The International Congress of Historical Sciences

Like the relation between the Olympic Games and the International Olympic Committee, the International Congress of Historical Sciences and the International Committee of Historical Sciences (ICHS) are inextricably linked. Though the ICHS was established a little later, it has made achievements of great significance for the development of the International Congress of Historical Sciences.

The International Committee of Historical Sciences (ICHS), which was founded in Geneva on May 15, 1926, is a permanent organ of the congress and also a subsidiary affiliated to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization（UNESCO）. It was designed to convene regular meetings every five years and deal with other routine tasks. The first article of its constitution states that ICHS is a non-governmental international organization founded under the Swiss Civil Code with the aim of promoting the international cooperation and development of historical sciences. The Committee shall hold regular meetings every five years working together with the host country’s historians association.

The Committee should hold a General Assembly at least every three years. Each Congress should be immediately preceded and followed by a General Assembly.

The ICHS includes two sorts of organizations. First of all, there are the National Committees formed in each country in the 53 member states. In addition, International Commissions specializing in particular fields of history have formed over the years, including nine directly affiliated institutions and thirty two subsidiary bodies.