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28th ISSR/SISR Conference
Challenging Boundaries: Religion and Society
Zagreb (Croatia) July 18 - 22, 2005
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Download: Network 25 (includes most of the information from this site in
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Letter from the President The programme for the forthcoming XXVIII Conference, which will take place in Zagreb from July 18th to 22nd, is highly satisfactory for a number of reasons. Not only is the number of papers submitted larger than usual (over 300), but more especially they also seem to excel in quality, variety and interest. Themes range from theoretical problems to research methodology, and from the analysis of ongoing socio-religious processes in various areas of the world to the current state of research into the presence of Islam in Europe. The thirty or more thematic sessions will represent a meeting point for old friends and new researchers to assess the state of the art of our discipline, which has never been as topical as it is today. Despite its topicality, it has not yet managed to take up a central position in sociological thought through a return to the origins of sociology itself, and, with this in mind, it is no accident that no less than two sessions are devoted to the Hundredth Anniversary of the publication of Max Weber's The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. It is also interesting that no less than three sessions (with over thirty papers) are dedicated entirely to theoretical and methodological issues. Another cause for satisfaction, reading the dense programme for Zagreb, is the number of new researchers from Central and East European countries who will be joining us for the first time. This will undoubtedly foster the spread of fresh ideas, themes and research, especially since in some of these countries it has only recently been possible to set up or re-establish university departments for the study of socio-religious phenomena of which we know very little. Let us give a warm welcome to our colleagues from these countries. The third point, which emerges from reading the Zagreb programme, is the return of our Spanish colleagues. This is an important development that many of us have been hoping for some time. Thanks to the excellent work carried out by a young colleague from the University of Valencia, Xavier Costa, the ISSR will host two sessions devoted entirely to the socio-religious situation in Spain, with many new names and fascinating themes. Many other items should be mentioned: the forum for new researchers continues its work; four authors will present their latest works in the "authors meet critics" session, and new space will be opened up for research. Finally, I am personally very satisfied with the strengthening of multilateral relations (and that is quite something in these unilateral times!) between our association and the other international associations with which we have longstanding ties or have recently made contact. These include: the RC22 of the ISA (which will organize three sessions), the Association for the Sociology of Religion (whose new president, Jay Demerath is also a 'pillar' of our ISSR), the ISOROCEA (an association which Miklos Tomka, Irena Borowick and Eileen Barker have helped to develop over the past few years and whose development has also benefited the ISSR), and the Association Interntionale des Sociologues de Langue Française (Groupe de travail "Laicité et Citoyenneté"). Officially, we have no sessions organized together with the Association of Social Scientists of Religion of Cono Sur (Latin America), but the presence of Latin-American colleagues will be significant this year since they will be animating many thematic sessions. I would like to remind you that there will be a special session dedicated to the life and work of Bryan Wilson. As well as the speakers mentioned in the programme (on this point, it will be nice to have Jean Séguy back amongst us), there will be an opportunity for others to give their testimony. Some (for example, Professor Nakano) have already expressed their desire to say a few words. Those who wish to put their names down should get in touch soon with the General Secretary so that individual testimonies can be organized. Information on hotel accommodation and other practical matters
is available in this issue of Network and on the web site of the
local committee. It is advisable to book early especially if you
wish to take a short vacation on the Croatian coast before or after
the conference. Enzo Pace, President |