Bellagio, June 1, 2000

The International American Studies Association (IASA) was founded today by twenty-two scholars from around the world, committed to the study of America-- regionally, hemispherically, nationally, and transnationally.

Rooted in various fields of study, the IASA will provide a space for interdisciplinary dialogues about American culture and society. To this purpose, it will promote international exchanges of teachers, scholars, and students and generate debates, publications, and conferences.

Convened by Professor Djelal Kadir (Penn State University, USA) at the Rockefeller Foundation's Conference and Study Center, in Bellagio, Italy, were participants from twelve countries and members of eleven national and multinational American Studies Associations. Those present were: Greg C. Cuthbertson (South Africa), Philip Davies (United Kingdom), Theo D'haen (Netherlands), Emory Elliott (USA), Winfried Fluck (Germany), Michael Frisch (USA), Cristina Giorcelli (Italy), Ramón Gutiérrez (USA), Heinz Ickstadt (Germany), Josef Jarab (Czech Republic), Mary Kelley (USA), Rob Kroes (Netherlands), Maureen Montgomery (New Zealand), Carla Mulford (USA), Gönül Pultar (Turkey), Hiroko Sato (Japan), Neusa da Silva Matte (Brazil), Werner Sollors (Germany), Tao Jie (China), Sonia Torres (Brazil), and Lois Parkinson Zamora (USA).

They are members of the following associations: American Studies Association (USA), American Studies Association of Turkey, Associação Brasileira de Estudos Americanos, Associazione Italiana di Studi Nord-Americani, Australian and New Zealand American Studies Association, British Association for American Studies, Czech and Slovak Association for American Studies, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Amerikastudien, European Association for American Studies, Japanese Association for American Studies, and the Netherlands American Studies Association.

The work of IASA supports, complements, and internationalizes ongoing efforts by regional, national, and multinational associations of American Studies. The IASA welcomes individual, institutional, and associational memberships to its ranks from all professional Americanists in the social and natural sciences, the humanities and the arts, from intellectuals, artists, journalists, public officials, and all those active in matters concerning the study of America.

The IASA held its first world congress on May 22-24, 2003 in Leiden, Netherlands, with the participation of Americanists from over 30 countries.  The publication of congress proceedings:

How Far Is America From Here? Proceedings of the International American Studies Association First World Congress.  Paul Giles, Theo D'Haen, Djelal Kadir, and Lois Parkinson Zamora, eds.  Amsterdam, New York: Rodopi Publishers, 2004.

For information on the next world congress, please visit the conferences link on this site.  Membership information can be found by following the membership link.  Contact person:

Professor Djelal Kadir, Founding President, IASA
Penn State University
University Park PA 16802-6204 USA
iasa@psu.edu