A NEW STAGE IN THE INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC COOPERATION OF THE “IJTIMOIY FIKR” CENTER

From 11 to 18 July of this year, the 17th International Conference of the International Society for Third Sector Research (ISTR) was held in Lisbon, the Portuguese Republic. Viktoria Sergeevna Alekseeva, First Deputy Director of the Republican Center for the Study of Public Opinion “Ijtimoiy Fikr”, took part in this prestigious international forum. The main conference programme was held from 14 to 17 July at ISCTE – University Institute of Lisbon, while pre-conference academic programmes, international forums, and specialised meetings were organised from 11 to 13 July.

This year’s conference was devoted to the theme “Imagining the Next Generation: Strengthening the Foundations of the Third Sector”. Particular attention was paid to the scientific study of civil society and the further development of cooperation among government institutions, universities, think tanks, non-governmental non-profit organisations, and international institutions. The conference organisers welcomed participants to an international platform for dialogue designed to promote interdisciplinary approaches to civil society research and the practical application of scientific findings.

The conference addressed a wide range of topical issues, including the future of the third sector amid global social, political, and economic change, the development of civil society institutions, social innovation, public administration, the social economy, volunteering, charitable activities, sustainable development, the use of artificial intelligence in research, the integration of science and practice, evidence-based research, and the role of think tanks in shaping public policy.

The forum programme included plenary sessions, special panels, thematic sessions, discussions, meetings of think tank leaders, a programme for young scholars, meetings with editors of academic journals, and events aimed at developing international cross-network cooperation. Participants had the opportunity to exchange experience on contemporary trends in civil society development, social policy, charity and philanthropy, social innovation, cooperation between government and public institutions, and the application of new research methodologies.

Participation in this international conference marked an important step towards expanding the international scientific ties of the Republican Center for the Study of Public Opinion “Ijtimoiy Fikr”, studying advanced research methods, incorporating international experience into national sociological research practices, and further strengthening international cooperation in the field of public opinion research.