The IISH's region desks reflect the traditional aims and objectives of the Institute: to safeguard materials from opposition and other social movements, thereby ensuring that they are not destroyed or lost. In 1935, the IISH was founded with this specific mission in mind. The classical (and largest) collections of the IISH concerns the European social history.
Today, there is a pressing need to preserve and maintain documents on social history outside of Europe. Local archives in the region are not always equipped to do so or there may be concerns that more controversial collections will not find a safe depository at a local level. The IISH prides itself as being a forerunner in organizing the collection of these important materials.
Africa (sub-Sahara) Desk
Head Africa (sub-Sahara) Desk - Stefano Bellucci
Regional Representative - Tekalign Wolde-Mariam
See also: African desk opens
Eastern Europe & Russia Desk
Head Eastern Europe & Russia Desk - Gijs Kessler
Regional Representative - Irina Novicenko
Latin America Desk
Head Latin America Desk - Rossana Barragán
See also: Latin America desk opens
Middle East & Central Asia Desk
Head Middle East & Central Asia Desk - Touraj Atabaki
+more
South Asia Desk
South Asia Desk - Willem van Schendel
Regional Representative - Kathinka Sinha-Kerkhoff
South East Asia Desk
Chief Collectors - Emile Schwidder, Eef Vermeij
Regional Representative - Eef Vermeij
+more