Why is the domain of Phoenician-Punic Studies still so fragmented? A plea for the creation of an international organization for Phoenician and Punic Studies

In this contribution the current fragmented situation of the discipline of Phoenician-Punic Studies is described and discussed. Attention is drawn to five challenges: the potential attendees of the four annual congresses, international mobility of (junior) scholars, numbers of students and publications, and means of (digital) communication. A plea is made to overcome this fragmented state by creating an international organization that would include all working in the domain; its benefits are outlined and a proposal for setting things in motion is formulated.