Mission and objectives

The Institute of Mediterranean and Oriental Cultures of the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAS) was created on 01.09.2010 as a result of a merger of the Research Center for Mediterranean Archaeology PAS (founded in 1956) and the Center for Studies on Non-European Countries PAS (established in 1962).

The Institute deals with a broad scope of issues pertaining to Oriental studies, from archaeology and varied aspects of historical civilisations and their heritage, through study of contemporary cultures, societies and states, to study of their developmental issues and international relations. Out of 5 departments comprising the Institute, two deal specifically with contemporary oriental studies: the Department of Islamic Civilisations and the Department of Modern Cultures of Africa and Asia.

The experts of the mentioned departments, representing the broad disciplines of knowledge of culture and religion as well as political science and administration, are active researchers with knowledge of local languages and experience in field work. Their research, aside from its purely scientific value, brings greater understanding of the societies, nation states, relationships and challenges facing the Southern Mediterranean today.

The Institute also has a publishing division, responsible for several academic journals as well as monographs. The Institute moreover engages in a number of “popularisation of science” initiatives.