That the Journal of the London Mathematical Society came into existence when it did—in 1926—can be ascribed to the efforts of one man: G.H. Hardy. As Secretary of the Society, Hardy was aware of the increasing demand for publication space in the Society’s Proceedings, and of the need for an outlet for shorter papers. It was clear to him that a second journal was needed. But to found such a journal required money, money that the Society did not have. But Hardy, well-connected and international in outlook, was the right man at the right time for the task. Moreover, Hardy ensured that the Journal was no parochial periodical; of the papers in Volume 1, over 25% came from outside Britain.

In light of greater opportunities for international connections, the first International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM) took place in 1897 in Zürich, Switzerland, commencing what was hoped would be a new era of exchanging research and fostering personal relations among the world's mathematicians. Although the society and culture in Russia have throughout history developed differently than in Western Europe due to their idiosyncratic religious, political, and cultural traditions, Russian mathematicians gained significant recognition for their contributions and active participation in the ICMs, particularly after World War II.
How did institutional cooperation shape mathematical progress in Russia and the Soviet Union? Beyond scientific objectives, were there other factors influencing the presence of Russian delegates at these congresses? How did ICM policies and values evolve when certain individuals, particularly in post-war contexts, faced restrictions on participation?
This paper investigates the Russian mathematicians’ involvement in the ICMs between the 1897 Zürich and 1978 Helsinki Congresses. Drawing on conference proceedings and personal narratives, I explore the dual forces of internationalism and nationalism, that served as motivation for attendance, but also the mechanisms of exclusion. A key focus is the systemic discrimination against Jewish mathematicians in the USSR, which escalated in the 1970s. Even Fields Medal recipients were sometimes barred from attending ICMs due to Soviet policies. By analysing these cases, this paper aims to provide an authentic account of how the congresses navigated, and at times failed to address, these discriminatory practices, shedding light on the intersection of mathematics, politics, and human rights.