The
Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (
CASS; ), established in 1977, is the premier and highest academic research organization in the fields of philosophy and social sciences as well as a national center for comprehensive studies in the
People's Republic of ChinaChina , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
. It was described by
Foreign PolicyForeign Policy is a bimonthly American magazine founded in 1970 by Samuel P. Huntington and Warren Demian Manshel.Originally, the magazine was a quarterly...
magazine as the top think tank in
AsiaAsia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
. It is affiliated with the PRC's
State CouncilThe State Council of the People's Republic of China , which is largely synonymous with the Central People's Government after 1954, is the chief administrative authority of the People's Republic of China. It is chaired by the Premier and includes the heads of each governmental department and agency...
.
History
The CASS was established in May 1977 with the aim of promoting the development of social sciences, which had been almost totally destroyed in the
Cultural RevolutionThe Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, commonly known as the Cultural Revolution , was a socio-political movement that took place in the People's Republic of China from 1966 through 1976...
. It was formed by separating 14 research units of the Department of Philosophy and Social Sciences from the
Chinese Academy of SciencesThe Chinese Academy of Sciences , formerly known as Academia Sinica, is the national academy for the natural sciences of the People's Republic of China. It is an institution of the State Council of China. It is headquartered in Beijing, with institutes all over the People's Republic of China...
. The first president was
Hu QiaomuHu Qiaomu , was a revolutionary, sociologist, Marxist philosopher and prominent politician of People's Republic of China...
, who held his position until his death. The present president is Professor
Chen KuiyuanChen Kuiyuan is a politician of the People's Republic of China. He currently serves as the vice chairman of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference , and the president and the Party chief of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences....
.
Structure
The CASS comprises five academic divisions:
- Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
, LiteratureLiterature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
and HistoryHistory is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
- Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
- Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
, Social studiesSocial studies is the "integrated study of the social sciences and humanities to promote civic competence," as defined by the American National Council for the Social Studies...
and Political studies
- International Studies
International Studies generally refers to the specific University Degrees and courses which are concerned with the study of ‘the major political, economic, social, cultural and sacral issues that dominate the international agenda’...
- Marxist
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
studies
New research units were later established; CASS is now made up of 35 research institutes, more than 90 research centers, and one graduate school (
Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Social SciencesThe Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences is a public educational graduate school located in Beijing as one of the first two graduate schools of the People’s Republic of China.-History:Founded in 1978, Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences was approved by Central...
), CASS is also in charge of 105 national academic communities throughout China.
CASS currently has over 3,200 resident scholars. CASS membership and honorary membership are both conferred for life and are the highest academic titles of the academy. There are 47 members and 95 honorary members now.
Publishing house
The China Social Sciences Press was established in June 1978 under the auspices of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and has published over 8,000 books since its inception.
List of presidents
- Hu Qiaomu
Hu Qiaomu , was a revolutionary, sociologist, Marxist philosopher and prominent politician of People's Republic of China...
(胡乔木): 1977-1982
- Ma Hong
-Summary:Ma Hong , born in Dingxiang County, Shanxi Province, China, was a well known economist and was chiefly responsible for the reintroduction of market economics to China. He also pioneered Policy Consultation and chaired a government think tank....
(马洪): 1982-1985
- Hu Qiaomu: 1985-1988
- Hu Sheng (胡绳): 1988-1998
- Li Tieying (李铁映): 1998-2003
- Chen Kuiyuan
Chen Kuiyuan is a politician of the People's Republic of China. He currently serves as the vice chairman of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference , and the president and the Party chief of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences....
(陈奎元): 2003–present
External links