The Republic of Moldova – a small country between the European Union and Russia – has been caught between conflicting geopolitical interests for decades. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Transnistria seceded, political debates arose about a possible union with Romania, Gagauzia sought autonomy – and finally, the war in Ukraine began to influence the region.

Historian Paulus Adelsgruber, who has lived in Chișinău for many years, contextualises Moldova's recent history and discusses political fault lines, cultural identity and social challenges. Together with photographer Frank Gaudlitz, with whom he has already worked on projects in the region, he illustrates his remarks with impressive visual material.

Short biography – Paulus Adelsgruber
Paulus Adelsgruber (born in Austria in 1977) is a historian specialising in Eastern Europe and the history of the post-Soviet space. He studied history and political science in Vienna and Prague. He has been living and working in Chișinău, the capital of the Republic of Moldova, for many years. In addition to his research activities, he works as an author and lecturer and accompanies photographic and cultural studies projects in the region. He is particularly interested in the political transformation processes since the end of the Soviet Union and the diverse cultural interrelationships between East and West.