ABOUT

The Australasian Association for Euro-Asian Studies (AAEAS) was founded in January 2025 by the merger of the Australasian Association for Communist and Post-Communist studies (founded in 1993 as the successor of the former Australasian Association for the Study of Socialist Countries) and the Australian and New Zealand Slavists’ Association (founded in 1967). The basic aim of AAEAS is to promote and advance the study of history and current political, social, cultural and economic affairs of the countries in the region formerly known as the Communist bloc in Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union and Asia. It embraces all aspects of the social sciences and humanities, including history, political science, language and literature, sociology, cultural studies and international relations.

The Australasian Association for the Study of Socialist Countries (AASSC) was founded by a group of scholars on the initiative of renowned Sovietologist Dr T.H. Rigby in 1975. Dr Rigby served as the first President of AASSC. The basic purpose of the Association was to serve as a “clearing house of information of interest for scholars” in the area of East European, Soviet and Chinese studies, as well as to promote general interest in the area and to stimulate scholarly activity by organizing conferences and symposia in the Australasian region. The association was also active in encouraging inter-governmental and inter-university exchange with the (then) socialist countries. After the end of the Cold War, the Association changed its name to the Australasian Association for Communist and Post-Communist Studies (AACaPS) in 1993. The renewed association aimed to provide a forum for continuing links between the ‘Soviet’ and ‘Chinese’ members, and to continue to have ‘Eurasian’ focus.

The Australian and New Zealand Slavists’ Association (ANZSA) was founded in 1967 to promote the advancement of Slavonic and East European Studies in Australia and New Zealand. It encouraged co-operation among university departments and individual scholars working in the field of Slavonic Studies, promoted contacts with overseas scholars and institutions of higher learning and encourages participation of Slavists from Australia and New Zealand in international forums.

AAEAS is a member of two international academic associations: The International Council for Central and East European Studies (ICCEES) and the International Committee of Slavists (ICS).