Our History
Our Commission is part of the International Committee of Slavists, which itself operates within the UNESCO educational framework.
Tower of the Patriarchate of Peć (Peja, Kosovo); in the foreground remains of medieval monastic buildings
The International Committee of Slavists dates back to 1955, although international Slavistic congresses have been held since at least 1929. This scholarly organization is not limited to members from Slavic countries. It is a global network that includes scholars from most European countries as well as from overseas, such as the United States and New Zealand. The organization regularly hosts conferences, most notably the International Congress of Slavists, which takes place every five years.
The International Congresses of Slavists serve as a major venue for presenting research in the fields of Slavic linguistics, literary studies, and folklore, particularly from a historical perspective. The Committee also maintains commissions that focus on specific areas of research and coordinate ambitious international projects between congresses.
To address current issues in Balkan linguistics, the Commission of Balkanology was founded in September 1993 during the 11th International Congress of Slavists in Bratislava.
