Dr. Sabine von Löwis

What is your project and why did you choose it?

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I am involved in many of the LimSpaces projects. I am especially interested in the question of everyday life within de-facto states, in particular, the ways in which living in an unrecognized state, like Transnistria, influences people’s habitual practices, identities and economic survival strategies.

I have previously done some fieldwork in a major market (2014, 2016) in Chmelnyckij in Central Ukraine and am particularly interested in getting to explore the effects of European regulations and integration on ordinary market actors and dynamics. I am also involved in the projects related to education, having previously worked on the educational strategies of people living in de-facto states, like Transnistria, where diplomas are not internationally recognized and chances to participate in the European Research Area are limited.

What brought your interest to Ukraine and Moldova?

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I began working on Ukraine through the BMBF-funded “Phantom Borders in East Central Europe” (2011-2017) project at the Centre Marc Bloch. Ukraine and Moldova have always seemed like a bit of a riddle for me, since they do not get a lot of attention, especially Moldova. In light of the current war in Ukraine, it becomes crucial to look at small countries which, while not always economically strong, are geographically and socially important actors.

How has Russia's war against Ukraine affected the project?

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My plans for fieldwork in Ukraine have had to be postponed due to the war. However, it is more important than ever to be supporting Ukrainian researchers who can do research on the ground so, I am concentrating on making this happen.

Going forward, I am particularly interested in turning my focus towards Transnistria and its unique in-between behaviour as neither as a supporter nor a criticizer of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It would be insightful to talk to people in the region to understand their perception and experience of the war.

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Sabine von Löwis studied Economic and Social Geography at the Technical University of Dresden (TU Dresden) and gained a doctorate in Political Science at HafenCity University in Hamburg (2010). She qualified as university lecturer in 2023 at the University of Leipzig (Habilitation).

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