The main theme of the 23rd IVR Congress are differences and similarities between legal cultures. This theme is important both for theoretical and practical reasons. It is extremely interesting, especially nowadays - in the age of globalisation and terrorism - to try to examine how fundamental legal concepts are understood in different legal traditions. It may turn out that behind apparently significant diversities in understanding these concepts, some intuitions can be found that are common for all legal cultures. These theoretical issues have an evident practical dimension: without identifying these common intuitions, it seems hardly possible to attain a fruitful and genuine communication between representatives of different legal cultures.

This theme, though the main, is not the only one to be take up during the Congress: a number of workshops and working groups will be formed to provide appropriate grounds for discussion concerning almost all crucial topics in legal theory and social philosophy. A special workshop will be devoted to the works of the great Polish philosopher of law Leon Petrazycki (1867 - 1931) (see special workshops for more information).

The official language of the 23rd IVR Congress is English.

The 23rd Congress will take place in Cracow (Poland). Cracow is an old city (its roots go back up to 7th century) with an unique character and rich cultural heritage. Many different traditions, cultures and nations have been mixed here to create a rare combination of architecture, art and history.

• Cracow lies in the southern part of Poland on the Vistula River, 219 meters above sea level. Approximately 300 km (190 miles) North of Cracow there lies Warsaw, the capital of Poland, and 100 km (60 miles) South of it there are the Tatra Mountains, forming the southern border of the country. Its climate is temperate. During the Congress hot (above 20 degrees centigrade) and dry weather is expected.
  
  

• Since according to some cartographers Cracow is the geographical centre of Europe, it is quite easy to come to Cracow from different parts of the world. The Cracow international airport at Balice - situated just 15 kilometres from the city centre - has direct flights to many foreign airports (e.g., Paris, London, Zurich, Frankfurt am Main, Vienna, Rome, Tel Aviv, New York, Chicago). The city is an important railway junction with a regular and reliable train network linking Cracow with other - Polish and foreign - cities. It is also very easy to come to Cracow by car (see travel information for further details).
  
  

• The city - the capital of Poland from the 11th to 17th century - contains an imposing royal castle, built on the 'Wawel Hill' (the coronation and burial place of Polish kings), as well as many churches located all over it. Among its other - really numerous - attractions, a special place is occupied by the old Jewish district 'Kazimierz'. It is worth mentioning that only a few European cities have such a distinct medieval architectural layout as Cracow. Owing to its extraordinary accumulation of cultural wealth, the city was registered as one of the 12 sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
  
  

• Since immemorial times Cracow has been a city of culture, art and science. Nowadays, a number of universities are located in Cracow and many world famous representatives of Polish culture live here. It has over 800 thousand inhabitants and is ranked as the fourth industrial city in the country. It is therefore a place where the past really meets the present.
  
  

• Not far from the city there are some other places which are worth seeing, e.g.: Zakopane - 'the capital' of the Tatra Mountains, Oświęcim (Auschwitz) - the dreary monument of history, Wadowice - the place where John Paul II was born and lived, and the world-wide unique underground corridors of the 'Wieliczka' salt mine.
  
  
  

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• The Congress will be held at the very center of Cracow at the Jagiellonian University. The university was founded in the 14th century and Nicolaus Copernicus and Karol Wojtyla (Pope John Paul II) are among its famous scholars.
  
  

• The university is old and equipped with a rich tradition but still innovative. It has many modern buildings and plenty of conference halls suitable for multimedia presentations. The Congress' premises are located in the historical part of Cracow, on a relatively small area.
  
  

• The host of the Congress is the Chair of Legal Theory and Legal Philosophy of the Jagiellonian University. The Chair is a part of the Faculty of Law and Administration and employs 11 teachers. Its Director is Prof. dr. Jerzy Stelmach.
  
  
  

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• There are plenty of hotels (of various categories) in a walking distance to the Congress. For young participants and for participants from weak currency countries there will be provided a limited number of cheap rooms in two guest houses of the University (which are also centrally located) and in students dormitories (which may be easily reached by bus or tramway).