CONSTITUTION
of the
ACADEMY OF SOCIAL AND POLITICAL RESEARCH
1. The Academy of Social and Political Research (ASPR) is an internet-based non-profit, scholarly association, the aim of which is the study of human societies, of their history, and, eventually, the proposal of solutions to present-day problems.
2. The fundamental premise of ASPR activity is the principle of differences between human beings and, therefore, societies and cultures as well as the belief that these differences, constituting the nucleus of mankind’s heritage, must be preserved.
3. ASPR is non-sectarian in regards to national and religious matters. Every person having a tertiary degree at least equivalent to a Bachelorate, may be associated with ASPR. However, because of the nature of ASPR, individuals committed to feelings of superiority because of their national or religious affiliation or their ancestral one, as well as people approving such an attitude are excluded from ASPR.
4. There are three kinds of association with the ASPR: Fellow, Member and Honorary Fellow. Fellows are scholars or professionals, being at least 40 years old, having a doctorate, fully involved in the ASPR activities, and assuming the relevant responsibility. They constitute the scholarly and administrative directorate of the ASPR and nominate other Fellows, Members, and Honorary Fellows. Their number is limited to a maximum of seven.
Members are people approving the ideology and activity of the ASPR, having a Bachelorate or equivalent, and contributing to the research of ASPR through contributions to its Journal. They must be aged at least 25. The number of Members is unlimited.
Honorary Fellows are people, aged at least 40, either well-known for their scholarly achievements or having notably assisted the ASPR through donations or other ways. The number of Honorary Fellows is limited to a maximum of fifteen. Nonetheless, Fellows not wishing anymore to be actively involved with ASPR activities may become supernumerary Honorary Fellows
5. Every Fellow is entitled to propose people for nomination as Fellows, Honorary Fellows and Members. If Members or Honorary Fellows have such a candidacy to propose, the latter should be endorsed by a Fellow. Discussion is subsequently to take place among the Fellows and, if the outcome is positive for the candidacy, the Founder welcomes the new Fellow or Honorary Fellow or Member.
Fellows, Members, and Honorary Fellows must endorse the ideology of the ASPR.
6. During the first year from the ratification of the present Constitution, the administration of the ASPR is carried out by the four founding Fellows, who may entitle the Founder to act or speak on their behalf. Thereafter, it will be carried out by the Fellows then existing, who, too, may entitle the Founder to act or speak on their behalf.
7. Ab aeterno is the ASPR Journal, published four times a year, on both the website of Ab aeterno and as a print edition available by subscription. Editor is Dr Dimitris Michalopoulos and publisher Dr Kerry R. Bolton. Papers are submitted to Dr D. Michalopoulos and forwarded by him to Dr K. R. Bolton.
8. The print edition of the Journal is published by Spectrum Press, New Zealand, and is available through subscription. Fellows and Members, once their nomination has been ratified, are expected to subscribe to the print edition of Ab aeterno. The subscription rate is fixed to 40 euros per annum.
9. The ASPR logo is ω, the last letter of the Greek alphabet, gold in purpurin fond.
This logo is the symbol of the end of the present period of History and, at the same time the hope of the beginning of a new one, to which ASPR is looking forward.
10. Every issue concerning the application of the present constitution has to be discussed among the Fellows; and every exception or change to it has to be decided by the Fellows through discussion - after eventual consultation with the Honorary Fellows and Members.
