A History of the International Mathematical Union

von Olli Lehto Kategorie: Allgemein ISBN: 0387983589 Kommentar abgeben

Synopsis The 20th century has been one of great international conflict, but also one of increasing globalization and cooperation among nations. This is the history of international mathematical cooperation over the last hundred years - from the first international congress in 1897 to plans for the World Mathematical Year 2000. Reflected in the history of the International Mathematical Union (IMU) is all the strife among world powers, as well as aspirations for cooperation among nations in an increasingly interdependent world. The IMU, founded in the aftermath of World War I, for 15 years excluded Germany and the other defeated central powers. But in the 1920s the IMU embraced principles of political neutrality, inviting every national mathematical organization to join the IMU, and this principle of nondiscrimination, while sometimes sorely tried, has held the IMU in good stead. Then came World War II, and again international cooperation was threatened. After this war, a number of issues - the Cold War, the conflict between the People's Republic of China and Taiwan, a divided Germany, problems in the emerging nations of Africa - at times led to attempts to influence the IMU Executive Committee in its decisions regarding membership, location of international congresses, committee assignments, handling of protests and awarding the coveted Fields Medals. Throughout the tumultuous past half century the IMU has sponsored International Congresses throughout the world, and this work should fill the reader in on all the mathematical and organizational details. But it is also the very human story of individuals, among them many of the great mathematicians of our time.