25 years of the ESC - the memories of Martin Killias (ESC president 2000-2001)

Before the foundation of the ESC, over 500 mostly junior European criminologists participated every year in the annual conferences of the American Society of Criminology (ASC). Their presentations there were predominantly followed by fellow-Europeans. This situation largely reflected the openness of ASC to young researchers, and the inability of our national societies to do the same, often dominated by senior professors.

A second factor behind ESC's success was the feeling that we might have more to share with colleagues from different parts of Europe than with Americans whose agenda often differs. Despite all this, we remain much indebted to ASC for so many inputs. It is great to see that many Americans have attended our meetings over the last 25 years, contributing this way to a lasting and even deeper mutual exchange.