EAST AND WEST is an English language quarterly published since 1950 by IsMEO (Istituto Italiano per il Medio ed Estremo Oriente [Italian Institute for Middle and Far East]) and now by IsIAO (Istituto Italiano per l’Africa e l’Oriente [Italian Institute for Africa and the Orient]). East and West was founded and edited until 1978 by Giuseppe Tucci. From 1978 to 1997 it was under the editorship of Gherardo Gnoli and, from 1997 to 2000, by Maurizio Taddei. After the death of Professor Taddei (5th February 2000), Gnoli once again took over the editorship. The structure of the periodical includes various sections: Articles, Brief Notes and Items for Discussion, Obituaries, Book Reviews, Books Received, List of Contributors, and a Table of Contents. Up to 1986 East and West also contained a section entitled IsMEO Activities, providing information on archaeological excavations and restorations carried out by IsMEO, as well as on conferences, missions, exhibitions and publications promoted or organized by the Institute. The focus of East and West has been on oriental art and archaeology - with particular emphasis on results from various archaeological excavations in Iran, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Tibet, etc., either directly organized by the Italian Institute, or in collaboration with other scientific institutions and teams -, religion and philology.  

The Istituto Italiano per l'Africa e l'Oriente (IsIAO) was established in 1995, as the result of the merging of Istituto Italiano per il Medio ed Estremo Oriente (IsMEO) with the Istituto Italo-Africano (IIA). Its seat is in Rome, Italy. The Institute is active in the field of cultural promotion aimed at fostering fruitful relations between Italy and the countries of Africa and Asia. The aims of the Institute are: to establish and implement study and research projects; to promote cultural and scientific collaboration initiatives through the exchange of experience and knowledge among researchers and specialists; to implement cooperation, consultancy and assistance projects, with special regard to the conservation and promotion of the heritage, and to carry out missions and archaeological campaigns in Asian and African countries; to enter into conventions or agreements providing for joint activities with universities, academies, cultural and research institutions in Italy and abroad; to carry on publishing activities alone or in collaboration with other institutions, or with publishers. IsIAO is currently active in the following countries: Afghanistan, Arabia Saudita, China, Japan, Jordan, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhastan, Mali, Oman, Pakistan, Sudan, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Yemen.