In her project, social geographer Sabine von Löwis explores how conflicts in the post-Soviet space, which are mainly negotiated and monitored at the international level and in geopolitical discourse, are reflected in the everyday lives of affected communities and what role they play there. Her aim is to ascertain what scopes of action are available to individuals in their daily lives and what form they take. The project will identify selected coping strategies in the spheres of education, the workplace, healthcare, culture, etc. in response to non-recognised statehood and show how these strategies influence or, indeed, alter the conflict constellations.

The macro and meso perspectives form a key entry point and framework for understanding conflicts; however – and this is central to the approach adopted here – all levels are interactive. In order to improve our understanding of the geographical space and the people living there, it is important to consider and analyse their knowledge, experience and attitudes. This project therefore focuses on the micro level and analyses everyday life in conflicts.