The main purpose of the International Summer School in 
St.Petersburg (ISS) is to provide a basis for value oriented peace studies: to meet the basic needs for regional security, well-being, freedom, identity and the needs of the environment. 
The courses offered focus on various aspects of Russian culture, and deal with topics of broad international interest where the Russian example may serve as a basis for discussion. 
The gathering of students from the FSU in the constructive creative atmosphere provides a stimulating, intellectual environment. Based on "Tolerance and Friendliness" among students and staff, the International Summer School in St-Petersburg helps to increase confidence-building for regional security, provides understanding and good will between states of the former Soviet Union. 
The International Summer School in St.-Petersburg is open to post-graduates and young scholars from the former Soviet Union and other part of the world. 
The first summer session was held in St.-Petersburg on 03 - 14 August 1996. 
The working language is Russian. 
The purpose of the ISS is academic. The aim is to contribute to confidence-building for regional security, to give a survey of Russian culture, the major problems of Russian political and spiritual life. 
Approximately 60 participants can be accommodated. 
All participants have opportunity to study in an international context. The academic staff consists of lectures and qualified professionals from Moscow University, institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and experts from abroad. 

International Relations and Foreign Policy 
The course centers around the subject "Post-Soviet Russia and Contemporary World". It basically covers following areas:

Among special topics will be the impact of democratization in the Commonwealth of Independent States on international relations. 

Peace Research is a cross-disciplinary field of study, dealing with problems of peace, war, and conflict from a global perspective. 
This course gives a brief general introduction combined with a selection of special topics, case studies, and practical exercises. 
These include such themes as national security, internal conflict, non-violent strategies for social change, and peace education. 
The course concerns conflicts and conflict resolution including the social, cultural, economic and political roots of conflict, war, and conflict resolution. 
The course brings together participants and also lectures with widely different perspectives. Open and creative discussions are encouraged. There are, however, changes from year to year in response to international events and to accomodate interests among the students. 

The aim of this course is to study the general tendencies in Russian culture development.This course contains an analysis of social life development, civil society formation, the interdependence of civil society and the state within the framework of cultural problems. 
The course will mainly focus on the following areas: Ethnic complexity and its role in the Russian nation and Russian culture formation. 
Problems of social stratification, classes and estates in the Russian society, the roots of internal conflicts and conflicts violent transformation. 
The role of Russian intelligentsia in the social and political life, in the spiritual, social and political revival of Russia. 
The role of space in the Russian society development: villages and towns,the settling of Siberia and Far Eastern region. 
The ways of spiritual, social and political revival of Russia.