Stephan Rindlisbacher

Stephan Rindlisbacher is a researcher at the Viadrina Center of Polish and Ukrainian Studies, European University Viadrina, Frankfurt (Oder). He previously served as a research assistant at the Institute of History, University of Bern. His work centers on the historical development of national borders and community separation in the early Soviet Union.

His research focuses on the consequences of Soviet national-territorial delimitation in borderland regions such as Ukraine–RSFSR, Armenia–Azerbaijan, and the Fergana Valley. He investigates how the implementation of self-determination policies disrupted traditional economic practices, migratory patterns, and local interdependence, leading to long-term socio-political divisions.

The thematic focus of his recent work, including his presentation Separating Communities and an upcoming book on managing diversity in the early Soviet Union, spans Soviet history, ethnic conflict, federalism, and border studies. His analysis connects historical decisions from the 1920s to contemporary conflicts such as the Russo-Ukrainian war and tensions in Nagorno-Karabakh and Central Asia.

Scientific Contributions:

• Research on Soviet border-making and its lasting impacts
• Analysis of resource allocation and exclusion in nationalized frameworks
• Exploration of how local needs were reframed through national identities

Stephan Rindlisbacher has not advised any named students in the provided texts and there is no mention of grants or formal teaching responsibilities. He is actively contributing to historical scholarship through research and academic presentations.