Tributes to the Late Harold Isaacs, ATWS Founder and JTWS Editor: Reflections on His Life and Legacy

The following thirteen papers were delivered on Tuesday, November 24, 2015 at the Thirty-Third Annual Conference of ATWS in Quito, Ecuador. Each was read either by the author, or by a substitute ATWS member in cases where the author could not be present (in my case, for example). They reflect in small measure the profound sense of loss and gratitude felt by everyone who knew Harold Isaacs. Following these papers is a summary of tributes offered by association members who have formed the African Social Research Forum, smartly and beautifully expressed by Dr. Abdul Karim Bangura. Finally, readers will find assorted tributes and reflections sent in by friends and colleagues of Dr. Isaacs. In sum, this collection represents a fraction of the heartfelt outpouring of those who loved, admired, and benefitted from our late founder and editor.

It is now up to those of us who cherish his memory and his legacy, the ATWS and the JTWS, to find a path forward and ensure the continued vitality and relevance of this association (akin to a large family without any distinctions of race, religion, socio-economic status, or culture – but with a common mission and benevolent spirit) and its journal. We live in a troubled and complex world, but our strong bond is a shared desire to promote greater understanding between peoples, more peace, richer lives, and social justice globally. This was Dr. Isaacs’ lifelong quest, and I am confident that we, the members of ATWS, will keep the dream alive.

If you did not know Dr. Isaacs personally, it is even more important that you read the following pages in order to gain insights into his remarkable life. Hopefully, you will be inspired to join ATWS (if you have not done so yet) or to dedicate more time and energy to the association (if you are already a member). The path forward may be daunting, but it is unthinkable to abandon our dream when the world is most in need of it.