Dear ISCSC Members, Colleagues and Friends,
The 52nd conference of the International Society for the Comparative Study of Civilizations (ISCSC) was a great success, thanks to the efforts and contributions of all the participants and organizers with special appreciation to Program Chair, ISCSC Vice President, Dr. Michael Andregg and Conference Chair, ISCSC Board Member, Dr. Greg Lewicki. The conference was hosted by the War Studies University and their highly regarded, Center for Security Studies in Warsaw, Poland, from September 14 to 16, 2023. The theme of the conference was "Civilizational Security: Clashes of Civilizations, Clashes within Civilizations, and Stable Global Futures".
The theme was timely and relevant, as the world is facing unprecedented threats and uncertainties from various sources, such as terrorism, cyberattacks, climate change, pandemics, and more. The conference explored how different civilizations can cope with these challenges and enhance their security and resilience, while respecting their diversity and identity. The conference also addressed the role of dialogue and cooperation among civilizations in fostering peace and stability, especially in current conflict zones such as Ukraine and all impacted countries. The conference featured keynote speeches, panel discussions, presentations, and cultural events, with the participation of scholars, experts, practitioners, and students from various disciplines and backgrounds.
Both new, returning, and long-time members joined this important event and shared insights that can be most appreciated during in-person conferences such as this. While we acknowledge that online participation is often sought, the ISCSC continues to emphasize in-person conferences to the extent possible. Many of the most insightful discussions occur during breaks, meals, field trips and after hours.
We would again like to express our sincere gratitude to the War Studies University and their Center for Security Studies for hosting the conference and providing us with excellent coordination, facilities, personal attention, and services. We would also like to thank everyone who attended the conference and shared their insights and experiences. What fun. We hope that the conference was a valuable and enjoyable experience for all, and that it will inspire further research and action on the topic of comparative civilizations and civilizational security. We look forward to seeing you again at the next conference of the ISCSC which will be announced once details are finalized.
With the endorsement of the ISCSC Board, both VP. Dr. Michael Andregg and I will attend the 2023 Conference of the Japan Society for the Comparative Study of Civilizations (JSCSC) in early November. We will meet with the Mayor of Nagasaki and other dignitaries of the JSCSC. The invitation was extended to us by JSCSC President Shunji Hosaka, and JSCSC Vice President Hisanori Kato (who also serves on the Board of the ISCSC).
The JSCSC is one of our long-time sister organizations. They recently lost one of their long-time members and one of the ISCSC’s early presidents – Professor, Shuntaro Ito who served as ISCSC president from 1995 to 1998. A letter of condolence and additional comments were sent to the JSCSC on behalf of the ISCSC and is posted on their website. https://hikakubunmei.org/2023/09/26/
Since the conference in Warsaw, our social media platforms have seen a surge in visits, postings, and sharing. Additionally, our flagship journal," Comparative Civilizations Review" (CCR) received over 6874 downloads in August! Many people are reading YOUR papers.
Please take the time to visit our various sites as they contain terrific dialogue, several video presentations by members and other timely information to share. As always, you can find us on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, and X via the ISCSC website. Just click on the member-services tab, http://www.iscsc.org
With warm regards,
Lynn Rhodes, President
International Society for the Comparative Study of Civilizations
lynn.rhodes@iscsc.org
+1-831-600-5209
