German Institute of Global and Area Studies'
Encyclopedia
The German Institute of Global and Area Studies (GIGA) is a German
research institute
. It emerged in Hamburg
from the German Overseas Institute (founded in 1964) after a restructuring process in 2006. The GIGA defines itself as a think tank
serving the academic, political and economic communities as well as the general public.
) and the State of Hamburg (Department of Economy and Labor). In addition institutions like the German Research Foundation (DFG), Volkswagen Foundation or Fritz Thyssen Foundation and other institutions (e.g. Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, BMZ) provide several research projects with third-party funds.
The main focus of research concentrates on political, economic und social developments in Africa
, Asia
, Latin America
as well as North Africa
, and the Near
and Middle East
. Its research also deals with developments in North-South
and South-South relations. The GIGA employs about 120 scholars.
GIGA consists of the following four regional institutes:
Research at GIGA is organized into four Research Programmes: Legitimacy and Efficiency of Political Systems; Violence and Security; Social-Economic Challenges in the Context of Globalisation and Power, Norms and Governance in International Relations. GIGA is part of a national and international research network and co-operates with universities and other research institutions, as well as political foundations and associations.
(ECPR). Moreover the Institutes are members of national and regional associations like AEGIS
, EuroMeSCo, the Latin American Studies Association
s or the European Alliance for Asian Studies.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
research institute
Research institute
A research institute is an establishment endowed for doing research. Research institutes may specialize in basic research or may be oriented to applied research...
. It emerged in Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
from the German Overseas Institute (founded in 1964) after a restructuring process in 2006. The GIGA defines itself as a think tank
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
serving the academic, political and economic communities as well as the general public.
Organisation and Research
GIGA is a foundation based on civil law and is financed jointly by the Federal Republic of Germany (Federal Foreign OfficeForeign Office (Germany)
The Foreign Office is the foreign ministry of Germany, a federal agency responsible for both the country's foreign politics and its relationship with the European Union. From 1871 to 1919, it was led by a Foreign Secretary, and since 1919, it has been led by the Foreign Minister of Germany...
) and the State of Hamburg (Department of Economy and Labor). In addition institutions like the German Research Foundation (DFG), Volkswagen Foundation or Fritz Thyssen Foundation and other institutions (e.g. Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, BMZ) provide several research projects with third-party funds.
The main focus of research concentrates on political, economic und social developments in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, Asia
Asia
Asia 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...
, Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
as well as North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
, and the Near
Near East
The Near East is a geographical term that covers different countries for geographers, archeologists, and historians, on the one hand, and for political scientists, economists, and journalists, on the other...
and Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. Its research also deals with developments in North-South
North-South divide
The north–south divide is a socio-economic and political division that exists between the wealthy developed countries, known collectively as "the north", and the poorer developing countries , or "the south." Although most nations comprising the "North" are in fact located in the Northern Hemisphere ,...
and South-South relations. The GIGA employs about 120 scholars.
GIGA consists of the following four regional institutes:
- Institute of African Affairs (IAA)
- Institute of Asian Studies (IAS)
- Institute of Latin American Studies (ILAS)
- Institute of Middle East Studies (IMES)
Research at GIGA is organized into four Research Programmes: Legitimacy and Efficiency of Political Systems; Violence and Security; Social-Economic Challenges in the Context of Globalisation and Power, Norms and Governance in International Relations. GIGA is part of a national and international research network and co-operates with universities and other research institutions, as well as political foundations and associations.
Memberships
GIGA is a member of the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Scientific Community and of the European Consortium for Political ResearchEuropean Consortium for Political Research
The European Consortium for Political Research is an independent, scholarly association, which supports and encourages the training, research and cross-national cooperation of many thousands of academics and graduate students specialising in political science and all its sub-disciplines...
(ECPR). Moreover the Institutes are members of national and regional associations like AEGIS
AEGIS (African Studies)
AEGIS is a research network of European centres in African studies, which aims to create synergies between experts and institutions. With primary emphasis on Social Sciences and Humanities, AEGIS' main goal is to improve understanding about contemporary African societies.AEGIS was founded in 1991...
, EuroMeSCo, the Latin American Studies Association
Latin American Studies Association
The Latin American Studies Association is the largest association for scholars of Latin American studies. Founded in 1966, it has over 6,000 members, forty-five percent of whom reside outside the United States, LASA brings together experts on Latin America from all disciplines and diverse...
s or the European Alliance for Asian Studies.
Publications
GIGA publishes several types of scientific publications:- The GIGA Working Paper Series circulates results of research as “work in progress” in the form of manuscripts even before its publication to push the scientific discussion.
- The series GIGA Focus offers short analyses regarding current political, economic or social topics in Africa, Latin America, Asia, the Near East and global topics.
- Within the scope of GIGA Journal Family the regional institutes edit the following scientific journals:
- Afrika Spectrum
- Journal of Politics in Latin America (JPLA)(former: Lateinamerika Analysen)
- Südostasien Aktuell: Journal of Current Southeast Asian AffairsJournal of Current Southeast Asian AffairsJournal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs is a German academic journal. The internationally refereed journal focuses on political, economic and social developments in Brunei, East Timor, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.-Editor:The...
- Japan Aktuell: Journal of Current Japanese Affairs
- China Aktuell: Journal of Current Chinese AffairsJournal of Current Chinese AffairsJournal of Current Chinese Affairs is a German academic journal . The internationally refereed journal focuses on political, economic and social developments in the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.- Editor :...