Each year ISECS invites applications from younger scholars in all fields of eighteenth-century studies to attend an East-West seminar usually held during one of the summer months.

The Seminar is intended to promote intellectual exchange and to establish personal contacts between scholars from East European countries and the West. All expenses, including travel and lodging, are paid.

To be eligible, candidates must satisfy the following requirements: 1) be less than forty years old; 2) have a PhD or its equivalent; 3) be able to speak French or English, but preferably both.

Scholars from Central and Eastern Europe are given a month's fellowship, which will leave them free to pursue their work in any way they like after the seminar sessions. Scholars from the West receive a one week fellowship to attend the meetings. The location of the seminar changes every year.

The first East-West seminar, which materialized due to the untiring efforts of Robert Darnton, then President of ISECS, took place in 1989 in Berlin. Its theme was the Social history of ideas in the eighteenth century.

The second (1990) seminar on the theme of Aesthetics took place in Paris under the guidance of Roland Mortier.

The third seminar, in 1991, convened at Oxford following the International Congress at Bristol. Its theme was Religion and irreligion.

The fourth seminar, in 1992, was held at Naples on the theme of Politics and political thought.

The fifth seminar, in 1993, convened at the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study (NIAS) in Wassenar, discussing Tolerance and persecution.

1994 saw the sixth seminar in Paris, its theme being Public audiences, interpretative communities, public opinion and the public sphere.

The 1995 seminar was held at Münster on the eve of the International Congress and has for its theme Intellectuals, men and women of letters.

The subject of the eighth seminar, held in Paris, was Raison universelle et cultures nationales au siècle des Lumières.

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