Current Fellows' research
- The Future of the Liberal Vision in a World Without RulesAs a lifelong liberal and a former practicing politician, Michael Ignatieff faces a world he never expected: the rise of a counter-revolutionary right and the near collapse of the liberal international order created after 1945. This situation is not without precedent.
- Czesław Miłosz, ‘Kultura,’ and Ketman: Dissimulation and Dissidence Across the Polish DiasporaCzesław Miłosz’s 1953 book The Captive Mind made Ketman—a term originally derived from Islamic law, describing the duty of believers to conceal their true beliefs when threatened with persecution—a byword for the myriad strategies of self-effacement used by the
- Liberalism and Its DiscontentsFrancis Fukuyama will examine the philosophical foundations, historical evolution, and current discontents with liberalism, and analyze strategies - such as addressing economic inequality, building social cohesion, and defending democratic institutions - to preserve its core principles in the per
- Revolutionary Conservatism: Liberalism’s Next Grand RivalAt the IWM, Maciej Kisilowski will build on his recently published co-edited book, Let’s Agree on Poland: A Case Study in Strategic Constitutional Design (Oxford University Press, 2025), to examine revolutionary conservatism as a coherent global ideological rival to liberal democra
- Trickle-Down of Ideas: How Political Thinking Becomes PoliticsWhile trickle-down economics has been thoroughly discredited, the trickle-down of ideas deserves closer scrutiny.
- State Failure in the Post-Soviet SpaceHistorically, states were wiped off the map by military conquest, by splitting into several new states, or, conversely, by merging with other states.
News
- The IWM Invites Applications for the Position of RectorThe Institute for Human Sciences (IWM) in Vienna, Austria, invites outstanding candidates to apply for the position of Rector. This is an exceptional opportunity to lead a renowned institution dedicated to the…
- We Welcome the First Fellows of 2026The six visiting fellows listed below will be joining the Institute in January. Learn more about their fellowships and research projects by clicking on their names. For interview requests or media inquiries, please…
- This Was Our Year 2025 in Books—Happy Holidays and See You Next Year!The IWM will be closed over the Christmas period from 24 December and reopen its doors on 7 January 2026. To keep you inspired over the holidays, we have curated a selection of 12 books from our library to accompany…
Upcoming events
- Debating EuropePanels and Discussions
- Fellows' Colloquium with Olesya KhromeychukSeminars and Colloquia
- Laws, Cities, SeasPanels and Discussions
- Fellows' Colloquium with Paolo NovakSeminars and Colloquia
Recent Media
Upcoming events
- Debating EuropePanels and Discussions
- Fellows' Colloquium with Olesya KhromeychukSeminars and Colloquia
- Laws, Cities, SeasPanels and Discussions
- Fellows' Colloquium with Paolo NovakSeminars and Colloquia
News
- The IWM Invites Applications for the Position of RectorThe Institute for Human Sciences (IWM) in Vienna, Austria, invites outstanding candidates to apply for the position of Rector. This is an exceptional opportunity to lead a renowned institution dedicated to the…
- We Welcome the First Fellows of 2026The six visiting fellows listed below will be joining the Institute in January. Learn more about their fellowships and research projects by clicking on their names. For interview requests or media inquiries, please…
- This Was Our Year 2025 in Books—Happy Holidays and See You Next Year!The IWM will be closed over the Christmas period from 24 December and reopen its doors on 7 January 2026. To keep you inspired over the holidays, we have curated a selection of 12 books from our library to accompany…
Current Fellows' research
- The Future of the Liberal Vision in a World Without RulesAs a lifelong liberal and a former practicing politician, Michael Ignatieff faces a world he never expected: the rise of a counter-revolutionary right and the near collapse of the liberal international order created after 1945. This situation is not without precedent.
- Czesław Miłosz, ‘Kultura,’ and Ketman: Dissimulation and Dissidence Across the Polish DiasporaCzesław Miłosz’s 1953 book The Captive Mind made Ketman—a term originally derived from Islamic law, describing the duty of believers to conceal their true beliefs when threatened with persecution—a byword for the myriad strategies of self-effacement used by the
- Liberalism and Its DiscontentsFrancis Fukuyama will examine the philosophical foundations, historical evolution, and current discontents with liberalism, and analyze strategies - such as addressing economic inequality, building social cohesion, and defending democratic institutions - to preserve its core principles in the per
- Revolutionary Conservatism: Liberalism’s Next Grand RivalAt the IWM, Maciej Kisilowski will build on his recently published co-edited book, Let’s Agree on Poland: A Case Study in Strategic Constitutional Design (Oxford University Press, 2025), to examine revolutionary conservatism as a coherent global ideological rival to liberal democra
- Trickle-Down of Ideas: How Political Thinking Becomes PoliticsWhile trickle-down economics has been thoroughly discredited, the trickle-down of ideas deserves closer scrutiny.
- State Failure in the Post-Soviet SpaceHistorically, states were wiped off the map by military conquest, by splitting into several new states, or, conversely, by merging with other states.
Recent Media
The IWM is a community of scholars pursuing advanced research in the humanities and social sciences.
For four decades, the Institute has promoted intellectual exchange across disciplines, between academia and society, and among regions of the world. It hosts more than a hundred fellows each year, organizes public exchanges, and publishes books, articles, and digital fora.