Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies
The map of Europe shifted violently after World War II. Countries in central and eastern Europe fell under Soviet control following Germany's defeat. Political leaders outside the communist world felt an urgent need for academic analysis of the USSR and its satellite states. They also required better facilities to train a new generation of foreign affairs specialists in language skills.
American universities responded quickly to this geopolitical crisis. Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, established area studies programs. Columbia University in New York City created research institutes. The University of Washington in Seattle launched similar initiatives. These institutions produced the leading scholars of Slavic studies in North America during that era.
Graduates and professors from these programs formed the American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies. Two entities already existed in the field as precursors. The Joint Committee on Slavic Studies supported scholarly conferences and disbursed fellowship grants. The American Slavic and East European Review was a scholarly magazine launched in 1941 by John Hazard of Columbia University.
In 1938, the Joint Committee set up a subcommittee specifically for Russian studies. This group finalized a proposal for a national professional organization. By 1948, they had created a corporation named the American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies, Inc. This legal structure allowed them to print their journal in the State of New York. That year remains the association's official date of establishment.
The membership voted to change the name of the AAASS in 2008. The new title became the Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies effective in 2010. This decision reflected a widened scope beyond just Russia and Slavic languages.
Other former centers were renaming themselves Centers for Eurasian Studies at this time. The association rejected the dominance of Russian and Slavic studies that characterized earlier decades. The name change coincided with moving headquarters from Harvard in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The office relocated to the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
This shift signaled a deliberate expansion of focus toward Central Asia and the Caucasus regions. It acknowledged the growing importance of these areas within global contexts. The organization sought to align its identity with changing geopolitical realities rather than static historical definitions.
ASEEES national office sits at the University of Pittsburgh today. It handles all membership records and publication subscriptions. The staff manages NewsNet and coordinates programmatic activities like the annual convention.
Six regional affiliates operate under the umbrella of the main body. A geographically committee structure enables cooperation by members across the country. These affiliates normally sponsor panels and hold meetings during the annual ASEEES convention.
Over fifty institutions demonstrate support via institutional membership. Representatives on the Council of Institutional Members exchange viewpoints and work together on issues of common concern. Individual membership numbers stand at approximately 3,000 subscribers in the US and abroad. This network connects scholars who might otherwise remain isolated in their respective universities.
The Slavic Review serves as the chief publication for the association. It features articles spanning all academic disciplines and geographic areas within Eastern Europe, Russia, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. The journal is available on JSTOR for digital access.
Editorial offices for the review reside at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Professor Donald Treadgold of the University of Washington served as the initial editor of this official AAASS publication. The editorial team curates discussions and reviews of recent literature from past and present eras.
NewsNet carries news both of the profession and of the association itself. It publishes five times a year to promote information flow among society members regarding ongoing research status. Annual conventions have been held since 1964 with an average attendance exceeding 2,000 people each year.
The first convention took place in New York City in April 1964 under Professor Holland Hunter of Haverford College. Initially gatherings occurred every third year to preserve organizational strength. They now occur annually in different cities to encourage international scholarship exchange.
The Association presents various prizes during the Awards Presentation at the Annual Convention. These honors recognize distinguished contributions within the field of Slavic and East European studies.
The Wayne S. Vucinich Book Prize stands alongside the USC Book Prize in Literary and Cultural Studies. The Davis Center Book Prize focuses on Political and Social Studies while the Marshall D. Shulman Book Prize recognizes other significant works. Barbara Jelavich Book Prize and Kulczycki Book Prize in Polish Studies highlight regional expertise.
Graduate students compete for the Tucker/Cohen Dissertation Prize and the Graduate Student Essay Prize. W. Bruce Lincoln Book Prize appears only in even-numbered years. The CLIR Distinguished Service Award honors long-term commitment to the organization's mission.
These awards validate rigorous scholarship across history, literature, political science, and cultural studies. They provide tangible recognition for researchers whose work advances understanding of the region.
In June 2025, the group was outlawed by the Prosecutor-General of Russia. Officials classified the association as undesirable under new legal frameworks. This designation effectively banned its activities within the country.
The decision marked a sharp escalation in tensions between Western academic institutions and Russian authorities. It prevented any future collaboration or participation by members operating inside Russian borders. The move reflected broader restrictions placed on foreign organizations deemed politically sensitive by Moscow.
Scholars affiliated with ASEEES now face potential legal risks if they attempt to engage with the organization from within Russia. This development isolates the field further and complicates research access for those studying current events in the region.
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Common questions
When was the Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies established?
The Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies was officially established in 1948. This legal structure allowed them to print their journal in the State of New York that same year.
Where is the national office of the Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies located today?
The ASEEES national office sits at the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The organization moved its headquarters from Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts to this location following a name change in 2010.
What publications does the Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies produce?
The association publishes The Slavic Review as its chief publication and NewsNet five times per year. The Slavic Review features articles spanning all academic disciplines within Eastern Europe, Russia, the Caucasus, and Central Asia.
How often does the Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies hold its annual convention?
Annual conventions have been held since 1964 with an average attendance exceeding 2,000 people each year. Initially gatherings occurred every third year but they now occur annually in different cities to encourage international scholarship exchange.
Why did the Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies change its name in 2008?
The membership voted to change the name of the AAASS in 2008 to reflect a widened scope beyond just Russia and Slavic languages. This decision coincided with moving headquarters from Harvard in Cambridge, Massachusetts to the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania effective in 2010.