What is precarity? And how does it adapt to the Eastern European context? In the 11th episode we take a closer look at work and workers. Together with our guest, Vologya Artyukh, who is a Ph.D researcher at C.E.U., we talk about labor aspects in the Eastern European space, specifically in Belarus. Our focus is on workers’ solidarity and protests in the context of ideological change in an ex-soviet country. By thinking through the historical context we show you a glimpse of the economical and political characteristics of this space which isn't known enough.

References: Artyukh Volodymyr’s dissertation: “Betrayed Hopes of Prosperity, Broken Promises of Solidarity: Workers’ Protest at ‘Hranit’ Plan”

Books mentioned: Chris Miller, “The Struggle to Save the Soviet Economy: Mikhail Gorbachev and the Collapse of the USSR (The New Cold War History)”

Karl Polanyi, “The Great Trasformation:The Political and Economic Origins of our time”

Producers: Pati Murg and Vlad Bejinariu

Sponsor and support by: Faculty of Sociology and Social Work, Babeș-Bolyai University

Studio: Radio Romania Cluj (with many thanks to Doina Borgovan)

Mix & master, soundtrack: KindStudios

Visuals: Pati Murg & Maria Martelli