This File Last Updated: 2000/06/19

New Publication in English:

Contacts and Dialogues




Go to the A Belarus Miscellany Topic List

Go to the International Association for Belarusian Studies (IAB) Section

Search the A Belarus Miscellany Web site

[ Cover: Contacts 'n Dialogues, first issue ]



Editor’s Message

Dear Reader,

You have now received the 1st issue of Contacts and Dialogues Journal, its English-language version. It was in 1996 that the International Association of Belarusian Studies launched its original Belarusian version, which turned out to be the first-ever periodical on cultural studies in Belarus. Contacts and Dialogues features different aspects of the country’s general and political history, and discusses burning issues of Belarusian identity from the perspective of the history of the Belarusian language and literature and to some extent, of music and visual arts.

The editorial board’s primary goal is to inform readers about the recent developments in the field of Belarusian studies. In order to be an effective means of incorporating Belarusian culture into the universal cultural process, Contacts and Dialogues welcomes contributions from Belarusians abroad and experts in Belarusian studies worldwide. The editors of the Belarusian version have always sought ways to disseminate the results of new research and analytical articles published in Contacts and Dialogues. But language barriers often block immediate Contacts and thwarts penetrating Dialogues. So it is only natural that the editorial board has been looking for an opportunity to publish the journal in English. Owing to the financial support from CEEBP * , their dream has now come true, We release the 1st issue of the English-language version at Christmas time, at the turn of the 20th century. There is something deeply symbolic in it. Both for academic circles and general public, Belarus still remains terra incognita in Europe. True, but we hope that Contacts and Dialogues could become a beacon for the present-day explorers in east European history and culture and so open "a new era" in Belarusian studies.

The English-language version of Contacts and Dialogues is cognate, but not identical with its Belarusian-language "father." The Consul-Press Information Group, who are in charge of the English-language version, intend to publish it quarterly, then bimonthly. We are going to run features of both previous and current issues of Contacts and Dialogues’s Belarusian version. But alongside with highlighting the priorities in Belarusian studies as seen by its editors, we would like to give more extensive coverage of Belarusian theatre, music, and arts, both past and present, with a special accent on their intercultural links and roots. Besides, the editors of the English-language version are willing to give an account not only of Belarusian social history, but also of the current events. So you can see that we have rather far-reaching plans. But the greatest wish is to meet our subscribers expectations and requirements. The feed-back we expect to receive from you will be decisive for our editorial policy.

We hope that you will find it interesting and thought provoking to read our journal. Enjoy staying with us!

Wishing you all the joys of the season and every happiness throughout the coming year.

The Editors

Acknowledgements

We express our sincere gratitude to the Central and East European Book Projects (CEEBP), whose financial support has enabled us to issue the English-language version of Contacts and Dialogues. We are especially grateful to Prof. James Dingley for his detailed and stimulating commentaries and advice, as well as for his invaluable help in preparing the journal for publication.


Contact Information (for both the Belarusian and English-language versions):


Go to the A Belarus Miscellany Topic List

Go to the International Association for Belarusian Studies (IAB) Section

Search the A Belarus Miscellany Web site

Original content and overall form ©1996-2004 by Peter Kasaty : All Rights Reserved. Last Updated:  2000/06/19
Quoted Text, Graphics, Links, and Linked Content belong to their respective owners.