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<!DOCTYPE html><html><head><meta charSet="utf-8" data-next-head=""/><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width" data-next-head=""/><title data-next-head="">About | Encyclopedia of World Problems and Human Potential</title><meta name="description" content="About the Encyclopedia of World Problems and Human Potential" data-next-head=""/><link rel="canonical" href="https://encyclopedia.uia.org/about" data-next-head=""/><link rel="preload" href="/_next/static/media/e8ef263ed940bf24-s.p.woff2" as="font" type="font/woff2" crossorigin="anonymous" data-next-font="size-adjust"/><link rel="preload" href="/_next/static/css/4172b8472860ef11.css" as="style"/><link rel="preload" href="/_next/static/css/cad925f93fc22a6e.css" as="style"/><link rel="stylesheet" href="/_next/static/css/4172b8472860ef11.css" data-n-g=""/><link rel="stylesheet" href="/_next/static/css/cad925f93fc22a6e.css" data-n-p=""/><noscript data-n-css=""></noscript><script defer="" noModule="" src="/_next/static/chunks/polyfills-42372ed130431b0a.js"></script><script src="/_next/static/chunks/webpack-b4df1a4ef8d557f3.js" defer=""></script><script src="/_next/static/chunks/framework-e1318d73d2a43521.js" defer=""></script><script src="/_next/static/chunks/main-334dd76eceb4e3ff.js" defer=""></script><script src="/_next/static/chunks/pages/_app-a052351c6bac0f57.js" defer=""></script><script src="/_next/static/chunks/967-7a9907ae0fc6fc43.js" defer=""></script><script src="/_next/static/chunks/157-7a9d1dfe58a1fc04.js" defer=""></script><script src="/_next/static/chunks/pages/about-88eb307f6732b43d.js" defer=""></script><script src="/_next/static/sga8clUNKNLqHPLym0NL9/_buildManifest.js" defer=""></script><script src="/_next/static/sga8clUNKNLqHPLym0NL9/_ssgManifest.js" defer=""></script></head><body><div id="__next"><link rel="stylesheet" href="https://use.typekit.net/ckm0jil.css"/><div class="max-w-screen-xxl px-3 mx-auto __className_71b7d8 flex flex-col h-screen relative bg-[url('/uia_logo_bg_right.png')] bg-no-repeat bg-right-top"><header><div class="container flex py-6 mx-auto items-center"><a href="https://uia.org" target="_blank" title="Union of International Associations (UIA)"><img alt="Logo of the Union of International Associations (UIA)" loading="lazy" width="140" height="110" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" style="color:transparent" srcSet="/_next/image?url=%2Fuia_logo.png&w=256&q=75 1x, /_next/image?url=%2Fuia_logo.png&w=384&q=75 2x" src="/_next/image?url=%2Fuia_logo.png&w=384&q=75"/></a><a class="text-lg sm:text-xl lg:text-2xl xl:text-2xl 2xl:text-3xl font-black no-underline self-end mx-2 md:mx-4 lg:mx-6 xl:mx-8 truncate text-sky-800" title="Encyclopedia of World Problems and Human Potential" style="font-variant:small-caps" href="/"><p class="leading-none">ENCYCLOPEDIA</p><p class="leading-none">OF WORLD PROBLEMS</p><p class="leading-none">AND HUMAN POTENTIAL</p></a><a rel="external" class="text-sky-800 hover:text-red-800 font-bold text-2xl ml-auto" title="Search" href="/search"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 16 16" width="1em" height="1em" fill="currentColor" class="bi bi-search" style="fill:rgb(7 89 133)"><path d="M11.742 10.344a6.5 6.5 0 1 0-1.397 1.398h-.001q.044.06.098.115l3.85 3.85a1 1 0 0 0 1.415-1.414l-3.85-3.85a1 1 0 0 0-.115-.1zM12 6.5a5.5 5.5 0 1 1-11 0 5.5 5.5 0 0 1 11 0"></path></svg></a></div></header><main class="container mx-auto"><ol class="flex items-center whitespace-nowrap"><li class="inline-flex items-center"><a class="flex items-center text-sm focus:outline-none hover:text-red-800" href="/"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 16 16" width="0.9em" height="0.9em" fill="currentColor" class="bi bi-house-door" style="fill:rgb(107 114 128)"><path d="M8.354 1.146a.5.5 0 0 0-.708 0l-6 6A.5.5 0 0 0 1.5 7.5v7a.5.5 0 0 0 .5.5h4.5a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5v-4h2v4a.5.5 0 0 0 .5.5H14a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5v-7a.5.5 0 0 0-.146-.354L13 5.793V2.5a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5h-1a.5.5 0 0 0-.5.5v1.293zM2.5 14V7.707l5.5-5.5 5.5 5.5V14H10v-4a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5h-3a.5.5 0 0 0-.5.5v4z"></path></svg></a></li><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 16 16" width="0.9em" height="0.9em" fill="currentColor" class="bi bi-chevron-right" style="fill:rgb(107 114 128)"><path fill-rule="evenodd" d="M4.646 1.646a.5.5 0 0 1 .708 0l6 6a.5.5 0 0 1 0 .708l-6 6a.5.5 0 0 1-.708-.708L10.293 8 4.646 2.354a.5.5 0 0 1 0-.708"></path></svg><li class="inline-flex items-center"><a class="flex items-center text-sm text-gray-500 focus:outline-none hover:text-red-800" href="/about">About</a></li></ol><div class="py-7"><div><h1 class="mb-5 text-4xl font-bold">About the Encyclopedia</h1><div class=" text-lg"><em>The Encyclopedia of World Problems and Human Potential</em> is a unique, experimental research work of the Union of International Associations. It is currently published as a searchable online platform with profiles of world problems, action strategies, and human values that are interlinked in novel and innovative ways. These connections are based on a range of relationships such as broader and narrower scope, aggravation, relatedness and more. By concentrating on these links and relationships, the Encyclopedia is uniquely positioned to bring focus to the complex and expansive sphere of global issues and their interconnected nature.</div><br/><div class=" text-lg">The initial content for the Encyclopedia was seeded from UIA’s<!-- --> <em><a href="https://uia.org/yearbook" target="_blank" class=" text-sky-800 hover:text-red-800">Yearbook of International Organizations</a></em>. UIA’s decades of collected data on the enormous variety of association life provided a broad initial perspective on the myriad problems of humanity. Recognizing that international associations are generally confronting <em>world problems</em> and developing<!-- --> <em>action strategies</em> based on particular <em>values</em>, the initial content was based on the descriptions, aims, titles and profiles of international associations.</div><br/><h2 class=" text-2xl font-semibold">History</h2><br/><div class=" text-lg">This long-term project was initiated in 1972 as a collaboration between the UIA and the foundation Mankind 2000. At the time it was judged to be an "impossible project", but the first work based on this research was published in 1976 under the title<!-- --> <em>Yearbook of World Problems and Human Potential</em>.</div><br/><div class=" text-lg">Prior to this collaboration, the UIA had activities, starting before 1939, which illustrate its long-term interest in relation to the Encyclopedia project. These include the publication<!-- --> <em><a href="https://uia.org/allpubs?combine=annuaire+de+la+vie&field_pub_year_value=&items_per_page=20" class=" text-sky-800 hover:text-red-800">Annuaire de la Vie Internationale</a></em> <!-- -->(1908-09 & 1910-11) which included information on problems with which international organizations were concerned at that time. Also published was a<!-- --> <em><a href="https://uia.org/allpubs?combine=Code+des+Voeux&field_pub_year_value=&items_per_page=20" class=" text-sky-800 hover:text-red-800">Code des Voeux Internationaux; codification générale des voeux et résolutions des organismes internationaux</a></em> <!-- -->(1923) which listed those portions of the texts of international organization resolutions that covered substantive matters, including what are now regarded as world problems and what amount to plans or strategies for their solution.</div><br/><div class=" text-lg">In 1916,<!-- --> <a href="https://uia.org/paul-otlet-1868-1944" class=" text-sky-800 hover:text-red-800">Paul Otlet</a>, the co-founder of the UIA, also produced a book entitled Les<em><a href="https://uia.org/allpubs?combine=Les+Probl%C3%A8mes+Internationaux+et+la+Guerre&field_pub_year_value=&items_per_page=20" class=" text-sky-800 hover:text-red-800">Problèmes Internationaux et la Guerre</a></em> <!-- -->which identified many problems giving rise to and caused by war. In 1935 he attempted a synthesis,<!-- --> <em>Monde: essaie d'universalisme -- connaissance du monde; sentiment du monde; action organisée et plan du monde</em>, which touched upon many problems and their solutions within a society in transformation. The preface bore the title The<!-- --> <em>Problem of Problems</em>, a topic he had first explored in 1918.</div><br/><div class=" text-lg">After the initial publication in 1976, the Encyclopedia was published in two further independent print editions in 1991 and 1995, as an interactive CD-rom in the late 1990s and is now an open-source website and public data API.</div><br/><h2 class=" text-2xl font-semibold">A ‘living’ dataset</h2><br/><div class=" text-lg">It is tempting to assume that a full cataloging of world problems and strategies is an impossible task. The Encyclopedia operates in a constant state of change and improvement, and should be considered experimental and perpetually incomplete. As the work of international associations evolves, the content in the Encyclopedia continues to expand. UIA is currently developing ways in which the data can be both populated and utilized by the associations world and researchers at large.</div></div></div></main><footer class="mt-2 mb-1 w-full py-3 px-4 sm:px-6 lg:px-8 mx-auto bg-slate-700 container rounded-md"><div class="grid grid-cols-2 md:grid-cols-3 items-center gap-5"><div><a class="flex-none text-sm text-gray-50 hover:text-red-500 focus:outline-none focus:text-gray-800 font-bold" href="https://uia.org" title="Union of International Associations (UIA)" aria-label="Brand" target="_blank">© 1972-<!-- -->2025<!-- --> UIA.org</a></div><ul class="text-end md:text-center"><li class="inline-block relative pe-8 last:pe-0 last-of-type:before:hidden before:absolute before:top-1/2 before:end-3 before:-translate-y-1/2 before:content-['|'] before:text-gray-300"><a class="inline-flex gap-x-2 text-sm text-gray-50 hover:text-red-500 focus:outline-none focus:text-gray-800 font-bold" href="/about">About</a></li><li class="inline-block relative pe-8 last:pe-0 last-of-type:before:hidden before:absolute before:top-1/2 before:end-3 before:-translate-y-1/2 before:content-['|'] before:text-gray-300"><a class="inline-flex gap-x-2 text-sm text-gray-50 hover:text-red-500 focus:outline-none focus:text-gray-800 font-bold" href="https://uia.org/contact-uia" target="_blank">Contact</a></li></ul><div class="text-start md:text-end"><a class="size-8 inline-flex justify-center items-center gap-x-2 text-sm font-semibold rounded-full border border-transparent text-gray-50 hover:text-red-500 focus:outline-none focus:bg-gray-50 disabled:opacity-50 disabled:pointer-events-none" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Encyclopedia_of_World_Problems_and_Human_Potential" target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 16 16" width="1em" height="1em" fill="currentColor" class="bi bi-wikipedia" style="fill:rgb(249 250 251)"><path d="M8.835 3.003c.828-.006 2.688 0 2.688 0l.033.03v.288q0 .12-.133.12c-.433.02-.522.063-.68.29-.087.126-.258.393-.435.694l-1.52 2.843-.043.089 1.858 3.801.113.031 2.926-6.946q.152-.42-.044-.595c-.132-.114-.224-.18-.563-.195l-.275-.014a.16.16 0 0 1-.096-.035.1.1 0 0 1-.046-.084v-.289l.042-.03h3.306l.034.03v.29q0 .117-.133.117-.65.03-.962.281a1.64 1.64 0 0 0-.488.704s-2.691 6.16-3.612 8.208c-.353.672-.7.61-1.004-.019A224 224 0 0 1 8.044 8.81c-.623 1.285-1.475 3.026-1.898 3.81-.411.715-.75.622-1.02.019-.45-1.065-1.131-2.519-1.817-3.982-.735-1.569-1.475-3.149-1.943-4.272-.167-.4-.293-.657-.412-.759q-.18-.15-.746-.18Q0 3.421 0 3.341v-.303l.034-.03c.615-.003 3.594 0 3.594 0l.034.03v.288q0 .119-.15.118l-.375.016q-.483.02-.483.288-.002.125.109.4c.72 1.753 3.207 6.998 3.207 6.998l.091.023 1.603-3.197-.32-.71L6.24 5.095s-.213-.433-.286-.577l-.098-.196c-.387-.77-.411-.82-.865-.88-.137-.017-.208-.035-.208-.102v-.304l.041-.03h2.853l.075.024v.303q0 .104-.15.104l-.206.03c-.523.04-.438.254-.09.946l1.057 2.163 1.17-2.332c.195-.427.155-.534.074-.633-.046-.055-.202-.144-.54-.158l-.133-.015a.16.16 0 0 1-.096-.034.1.1 0 0 1-.045-.085v-.288l.041-.03Z"></path></svg></a><a class="size-8 inline-flex justify-center items-center gap-x-2 text-sm font-semibold rounded-full border border-transparent text-gray-50 hover:text-red-500 focus:outline-none focus:bg-gray-50 disabled:opacity-50 disabled:pointer-events-none" href="https://status.ewphp.org/" target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 16 16" width="1em" height="1em" fill="currentColor" class="bi bi-hdd-stack-fill" style="fill:rgb(249 250 251)"><path d="M2 9a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v1a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h12a2 2 0 0 0 2-2v-1a2 2 0 0 0-2-2zm.5 3a.5.5 0 1 1 0-1 .5.5 0 0 1 0 1m2 0a.5.5 0 1 1 0-1 .5.5 0 0 1 0 1M2 2a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v1a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h12a2 2 0 0 0 2-2V4a2 2 0 0 0-2-2zm.5 3a.5.5 0 1 1 0-1 .5.5 0 0 1 0 1m2 0a.5.5 0 1 1 0-1 .5.5 0 0 1 0 1"></path></svg></a></div></div></footer></div></div><script id="__NEXT_DATA__" type="application/json">{"props":{"pageProps":{}},"page":"/about","query":{},"buildId":"sga8clUNKNLqHPLym0NL9","nextExport":true,"autoExport":true,"isFallback":false,"scriptLoader":[]}</script></body></html>