A Q&A with CPCS Associate Editor Paulina Pospieszna
Paulina Pospieszna is Associate Professor of Political Science at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poland. Her research interests include democracy promotion, democratization, and democratic innovations such as citizens’ assemblies, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe. She has published numerous works, including the books Democracy Assistance from the Third Wave: Polish Engagement in Belarus and Ukraine (2014, University of Pittsburgh Press) and Democracy Assistance Bypassing Governments in Recipient Countries: Supporting the “Next Generation” (2018, Routledge); and articles in journals including Cambridge Review of International Affairs, Post-Soviet Affairs, Journal of International Relations and Development, and UC Press’s own Communist and Post-Communist Studies, where her article Forging Democracy in the Flames: Strategies of Polish NGOs during the Full-Scale War in Ukraine published in October 2024. She recently joined CPCS as Associate Editor.
UC Press: Welcome to the Communist and Post-Communist Studies editorial team!
PP: Thank you so much! I am honored to join the editorial team of CPCS. It is an exciting opportunity to contribute to such a respected journal that addresses crucial topics in political science and area studies and I look forward to collaborating with the team.
UC Press: Now must be a difficult but exciting time for someone with your expertise and research interests: the Russian war with Ukraine, repression and political tumult in Belarus, clashes over democracy and elections in Tbilisi, Georgia… where does your research take you next, and what should we look out for in the region?
It’s a crucial time to be researching these topics, and I look forward to contributing to the understanding of how deliberative democracy can shape the region’s future.
PP: Indeed, this is a challenging yet fascinating time for research in the region. Currently, I am leading two research grants focusing on democratic innovations in Central and Eastern Europe. With my research team, we study citizens' assemblies, which are deliberative instruments designed to strengthen weakened representative democracy by fostering greater citizen involvement in decision-making processes. Our research spans countries like Poland, Estonia, and Romania, as well as contexts where democracy is more fragile, such as Georgia and North Macedonia. It is truly fascinating to observe how these assemblies are implemented and to assess their impact—not only on participants' views about democracy, and their role as citizens but also on broader social and political trust. For example, in fragile democracies, citizens’ assemblies can play a significant role in demonstrating inclusive decision-making, which may strengthen trust in institutions over time. What excites me even more is the promotion of citizens’ assemblies in contexts as complex as Ukraine, amidst the ongoing war.
The diffusion of best practices within the region is particularly interesting—Polish organizations coordinating citizens' panels, for instance, are sharing their expertise, making these tools more accessible and relevant to neighboring countries.
Looking ahead, my research will continue to explore how these assemblies can sustain democratic resilience, especially in environments marked by conflict or political instability. With my team we are eager to delve deeper into how these instruments can be adapted for diverse challenges, whether in Ukraine or other countries grappling with democratic backsliding or societal divisions. It’s a crucial time to be researching these topics, and I look forward to contributing to the understanding of how deliberative democracy can shape the region’s future.
UC Press: As Associate Editor, what are your responsibilities with CPCS?
PP: As Associate Editor, my responsibilities include overseeing the peer review process for articles assigned to me. Occasionally, the Editor-in-Chief, Paul, consults me for input on whether a manuscript should proceed to review or receive a desk rejection. In general, my work involves managing submissions from initial screening to the peer review stage, selecting appropriate reviewers, and ensuring the process aligns with the journal's rigorous academic standards. I collaborate closely with the Editor-in-Chief, Paul, and the Managing Editor, Danielle. When necessary, I also work with other members of the editorial team to provide constructive feedback that supports authors in improving their manuscripts.
UC Press: In addition to your work as Associate Editor, you have also published in CPCS. How was your experience as an author? Do you have any recommendations or advice for other researchers looking for a home for their work?
As an author, I appreciated the journal's rigorous standards and the constructive feedback provided throughout the peer review process.
PP: Yes, I have published in CPCS, and it was a highly positive experience. As an author, I appreciated the journal's rigorous standards and the constructive feedback provided throughout the peer review process. It is important for authors to carefully align their work with the journal’s Aims and Scope, as this ensures that the article resonates with the journal's readership and contributes meaningfully to the field. My advice for researchers is to thoroughly familiarize themselves with the journal's guidelines and expectations, and to ensure their submissions adhere to the high academic standards CPCS upholds. Taking the time to refine your argument and methodology, as well as highlighting the relevance of your research to the study of post-communist societies, can significantly enhance the chances of success.
UC Press: Thank you for your contributions to the journal, and best wishes in your new role!
PP: Thank you so much. I am excited about this new role and look forward to collaborating with the editorial team, reviewers, and authors to ensure that the journal continues to publish high-quality, impactful research.
Communist and Post-Communist Studies is an international, peer-reviewed scholarly journal featuring comparative research on current and historical developments in the communist and post-communist world. Post-communist states and societies encompass Central and Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union, Asia, Africa, and Latin America, for which the term "post-communist" remains analytically useful as a temporal or geographical frame. The journal broadly covers domestic politics and societies, foreign policy and international relations, ideology and identities, political economy, political and human geography, and law.