Research / Statistics

International Organization Information / Research: 1995 (Part #9)

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Research-related issues are also developed in other reports. A report on the special study of consultative status relationships with the United Nations will also be made separately. A checklist of papers is presented in Annex 7.

In addition to papers prepared in response to particular occasions and conferences, research-related work is also done in connection with the Encyclopedia. Where possible adaptations of research papers have been used in explanatory sections of the Encyclopedia.

Statistical development: This initiative is described in connection with the report on the International Congress Calendar.

Current research themes include:

• Transformative conferencing and dialogue: Opportunities to develop innovative approaches to conferencing continue to be explored. A group partially funded by the UIA played a significant role in the coordination of the "open forum" session at the 13th Congress of the World Futures Studies Federation (Finland, August 1993) and of the facilitation of the Parliament of the World's Religions (Chicago,
  September 1993) in the light of the Alma Ata event.
  
  The UIA was able to encourage the use of innovative processes, through two members of this group, at annual conferences organized by the UNESCO Division of Philosophy (Paris, 1995 and 1996). These used both the messaging and visual minuting techniques sponsored
  by the UIA. Similar contacts are being made with respect to the newly established Club of Budapest.
  
  
• New approaches to organization and policy-making: This theme, notably in relation to the current debate on world governance, remains a continuing concern currently reflected in papers on metaphor and in the contents of the new edition of the Encyclopedia. UIA contribution to this debate was acknowledged in the recent report of the Commission on Global Governance.
  
  
• Metaphors and catalytic imagery: As indicated by the checklist of publications, this theme continues to be developed in response to various opportunities (notably in French versions). A paper on metaphor and the language of futures was specially commissioned.
  
  
• Interdisciplinarity: The UIA continues to participate in conferences on this theme (of interest to Paul Otlet). An abridged version of a paper to the earlier event (Paris, 1991) appeared in a book in French in 1994. The UIA was represented on the international organizing committee of the first World Congress on Transdisciplinarity (Lisbon, 1994), in relation to which several UIA papers were presented or prepared.
  
  The UIA was invited to present the keynote address at the Conference on the Organization of Environmental Information (Bratislava, 1994) of the International Society for Knowledge Organization (ISKO). This follows up much earlier work on this topic, notably coordinated through the UN Library in Geneva.
  
  
• Mapping and visualization: This issue remains a continuing concern. It appears that it will be relatively easy (in terms of
  cost) to include organization charts and any other network maps on the planned CD-ROM. UIA data was fed into a highly sophisticated network mapping software package during a special one day demonstration in the UK. The resulting maps have been used as end papers
  in the forthcoming editions of the Yearbook and the Encyclopedia in agreement with SAUR. The package is very suggestive of the future development of interaction with UIA data. It was suggested that a demonstration version of the package should be incorporated into the planned CD-ROM.
  
  
• Values: Much work has been done on values for the new edition of the Encyclopedia, notably by providing a unique pattern of links from values to world problems and to human development. On the initiative of Professor Tibaldi (UIA Member), a book was prepared in Italian (Valori Humani, 1994) which carried some aspects of this work.
  
  
• Consultancy: Under a consultancy contract with UNESCO in 1994-5, the UIA acted as "chief evaluator" for an exploration of UNESCO's relations with NGOs receiving subventions, with a view to providing guidance for new policies. A report resulted from this process.
  
  At the suggestion of Frits Hondius (UIA Member), the UIA was invited by the Council of Europe to present a paper to a seminar in Moscow in December 1994 on the civil society, notably with respect to the future of democracy in Russia.
  
  
• Proposal for a "Scientific Committee": On the occasion of the visit of the representative of the ACCT, Suzanne Richer, regarding the French Yearbook, she raised the issue of whether the UIA had a scientific committee, notably with respect to coverage of the Yearbook. It was pointed out to her that the UIA was obliged to follow empirically the manifestations of international organizations in all their forms, under the logistic and other constraints of obtaining adequate information from them. Efforts to "normalize" this process in the light of any particular scientific guidelines, notably with regard to terms used in organization titles, would be perceived as unrealistic and counter-productive.
  
  
• Statistics on meetings and organizations: This issue remains a continuing concern, especially in relation to the commitment to Associate Members.
  
  
• Invitations/Attendance at meetings: This forms the subject of a separate note (see Annex 7)
  

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