Shanghai Academy Of Social Sciences

The Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences (SASS; ) was founded in 1958 and is China's oldest think tank for the humanities and social sciences. It is the country's second largest such institution, after the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) in Beijing. Besides funds from the municipal government of Shanghai, the academy draws financial support from non-governmental sources at home and abroad.

Its research findings and publications have been particularly influential with policy-makers as well as with the wider public. SASS has 17 institutes and 27 interdisciplinary centers that conduct theoretical research and applied studies in the humanities and social sciences.

Through the institutes and interdisciplinary centers, SASS conducts studies in economics, national economy, world economy, finance, law, literature, history, philosophy, information science, journalism, sociology, youth and juvenile studies, religion, demography, international relations, national strategy, and regional development.

SASS contributes to the nation and the municipality through its policy studies for government authorities, training, and consulting services. Since 2008, SASS has undertaken more than 200 research programs at the national and municipal levels, published about 5200 research papers, 421 academic works, and 15 periodicals, in addition to an annual publication of over 250 consulting reports.

SASS has 760 employees; 550 are research staff. Among SASS researchers, there are 123 research professors, 181 associate research professors. SASS has more than 30 honorary professors and distinguished professors, including Lawrence Robert Klein and Douglass C. North.

SASS has signed over 60 cooperative agreements with international partners. Every year it hosts over 1,000 foreign visitors and hundreds of international conferences, lectures and seminars, as is represented by the bi-annual World Forum on China Studies, sponsored by the State Council Information Office and the Shanghai Municipal People's Government, which sees over 500 participants at each session.

SASS is administered by an Executive Leadership Committee, which oversees all academic and administrative affairs. Administrative branches include the Research Coordination Office, the Office of International Cooperation, Personnel Office, Financial and Accounting Office, and Disciplinary Inspection Office, among others. Academic branches under the executive leadership committee include the Academic Committee. SASS has its own Graduate School, SASS Press, and library.

Leadership

Wang Zhan (), born in 1952, is concurrently deputy secretary general of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Shanghai Municipal Committee, director of Research Office of CCP Municipal Committee and president of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, as well as director of Decision-making Advisory Committee, and director of Finance Leading Group of Municipal Government.

Prof. Wang studied at Fudan University from September 1979 to July 1983, majoring in world economy. He was the assistant director of the Institute of World Economy and Deputy Director of China Economy Research Center of Fudan University. In 1992 he was appointed to the executive deputy director and, later, director of the Institute of Economics of Shanghai Municipal Planning Commission, deputy director of the Research Center of Economy of Shanghai Municipal Government, deputy director and CCP secretary of Development Research Center of Municipal Government. In 1993 he became the member of Standing Committee of Shanghai Municipal People's Congress; in 1998 a member of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee; in 2007 a member of National People's Congress (NPC).

Controversy

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has stated that SASS frequently provides cover to intelligence operatives of the Ministry of State Security (MSS). The FBI adds that the MSS "uses SASS employees as spotters and assessors."

See also

* Center of Jewish Studies Shanghai
* Chinese Academy of Social Science
* Chinese Academy of Science
* Scientific publishing in China

References

External links

*

{{authority control

Research institutes in China
Education in Shanghai
Organizations established in 1958
1958 establishments in China
Science and technology in the People's Republic of China
Organizations based in Shanghai