The Vilnius Symposium on issues from the late Soviet and post-Soviet periods, initiated in 2010 by the then former Research Council of Lithuania postdoctoral research fellows S. Grybkauskas, V. Ivanauskas and A. Švedas, has grown into a serious international academic event that draws not only regional but also international scholars – specialists in East Central European studies and Sovietology. The Symposium is a place where the experience of Western Sovietology meets with the search for new approaches and knowledge of the local historical context which is characteristic of researchers from the former Soviet republics. The Symposium is an annual event recognised by the Lithuanian and international academic community.

It was not held only in 2020 and 2021 on account of the COVID pandemic. The Symposium’s platform offers the opportunity for Lithuania’s scientists to establish and maintain contact with well-known international scientists. Collaboration with various academic communities is encouraged during the international symposium, including the exchange of information and development of a multiperspectival way of seeing the research object. The mission of the Vilnius Symposium is to urge the international and Lithuania’s academic community to look at the past of the former Soviet empire from the perspective of the "small" republics, to arouse the interest of researchers in the occupation, exploitation and discrimination experience of the former Soviet periphery and examples of liberation, as well as revealing the importance of local perspectives in grandiose geopolitical events.

Contact with international researchers is established both by using the Institute’s existing connections and through the event organisers’ academic acquaintances, in addition to academic visits. When inviting potential Symposium participants, the organisers also strategically orientate themselves to attracting famous scientists in this field – some of the prominent researchers who have participated in previous Symposiums include Yoram Gorlizki from the University of Manchester, Mark Harrison (University of Warwick), Oleg Khlevniuk (Lomonosov Moscow State University), Jeremy Smith (University of Birmingham), Balasz Apor (Dublin Trinity College), one of the heads at the Uppsala Centre for Russian and Eurasian Studies (Sweden) Li Bennich-Björkman, Ronald Grigor Suny (University of Michigan), David Beecher (University of Tartu), Michael Loader (University of Glasgow), Timothy K. Blauvelt (Ilia State University in Sakartvelo), scientists from the University of Latvia Daina Bleiere, Matinš Kaprans and Kaspars Zellis, Edward Cohn (Grinnell College), Riccardo Cucciolla (University of Naples L’Orientale), Igor Caşu (State University of Moldova, Chișinău), Sergiu Musteață (State Pedagogical University in Chișinău), Nikolay Mitrokhin (University of Bremen), among others. Lithuania’s scientific institutions are also widely represented at the Symposium. Presentations have been made at its events by Lithuanian Institute of History scholars Vladas Sirutavičius, Česlovas Laurinavičius, Rasa Čepaitienė, Violeta Davoliūtė, Valdemaras Klumbys and others, Vilnius University lecturers Zenonas Norkus, Nerija Putinaitė, Laima Žilinskienė and Ainė Ramonaitė, Vytautas Magnus University representatives Rasa Baločkaitė and Rytis Bulota, as well as Felix Ackermann (EHU). Scholars not only present their latest research at the Symposium but also discuss opportunities for further joint research, outline the dissemination of research, and talk about the latest trends and trajectories in Sovietology research around the world. Ideas are born during these gatherings as to how Lithuania’s researchers could become more involved in wider research, while also maintaining and establishing new international academic connections.

An issue of Lithuanian Historical Studies was prepared based on previous Symposiums (2010, Vol. 15, Vilnius, 2011), while a collective monograph entitled Moscow and Non-Russian Republics in the Soviet Union (Routledge, 2021) was also prepared and published based on another Symposium.

The decision was also made to organise "circuit sessions" of the Symposium, starting from the 10th one in 2019; that year, the event was held at Uppsala University in Sweden.

Contact: Saulius Grybkauskas (saulius.grybkauskas@gmail.com)