euskalkultura.eus

It will allow a new way of connection to more than 8,000 people that have gone through the International Institute of Legal Sociology (IISJ) in Oñati in its 27 years of existence. It builds new bridges and can share projects, ideas and social-legal achievements.  This is the goal so the digital platform “Oñati Community Association,” that the IISJ has just launched.  Following English version of an article by Marian Gonzalez in El Diario Vasco. 

Marian Gonzalez, Oñati.   Oñati, Basque culture and legal sociology will go hand in hand in more than 130 countries where there are “friends” of the Institute that has converted Oñati into the world capital of legal sociology.  It is a live, efficient tool that wants to connect the past, present and future, providing testimonies, experiences, shared research…”Even if networks and associations already exist all over the world, these are not linked to each other,” according to project head, Susana Arrese, the current coordinator of the International Masters of Legal Sociology.

First fruit of a grant

Arrese will have a team formed of students and professors to work along with her to make sure that the association isn’t a project exclusively for the world of legal sociology, but that it also engages the local community that has nearly thirty years of training of sociologists and legal experts all over the world, professionals that besides participating in the prestigious post-graduate training program, have many memories and good friends in Oñati.  During their stay, they also delve into the culture and customs.

“Oñati Community Association is a very beautiful project and we are ready to get it going thanks to a grant from the ‘Oñati Udala Grant’ for 4,000 Euros.  This money will allow us to start the project, its birth, but the idea is that from now on, it will be self-financing,” Arrese explained.  The creation of this space for connecting will facilitate the communication of the ‘Oñati community’ creating a directory containing contact information of people interested in legal sociology students as well as classification by areas of study.

“Since the institute was established, Oñati has contributed space, funds, students, personnel and a long line of intellect and policy that has marked the understanding of international law.  The creation of this association is the next logical step to consolidate the investment that Oñati has already made in this international project.  Oñati, Basque culture and Legal Sociology will walk together, hand in hand with those in more than 130 countries where our “friends” are found.”

The platform is already available online: http://onati.community and includes research, articles, blogs about sensations of some of the students like ‘A song between Kalimotxos, kuadrillas, and the pintxo-pote,” by Monica Natalia Acosta, 'The Impact of Legal Change on the Basque-language Film Industry', by Miren Manias; or “Breakfast at Oñati,” by Lucero Ibarra.

In Oñati since 1988

The International Institute of Legal Sociology was created in 1988.  Cities like Paris, La Puebla (Mexico) or various US cities pushed to host it.  This, nevertheless, was established in Oñati thanks to the three levels of Basque public administration (Basque Government, Provincial Government, Town Hall), that supported the initiative due to its international projection. Almost 30 years later, led by the Basque Government and the Committee for Legal Sociology Research of the International Association of Sociology, the center is now a reference all around the world.

Its facilities, with a library at the head, allow the development of first-rate research projects.  It administers a master’s program, scientific seminars on legal sociology, and maintains several publications.  During its life, it has also developed several important academic and professional links with several international institutions, and has converted Oñati into the reference for any researcher on legal sociology, legal theory and other social sciences.  “Oñati Community Association,” will from now on weave new channels of communication in the network addition passion for sociology and culture, with Oñati as the link and the engine.

 (Published 12-20-16 in El Diario Vasco)