Prof. Dr. Peter Heintz (1920-1983), founder of the SUZ institute, studied in Paris, Cologne and Zurich, earned a doctor's degree in Zurich in 1943 and habilitated in 1956 with René König in Cologne. In 1966, he was appointed a professor of sociology and the position of ordinarius, which he held up to his death. Peter Heintz worked at the UNESCO as an expert for higher education development in Latin America and directed the faculty of social sciences in Santiago de Chile. Peter Heintz gave the SUZ institute a distinct empirical and international direction. From his estate the "World Society Foundation" was founded in order to promote the socio-scientific research of world societies.

Prof. Dr. Hans-Joachim Hoffmann-Nowotny (1934-2004) was ordinarius of the SUZ from 1975 to 2004 and director from 1983 on for almost 15 years. He studied at the University of Cologne, received his doctorate in 1969 and habilitated in 1973. His research focused on the sociology of minorities and migration as well as sociocultural determinants and consequences of socio-demographic development. Hoffmann-Nowotny dealt with the changes in marriage and family, forms of life and lifestyle and was devoted to the advancement of general sociological theory. From 1996 to 2002, he was president of the "World Society Foundation".

Prof. Dr. Volker Bornschier, born in 1944, worked at the University of Zurich since 1976. Starting as a lecturer, has was appointed an assistant professor in 1981, specializing in economic sociology. In 1988, he was appointed an associate professor and from 1994 on he was professor of sociology. His research focuses on world society, globalization, social change, sociology of conflicts and economic sociology. Volker Bornschier was instrumental in firmly establishing world society as a topic on the institute’s research and teaching agenda. From 1983 to 1996, he was president and since 2005 he is vice president of the World Society Foundation (Stiftung Weltgesellschaft).