International Sociological Association (ISA)

What International Sociological Association (ISA) does

The International Sociological Association (ISA) is a non-profit international professional association for sociologists, founded in 1949 under the auspices of UNESCO and headquartered at the Autonomous University of Barcelona in Spain. The organization operates with a staff of approximately 50 employees, governed by an Executive Committee elected by its Council of National Associations, and serves individual sociologists, 59+ national sociological associations as collective members, affiliated regional/thematic associations and institutions, and PhD-level junior researchers. Its core offerings are scholarly publications, including the journals Current Sociology and International Sociology, the SAGE Studies in International Sociology book series, and the multilingual Global Dialogue magazine (published in 12 languages), together with a digital archive and Global Mapping of Sociologists database containing over 82,260 entries.

ISA's primary products are its biennial and quadrennial conferences, specifically the ISA Forum of Sociology (every 2 years; the 5th Forum in Rabat, Morocco, July 2025 drew over 4,120 participants from 112 countries) and the ISA World Congress of Sociology (every 4 years; the XIX Congress in Toronto, 2018 drew 5,805 registrations from 123 countries). The association sustains 67 Research Committees, Working Groups, and Thematic Groups that organize specialty research worldwide, and supports a PhD Laboratory, Junior Sociologists Network, and Worldwide Competition for early-career scholars. Its distribution is primarily through its multilingual website (isa-sociology.org), email newsletters, and 15-person social media ambassador program, with logistical partnerships such as Mission Conseil for conference execution.

Revenue is generated through individual and collective membership dues and conference registration fees; ISA does not publicly disclose financials. Strategic and institutional partnerships include UNESCO (founding affiliation), the International Science Council (membership), the United Nations ECOSOC (NGO consultative status), SAGE Publications (book series), and operational ties to regional associations including ESA, ALAS, CLACSO, and the East Asian Sociological Association.

Name

International Sociological Association (ISA)

Legal name

International Sociological Association

Website

https://isa-sociology.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The International Sociological Association (ISA) is a non-profit global professional association founded in 1949 under UNESCO auspices, headquartered in Barcelona, serving individual sociologists, 59+ national associations, and affiliated institutions through scholarly journals, biennial Forums, and quadrennial World Congresses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (813920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels (BPADANAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

United Nations System & Specialized Agencies (BPADAAAA), Intergovernmental Education Cooperation & Bilateral/Multilateral Programs (EDADALAA)

Keywords

• Professional sociology association
• Academic conferences
• Scholarly publishing
• Research networks
• Membership organization

Headquarters

HQ city

Barcelona

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The International Sociological Association (ISA) is a non-profit professional association that advances sociology globally by organizing major academic conferences (World Congress of Sociology and Forum of Sociology), publishing peer-reviewed journals (Current Sociology, International Sociology), maintaining 67 specialized research networks, and operating membership programs for individual sociologists and national sociological associations. It was founded in 1949 under the auspices of UNESCO and serves as the authoritative international body for the discipline.

Product overview

The International Sociological Association (ISA) is a professional association that offers a portfolio of scholarly publications, conferences, and research networks. Its core products include ISA Journals (Current Sociology, International Sociology, International Sociology Reviews), ISA Magazine (Global Dialogue), and SAGE Studies in International Sociology books. ISA also provides digital resources through its Archive and Global Courses. The association organizes major conferences including the World Congress of Sociology and ISA Forum of Sociology, and supports 67 Research Committees, Working Groups, and Thematic Groups. Additional offerings include the Laboratory for PhD Students, Junior Sociologists Network, and the Global Mapping of Sociologists database.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Current Sociology: ISA's peer-reviewed academic journal
• International Sociology
• Global Dialogue
• SAGE Studies in International Sociology
• ISA Archive Resources

Products and services

• ISA World Congress of Sociology Major international conference held every four years (e.g., Toronto 2018, Melbourne 2022, Gwangju 2027), bringing together thousands of sociologists worldwide to present research and exchange ideas.
• ISA Forum of Sociology Forum held between World Congresses (e.g., Porto Alegre 2020, Rabat 2025) with focused themes on sociological topics, providing regular opportunities for sociological exchange.
• Current Sociology Journal ISA's peer-reviewed academic journal publishing sociological research, including Current Sociology Review and Current Sociology Monographs.
• International Sociology Journal ISA's flagship journal and its Reviews publication (International Sociology Reviews), covering international sociological scholarship.
• Global Dialogue Magazine ISA's multilingual magazine (Arabic, Bengali, English, French, Hindi, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Traditional Chinese, Turkish) providing news, commentary, and analysis on global sociological issues.
• SAGE Studies in International Sociology Book series published in partnership with SAGE, covering international sociological research.
• Individual Membership Membership program for individual sociologists and researchers providing access to ISA journals, conference participation, research network membership, professional development, and global networking.
• Collective Membership for National Associations Regular collective membership for national sociological associations representing their countries, offering collective representation, conference hosting, grants, and national association activities.
• Research Committees, Working Groups, and Thematic Groups ISA's 67 specialized research networks covering various sociological sub-disciplines and thematic areas, supporting research collaboration, conference participation, and institutional publications.
• Laboratory for PhD Students in Sociology International laboratory program for PhD students in sociology, including the XIX ISA International Laboratory scheduled for November 28 - December 4, 2026 in Doha, Qatar.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered major, supporting and core.

• European Sociological Association (ESA)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 July 2025ESA President Kaja Gadowska actively contributed to the 5th ISA Forum of Sociology in Rabat, representing ongoing collaboration between the two major European and global sociological bodies.
• Latin American Sociological Association (ALAS)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 July 2025ALAS Vice-President Breno Bringel actively contributed to the 5th ISA Forum of Sociology, representing ongoing collaboration between regional and global sociological organizations.
• Latin American Council for Social Sciences (CLACSO)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 July 2025CLACSO Executive Director Pablo Vommaro endorsed the 'A Time for Sociology' declaration, representing collaboration with ISA on social science advocacy.
• East Asian Sociological AssociationmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 July 2025East Asian Sociological Association Co-Presidents Nomiya Daishiro and Zheng Bing actively contributed to the 5th ISA Forum of Sociology.
• Mission ConseilsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 11 July 2025Local conference organizer for the 5th ISA Forum of Sociology, providing logistical and operational support for the event.
• 18May Foundation, GwangjumajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 July 2025Gwangju team including the 18May Foundation and Prof. Jhang Wonho (Chair of LOC) are preparing for the XXI ISA World Congress in Gwangju, Republic of Korea, 2027.
• Mohammed V University, RabatmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 July 2025Hosted the 5th ISA Forum of Sociology on its campus in Rabat, Morocco. University President Prof. Ismail Kissou and Vice-President provided institutional support for the event.
• International Science CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISA is a member of the International Science Council, positioning it as part of the global scientific community and enabling collaboration across scientific disciplines.
• United Nations (ECOSOC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISA holds NGO consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), enabling participation in UN processes and advocacy on social and academic issues.
• UNESCOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISA was founded under the auspices of UNESCO in 1949, establishing its historical role in advancing social sciences globally.
• SAGE PublicationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISA partners with SAGE for publishing the SAGE Studies in International Sociology book series and related academic publications.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• American Sociological Association: The ASA is the largest national professional association for sociologists, based in the US, with peer-reviewed journals, an annual meeting, and section-based research networks. It is directly comparable to ISA in mission (advancing sociology) and operating model (membership, conferences, journals), differing mainly in geographic scope (US vs. global).
• British Sociological Association: The BSA is a UK-based national sociology association with individual members, an annual conference, multiple study groups, and the journal Sociology. It is comparable to ISA as a membership-based professional association organizing conferences, journals, and thematic research networks.
• International Political Science Association: IPSA is the global academic association for political science, founded in 1949, with UNESCO origins, holding ECOSOC status, and organizing a World Congress. It is directly comparable to ISA as a sister international social-science association with near-identical operating model and member base.
• European Sociological Association: The ESA is the primary regional sociological association for Europe, organizing the European Sociological Conference and publishing European Sociological Review. It is directly comparable to ISA as a peer regional/international body with similar membership, conference, and journal offerings.
• European Association of Social Anthropologists: EASA is the primary European association for social anthropology, organizing a biennial conference and journals. It is comparable to ISA as a peer international/regional social-science association with similar conference-driven and journal-driven member value proposition.
• Latin American Sociological Association: ALAS is the regional sociological association for Latin America and the Caribbean, organizing regional congresses and serving national member associations. It is comparable to ISA as a regional peer with overlapping membership and conference cycles, and an active ISA partner.

Broad incumbents

• American Political Science Association: APSA is the largest national political science association in the US, with an annual meeting, multiple peer-reviewed journals, and a membership model similar to the American Sociological Association. It is a broad incumbent peer to ISA in structure, scale, and operating model for a social-science discipline.
• International Studies Association: ISA (the International Studies Association) is a large, established international academic association in political science/international relations with annual conventions and multiple journals. It is comparable as a global professional academic association with similar membership, conference, and journal model to the ISA (sociology) under analysis.

Emerging players

• Sociological Research Association: The Sociological Research Association is a smaller, honor-based US sociology society that supports graduate research and dissertations. It is a partial peer to ISA in mission (advancing sociological research) but at a much smaller scale and without ISA's conference or journal footprint.

Others

• International Social Science Council (now part of ISC): The International Science Council is the umbrella global scientific body of which ISA is a member. It is comparable as a coordinating body for international scientific associations, providing standards, advocacy, and convening functions that overlap with ISA's role in sociology.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ISA_Sociology
• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLPTYFqCu9SllwbVMayLcfKNOj7a36Wy7r
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-sociological-association-isa-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about International Sociological Association (ISA)