Special issues of our journal are now being published on some of our important research themes. One of them, the definition of cultures and development, was presented in the former issue (no. 24). The next issue (no. 27/28) will deal with methodology for social and cultural analysis and will tackle the concrete implementation of our collectively acquired wisdom.

This particular issue presents one of the most exciting and complex themes we attempted to grapple with, that of women and local cultures.

I am proud and happy that my colleague and friend Edith Sizoo has agreed to take responsibility for this particular issue as our "guest editor". She shares with me the international coordination of Network Cultures and is in charge of two of our themes, one dealing with women and cultures, the other with "Arts, Cultures and Intercultural Understanding". After reading the texts included here and which will constitute some of the major chapters of her new book, "INTERTWINING : Women's Ways of Shaping their Realities", readers will most probably be impatient to go through the whole book. It will be worth their while. Not just the women readers ! Men would be well advised to delve into it as well ... Is the new social paradigm we are all searching for not intimately linked with the rediscovery of our so-called feminine values ?

Thierry G. Verhelst