United Nations University - Comparative Regional Integration Studies (UNU-CRIS)

Outline

The United Nations University program for Comparative Regional Integration Studies (UNU-CRIS) is a research and training program of the United Nations University, a global network of centres engaged in research and capacity development to support the universal goals of the UN and generate new knowledge and ideas. Based in Bruges, Belgium, UNU-CRIS specializes in the processes and consequences of regional integration and cooperation. It acts as a resource for the UN system with particular links to the UN regional bodies and dealing with regional integration (such as UN Economic Commission for Africa, Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia). UNU-CRIS works in partnership with initiatives and centres throughout the world that are concerned with issues of integration and cooperation.

The mission of UNU-CRIS is to contribute towards achieving the universal goals of the UN through comparative and interdisciplinary research and training for better understanding of the processes and impact of intra- and inter-regional integration.  The aim is to build policy-relevant knowledge about new forms of governance and co-operation, and to contribute to capacity building on issues of integration and co-operation particularly in developing countries.

Accordingly, the work of UNU-CRIS is focused upon understanding processes of regionalisation worldwide and generating new ideas on the roles of regional integration and co-operation in global governance. Under the current strategic directions, the UNU-CRIS research and training activities are organised under six priority themes: 

  • Theme 1: Monitoring and Assessing Regional Integration worldwide
  • Theme 2: Regional Integration as a Political Project
  • Theme 3: Regional Integration and Peace and Security Issues
  • Theme 4: Interlinkages between Regional Integration and Economic Development
  • Theme 5: Socio-Cultural Aspects of Regional Integration

Research and training are conducted by Bruges-based staff and visiting scientists, complemented by PhD students and interns and a network of collaborating individuals and institutions worldwide.

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