INCLUDED ARE CONTROVERSIES CONCERNING THE DEFINITION OF SCIENTIFIC METHOD, THE CRISES OF LEGITIMACY FACING POLITICAL AND INTELLECTUAL INSTITUTIONS, AND THE INFLUENCE OF COMPETING POLITICAL IDEOLOGIES. ALSO DISCUSSED IS THE POTENTIAL OPPOSITION AND COMPLEMENTARITY OF VARIOUS CRIMINOLOGICAL TRADITIONS AND THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF A MACRO-CRIMINOLOGY WHICH WOULD INTEGRATE CONCEPTS AND METHODS FROM OTHER AREAS OF BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE. THE SECOND PART OF THE PAPER OUTLINES A PRACTICAL PROGRAM OF ACTIVITY FOR THE FIELD OF COMPARATIVE CRIMINOLOGY FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1970 TO 1980. PRINCIPLES ARE SUGGESTED FOR GUIDING THE COMPLEX TASKS OF COORDINATING THE EFFORTS OF DIFFERING AND DIVERGENT ORGANIZATIONS AND SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT. THE SYMPOSIA ORGANIZED BY THE INTERNATIONAL CENTER OF COMPARATIVE CRIMINOLOGY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MONTREAL, CANADA (OF WHICH THE AUTHOR IS THE DIRECTOR) ARE INDICATED AS EXAMPLES OF PROJECTS GUIDED BY THESE PRINCIPLES. FOR THE ORIGINAL FRENCH VERSION OF THIS DOCUMENT SEE NCJ-28260.