The Institute of World Literature is a research institution focusing on general and comparative literary studies and translation studies. It is dedicated to the study of the world’s literary movements, genres and cultures, as well as literary theory and the history of the reception of foreign literatures in Slovakia. The Institute seeks dialogue on current research topics with related disciplines, especially within the humanities. Students in our PhD programme, conducted jointly with Comenius University in Bratislava, are also involved in our research activities.

The Institute collaborates with partner institutions in Slovakia and abroad; these include other institutes in the humanities and social sciences at the Slovak Academy of Sciences, domestic and foreign universities and academic institutions, foreign embassies and cultural institutes, writers’ organizations, literary and cultural associations, and so on.

An integral part of our research activities is the promotion of literary culture and knowledge on local and international forums. Many fellows of the Institute are also active translators of literary and academic texts.

The Institute aims to be a space for free inquiry and socially relevant discussion on various aspects of literature aimed at the broader domestic and international academic community. It regularly organizes public lectures open to scholars of the humanities from Slovakia and abroad.

The Institute publishes an international academic journal, World Literature Studies.