"[4] The institute was founded in 1965 by the well-known writer, thinker and Sufi teacher Idries Shah[5][6][7] to facilitate the dissemination of ideas, information and understanding between cultures.

[10] Tyrrell adds: "I heard [Shah] say many times over the years, 'We live in an appearance culture' [...] That is one reason why it was necessary for him to create ICR: people like to join an organisation and be part of a community.

[11][12][13][14] Nobel Prize-winning novelist Doris Lessing, who was influenced by Idries Shah,[15] has also contributed to the institute.

[2][8] The body, which had a number of distinguished Fellows, published several dozen academic monographs and some books over the years[2][8] and held regular events.

[2] The institute published so many monographs and hosted so many lectures and seminars that only a small sample of notable contributors are listed here.