9:40 – 9:50 :<\/strong> Welcome address from partner institutions
\n– 9:50 – 10:00 : Introduction to the Study Days: Sarah Bomba, Jelena Jokic and Lucie Raskin<\/strong>
\n– 10:00 – 11:00 : Panel 1 \u2013 Axis 1 : Understanding the Structural and Contextual Factors of Influence Activities Since the 1980s \u2013 Part 1<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chair: Anne Madelain<\/strong><\/p>\n

– 10:00 – 10:20 : \u00a0Vit \u0160IMRAL :<\/strong>\u00a0Imperial legacies and interest group formation in Central and Western Europe.\u00a0<\/em>
\n– 10:20 – 10:40 : \u00a0Szczepan Pawel CZARNECKI :<\/strong>\u00a0Who protest and why? Organisational and contextual drivers of interest group mobilization in Central Europe.\u00a0<\/em>
\n– 10:40 – 10:55 :<\/strong> Questions and discussion with the audience<\/p>\n

– 10:55 – 11:10 :<\/strong> Coffee break<\/p>\n

– 11:10 – 12:05 : Coffee breakPanel 2 \u2013 Axis 1 \u2013 Part 2<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chair : Fabio Giomi<\/strong>
\n– 11:10 – 11:30 : Lucie RASKIN : <\/strong>Researching interest groups as a historian: the case of Yugoslavian organisations in the 1980s\u00a0<\/em>
\n– 11:30 – 11:50 : Michael DOBBINS :<\/strong>\u00a0Impressing De Tocqueville: Analysing interest group mobilization in Ukraine<\/em>
\n– 11:50 – 12:05 : <\/strong>Questions and discussion with the audience<\/p>\n

– 12:10 – 13:45 :<\/strong> Lunch<\/p>\n

– 13:45 – \u00a014:40 : Panel 3 \u2013 Axis 2 : The Impact of Interest Groups on the Economic Sphere: Networks at the Core of Institutional and Sectoral Transformations in Central Europe<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chair: Jean-Michel De Waele<\/strong>
\n– 13:45 – 14:05 : Magdalena BERNACIAK<\/strong>\u00a0&\u00a0Aurora TRIF\u00a0:\u00a0<\/strong>From social partners to lobby groups? Trade unions and employer association in Central-Eastern Europe.\u00a0<\/em>
\n– 14:05 – 14:25 : \u00a0Rafa\u0142 RIEDEL :<\/strong>\u00a0Conflict of interest regarding the Europeanization of legal framework for sustainable corporate governance.\u00a0<\/em>
\n–<\/strong>\u00a014:25 – 14:40 :<\/strong> Questions and discussion with the audience<\/p>\n

– 14:40 – 14:55 : <\/strong>Coffee break<\/p>\n

– 14:55 – 15:50 : Panel 4 \u2013 Axis 2 \u2013 Part 2<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chair: Nad\u00e8ge Ragaru<\/strong>
\n– 14:55 – 15:15 : Jelena JOKIC :<\/strong>\u00a0Innovation ecosystems as Vehicles of Economic Diplomacy: The Case of French Tech Belgrade in Franco-Serbian Relations<\/em>
\n– 15:15 – 15:35 : Nathan HOURCADE :<\/strong>\u00a0Influence in Ukrainian energy sector: lobbying or oligarchy? (2010-2025)<\/em>
\n– 15:35 – 15:50 :<\/strong> Questions and discussion with the audience<\/p>\n

– 15:50 – 16:00 :<\/strong> Wrap-up of the first day<\/p>\n

Wednesday, April 15, 2026
\n<\/strong>Inalco – Maison de la Recherche
\n<\/strong>Salle de Sacy (2nd floor)
\n<\/strong>2, rue de Lille – Paris 7e<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

– 9:00 – 9:20 :<\/strong> Welcome coffee
\n– 9:20 – 10:25 : Panel 5 \u2013 Axis 3 : Interest Groups and Democracy: An Ambivalent Relationship? \u2013 Part 1<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chair:\u00a0Jana Vargov\u010d\u00edkov\u00e1<\/strong>
\n– 9:20 – 9:50 : Aneta CEKIKJ<\/strong>\u00a0&\u00a0Mika IVANOVSKA HADJIEVSKA\u00a0:<\/strong>\u00a0Lobbying strategies in new democracies. Insights from a survey of interest groups in North Macedonia.\u00a0<\/em>
\n– 9:50 – 10:10 : \u00a0Aneta PINKOV\u00c1 :<\/strong>\u00a0Regulation, transparency, and influence: Interest groups in Czech electoral politics.\u00a0<\/em>
\n– 10:10 – 10:25 :<\/strong> Questions and discussion with the audience<\/p>\n

– 10:25 – 10:40 :<\/strong> Coffee break<\/p>\n

– 10:40 – 12:00 : Panel 6 \u2013 Axis 3 \u2013 Part 2<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chair: Katerina Kesa<\/strong>
\n– 10:40 – 11:00 : \u00a0Urszula KURCZEWSKA<\/strong>,\u00a0Agnieszka VETULANI-C\u0118GIEL\u00a0:<\/strong>\u00a0Lobbying in time of political polarization and democratic backsliding. The case of Poland.\u00a0<\/em>
\n– 11:00 – 11:20 : Sarah BOMBA :<\/strong>\u00a0Direct and indirect lobbying – comparative analysis of the activity of the public affairs cabinets in Poland\u00a0<\/em>
\n– 11:20 – 11:40 : Cristian P\u00ceRVULESCU :<\/strong>\u00a0Interest Groups and Populism in Central Europe: A Neo-Institutional Reading Based on the Romanian Case.<\/em>
\n– 11:40 – 12:00 :<\/strong>Questions and discussion with the audience<\/p>\n

– 12:00 – 12:15 : <\/strong>Concluding remarks<\/p>\n

Organisers and partners<\/strong><\/p>\n