Institute of Commonwealth Studies
Encyclopedia
The Institute of Commonwealth Studies, abbreviated to ICS, was founded by the University of London
in 1949 to promote academic study of the Commonwealth of Nations
and its constituent countries. It became part of the School of Advanced Study
in 1994. It is currently in Senate House
.
The institute has a library containing 190,000 items and over 140 archive collections, including material by Ruth First
and other anti-apartheid campaigners, including Baruch Hirson. It offers several postgraduate programmes, including an MA in human rights
, and is a major international centre for studying the history, politics, sociology and law of anglophone Africa, the anglophone Caribbean and other areas formerly part of the British Empire
.
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
in 1949 to promote academic study of the Commonwealth of Nations
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
and its constituent countries. It became part of the School of Advanced Study
School of Advanced Study
The School of Advanced Study, a postgraduate institution of the University of London, is the UK's national centre for the promotion and facilitation of research in the humanities and social sciences...
in 1994. It is currently in Senate House
Senate House (University of London)
Senate House is the administrative centre of the University of London, situated in the heart of Bloomsbury, London between the School of Oriental and African Studies to the north, with the British Museum to the south...
.
The institute has a library containing 190,000 items and over 140 archive collections, including material by Ruth First
Ruth First
Ruth First was a white South African anti-apartheid activist and scholar born in Johannesburg, South Africa...
and other anti-apartheid campaigners, including Baruch Hirson. It offers several postgraduate programmes, including an MA in human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
, and is a major international centre for studying the history, politics, sociology and law of anglophone Africa, the anglophone Caribbean and other areas formerly part of the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
.