The International Society for Eighteenth-Century Sudies was founded in 1967 to preserve the cultural history of the Enlightenment. It is a world-wide multidisciplinary organisation of 7.500 members belonging to 29 national societies known as constituent societies.

ISECS promotes international cooperation between scholars of the five continents. Its technical secretariat is based at the Voltaire Foundation, University of Oxford.

Every member of a constituent society automatically becomes a member of ISECS. Part of the dues paid to his/her constituent society is transferred to ISECS and contributes to its activities.

To support the dissemination of research in eighteenth-century studies:

• ISECS maintains this web site.

• ISECS distributes an International directory of eighteenth-century studies which lists the names of members, with their address, research interests and, where applicable, the institution to which they are affiliated.

• ISECS organises an international congress every four years in order to survey the state and evolution of eighteenth-century studies. During these congresses, its Standing committee and Executive committee are elected. The Standing committee is composed of a President, three Vice-presidents, a Secretary general, an Assistant Secretary general, a Treasurer, and an Assistant Treasurer.

• ISECS supports conferences organised jointly by two or more constituent societies (i.e. the German and Italian societies, the French and British societies, etc.).

• In order to promote international cooperation, ISECS organises an East-West seminar once a year to enable scholars from the West and from Eastern Europe to meet and work together.

• Similarly, ISECS encourages the creation of a North-South seminar to foster international cooperation between developed and developing countries.

• ISECS encourages the founding of new national societies. At its foundation it numbered fewer than 10 constituent societies. It is now well on its way to tripling that number.

• To take into account the situation existing in countries with weak or non-convertible currencies, the by-laws of ISECS permit the creation of associate societies. Associate societies do not pay dues, but they can publicize their activities in the web site and have their members listed in the Directory. An associate society can become a constituent society when its statutes conform to those defined by ISECS and when it is in a position to pay its dues.

The former presidents of ISECS have been Dr Theodore Besterman (G.B.), Professors Lester G. Crocker (U.S.A.), Robert Shackleton (G.B.), René Pomeau (France), Roland Mortier (Belgium), Robert Darnton (U.S.A.); H. T. Mason (G.B.). Professor Jochen Schlobach (Germany) is the current President. Geneva, St Andrews, Nancy, Yale University, Pisa, Brussels, Budapest, Bristol and Münster were the previous venues of its international congresses, attracting between 600 and 1.200 participants. The next congress will be held in Dublin in 1999.