Instytut Naukowo-Badawczy Europy Wschodniej w Wilnie (1930–1939) ; The Institute for Scholarly Research on Eastern Europe in Wilno (1930–1939)

Abstract

The Institute for Scholarly Research on Eastern Europe in Wilno functioned from 1930 to 1939. It was established on the initiative of Stefan Ehrenkreutz and other professors of the Department of Law and Social Sciences at Stefan Batory University in Wilno. A Higher School of Political Science was established at the same time as the Institute. Members of the Institute consisted of notable Polish scholars, writers, journalists along with social and political activists. The Institute's purpose was to conduct research on economic, cultural, social and political questions, to research the formation of government structures in the lands between the Baltic and Black Seas, as well as to study the peoples of these lands and to propagate this knowledge. In this connection the Institute acquired impressive library collections of the newest literature on these topics. It organized public readings and presentations. It published two scholarly magazines, "The Yearbook of the Institute for Scholarly Research on Eastern Europe in Wilno" and "Balticoslavica", along with a series of books. It formed and maintained contacts with many scholars, institutions and academic associations both in Poland and abroad. In the relative short period of time during which it operated, the Institute became an important scholarly center and made a significant contribution to the research of events, politics, culture and the economies of neighboring countries.