About the Centre de Sciences Humaines

A Scientific Research Centre engaged in the major issues of contemporary India and South Asia in the face of the challenges of globalisation

In brief

The Centre de Sciences Humaines(CSH) is part of the network of 27 research centres of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 2007 it became an UMIFRE (no 20), a joint MAEE-CNRS research unit. The Centre's activities are primarily oriented towards the study of issues concerning the contemporary dynamics of development in India, in its regional and international context.

History

The institution traces its origins to 1980 with the shift of the French Archeological Delegation in Afghanistan, from Kabul to Delhi, as a consequence of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. It then became the French Archeological Mission in India. The Centre de Sciences Humaines was officially created in 1990 and initially conducted research on history and Indo-Persian culture. In 1995, there was a shift in the research focus and the CSH became a centre specialising in contemporary India and South Asia.

Subject Fields

Social Sciences: economics, political science, international relations, international law, geography, demography, sociology, anthropology.

Objectives and missions

As a research centre, the overall objective of the CSH is to examine India as an emerging power on the international scene, and to analyse the various transition processes that affect India and the South Asian region. The research activities are thus focused on four main areas:

(Visit our Research Programmes section)

Through its numerous collaborations with Indian and European partners, the CSH strengthens the academic links between these two regions of the world and fulfils a function of scientific cooperation.

(Visit our Links section)

Another important mission of the CSH is that of offering training in research, by providing logistical support and training to Ph.D. fellows and student interns.

(Check out our Opportunities)

Promoting research is also a key mission of the CSH, which is ensured through a policy of publication, dissemination of research works and the organisation of scientific events. The publications aim at reputed academic journals and publishing houses (in English and in French).

(Visit our Publications section, check out our forthcoming events as well as our Archive section)

Another objective of the CSH is to promote research whose findings are relevant for economic agents and political decision-makers (planners, senior officials, diplomats, et al.), and thus to disseminate research results beyond academic circles.

Human resources

The CSH team comprises around 25 people, half of whom are research scholars or Ph.D. students. In addition, the Centre hosts post-graduate student interns and visiting scholars for short research stays.
Do visit our Team section for detailed information on the CSH staff members and researchers' profiles.