World Society Foundation

The World Society Foundation (Stiftung Weltgesellschaft) is a Swiss foundation domiciled in Zurich that supports scientific research on world society — its emergence, historical evolution, structure, dynamics, and current transformations. Established in 1982 by Peter Heintz of the University of Zurich, the foundation was created to fill a perceived gap in the social sciences, which the founder argued were primarily concerned with analyzing particular societies and their environments rather than studying the world as a complex society. Its purpose is to promote research on worldwide systems, their interaction, and the interaction of different system levels. The foundation's current sponsoring policy focuses on promoting international conferences on world society topics and providing grants for research papers to be presented at these conferences, thereby sustaining a network of scholars interested in transnational and global research. It has introduced the World Society Foundation Award for Research Papers on World Society, which honors outstanding research papers addressing a specific topic announced in its international conference programs. The foundation also publishes the book series World Society Studies through Lit Verlag (Münster, Wien, Zürich). The foundation is governed by a board whose current members include Mark Herkenrath, Hans-Peter Meier, and Christian Suter (President). Its activities include organizing international conferences in locations such as Vancouver, Italy, and Montevideo, and publishing annual volumes of World Society Studies, edited by scholars including Christian Suter, Patrick Ziltener, Jenny Chesters, and Sandra Fachelli. The foundation maintains a website at worldsociety.ch and an archive of past conferences and publications.

The World Society Foundation was established in 1982 by Peter Heintz, a professor at the University of Zurich, Switzerland. In the foundation charter dated Zurich, September 1, 1982, Heintz emphasized that the social sciences were "primarily concerned analyzing particular societies and their environment, as well as the relationships between such societies. This means that the world is generally not studied as a complex society." The foundation was created to fill this gap by supporting scientific research on world society and its transformation, including the study of different worldwide systems and their interaction as well as the different system levels and their interaction. During its first 25 years of activity, the foundation pursued its mission through various programs. On the occasion of its 25th anniversary in 2007, it established the World Society Foundation Award for Research Papers on World Society. The award honors outstanding contributions addressing a specific topic announced by the foundation in its international conferences program, with prize money of US$10,000 for the first prize and US$5,000 for the second prize. Candidates are invited to an international conference where the award is presented, and the foundation's board acts as the jury. Over the years, the foundation has organized international conferences in various locations, including Vancouver, Canada (2026), Villa Vigoni, Italy (2026), and Montevideo, Uruguay (2027). It publishes the book series World Society Studies through Lit Verlag in Münster, Wien, and Zürich. Recent volumes include World Society Studies Volume 2024, edited by Christian Suter and Patrick Ziltener, and Volume 2025, edited by Jenny Chesters, Christian Suter, and Sandra Fachelli. The foundation is domiciled in Zurich, Switzerland, and its current board members are Mark Herkenrath, Hans-Peter Meier, and Christian Suter (President).

• 2026

  International conference scheduled at University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, 21-23 July 2026.

• 2026

  International conference scheduled at Villa Vigoni, Italy, 5-7 October 2026.

• 2025

  World Society Studies Volume 2025 published, edited by Jenny Chesters, Christian Suter, and Sandra Fachelli.

• 2024

  World Society Studies Volume 2024 published, edited by Christian Suter and Patrick Ziltener.

• 2007

  World Society Foundation Award for Research Papers on World Society established on the 25th anniversary.

• 1982

  Foundation established by Peter Heintz in Zurich, Switzerland.

• International conference scheduled at Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay, 1-3 March 2027.

A scholarly foundation dedicated to advancing research on world society as a complex global system, operating through international conferences, grants, awards, and publications.

• World Society Studies book series

  A book series published by Lit Verlag (Münster, Wien, Zürich), edited by the World Society Foundation.

• World Society Foundation Award

  An award for outstanding research papers on world society, with a first prize of US$10,000 and second prize of US$5,000.

• International conferences

  Conferences on world society topics held in various international locations.

1. 1World Society Foundation - World Society Foundationworldsociety.ch
2. 2About Us - World Society Foundationworldsociety.ch
3. 3Current Board Members - World Society Foundationworldsociety.ch
4. 4Award for Research Papers - World Society Foundationworldsociety.ch
5. 5Stiftung Weltgesellschaftwikidata.org