Publishing Projects

The founders and employees of IGITI at various times have developed, initiated and actively participated in the implementation of large-scale and influential publishing projects in social sciences and humanities. Many continue to be involved in publishing activities as series curators, editors, translators and, of course, authors — you can find out about current publications on the personal pages of IGITI researchers. This page contains information on early projects.

ALMANAC "THESIS"

TRANSLATION PROJECT

The Open Society Institute (Soros Foundation) and the Central European University have been working together on the project Translated literature on the social sciences (Translation Project) since 1996. Since 1998 the Moscow branch of the Open Society Institute has been carrying out another program for publication of translated literature under the title University Library. Together the two programs provided translation and publication of more than 400 fundamental Western research works in major social and humanity disciplines. The aim of these programs was to acquaint the Russian reader with the most significant works of classic and contemporary foreign scientific literature, to support publishers of books on intellectual themes, and to preserve traditions of translation skill in Russia.

Current staff of IGITI, many of whom were formerly on the editorial board of the THESIS almanac, were active in initiating and implementing both programs. Programs for publication of literature in translation, financed by George Soros, were a natural continuation of the THESIS scientific and educational program in a new, immeasurably larger format. Naturally, publication of hundreds of books by dozens of publishers with participation of many translators and editors could not be contained in the framework of a periodical publication. Also the choice of books from proposed lists was based on preferences of publishers, who were guided by readers' demand. However, we tried to consistently follow the principles of the THESIS almanac in implementing the Translation Project and University Library projects. These principles are: exclusive orientation to the best, most fundamental works in each field of knowledge; strict control over translation quality; and use of the most authoritative experts for preparation of lists of works for proposal to publishers, as well as for evaluation of translations, and editing and commenting to the publications.

Translation Project and intellectual climate in Russia. Text by Prof. Savelieva published in the booklet prepared by The Open Society Institute (Soros Foundation) in 2001 on the Fifth anniversary of the Translation Project.

Books:

Working Papers in English, Series: Humanities