Moscow conference report II: A view from eastern Europe.

The article presents information about a view from Eastern Europe on the International Sociological Association Cooperation that was organized from September 26-30, 1989 in Moscow. This was an important and unusual conference, held at a significant place and time. The conference seemed to have several levels-which nowadays is true of all conferences-but in Moscow, Autumn 1989, this feeling was unusually strong. Traditional academic sessions focusing on papers and discussions were penetrated by processes of the perestroika itself, expressed in informal talks with Russian sociologists, as well as with members of political clubs, planners, architects, workers in new research institutions and new co-operatives. Quietness was not a feature of this conference and the usual tension caused by the large number of papers and lack of time was sharpened by an awareness of the urgency and seriousness of the problems facing Russian society. Some of these problems were expressed in the opening speeches of three representatives of Russian sociology and will be mentioned briefly below. The author had the impression that all three speakers were explicitly trying to establish keynote themes for the whole conference.