The International Centre for Studies and Research “Mediterranean Knowledge” (ICSR Mediterranean Knowledge) aims at integrating research groups and other international, national and local institutes engaged in human and social research on the Mediterranean Basin. The target is contributing to research and building tools of knowledge for planning, managing and evaluating actions able to have a positive impact on the relations between the peoples living on the Mediterranean shores and to favour a better mutual understanding.
The Mediterranean, indeed, has always been a place of encounter. Over the centuries, the peoples living on its shores have continuously met, exchanged knowledge, confronted and fought one another; furthermore, they have established long-lasting relations with every corner of the world. The Mediterranean is thus a crossroad of cultures, knowledge, conflicts, trade, routes that have always crossed this small, but extraordinary, area of the world. According to Fernand Braudel, the Mediterranean is «a mosaic of all existing colours».
To analyse the complexity of this world, the ICSR Mediterranean Knowledge uses the privileged tool of the interweaving of disciplines and methodological approaches, involving scholars from the whole area of human and social sciences (history, philosophy, sociology, anthropology, communication, philology, history of art, etc.), as well as from the economic-legal field (economy, law, information sciences, etc.). This approach is based on the belief that exchanges and confrontations among researchers are pivotal to foster the building of knowledge.
The ICSR Mediterranean Knowledge regularly organizes seminars, conferences and other initiatives.; publishes three research products: the Journal of Mediterranean Knowledge, the book series Mediterranean, Knowledge, Culture and Heritage, a series of Working Papers. The publications are available in open access.
All the initiatives involve scholars coming from diverse academic backgrounds. The cooperation is not limited to the mere transfer and exchange of knowledge, but aims to identify priorities and to provide stakeholders and policy makers with appropriate tools of knowledge.