GIGA Institutes

The GIGA holds a unique position in the international scientific community as a research institute which combines area studies and comparative area studies. The research activities combine systematic and comparative area studies within the framework of a two-dimensional organisational structure: specialists on different world regions are simultaneously assigned to four area studies research institutes and four overarching research programmes

Each institute blends (or “merges”) an area-studies approach with theory-based approaches taken from different disciplines in order to fulfil its research agenda. The research agenda and methods are drawn from political science, economics, and sociology. The research itself is based on the fundamental expertise of the staff dealing with these regions and subjects and requires a long-term and profound involvement with the research region.