1. Fundamental and Practical Research Topics The IEAS aims to study the past, present, and future of Western cultures and civilizations via various thematic research projects. Unlike other research units in the Humanities and Social Sciences at Academia Sinica, which focus on a single academic discipline, the academic research of the IEAS is characterized by interdisciplinary and collective collaboration, and emphasizes both theory and practice. In this way, the Institute has established a unique academic model and become the leading European and American research base in Asia. In June 1988, the IEAS formally established three major research divisions: Humanities; Sociology and Economics; and Law and Political Science. The research areas of the Humanities Division included literature, philosophy, and history. The research subjects focused mainly on underprivileged ethnic literature in Europe and the United States, cultural translation, philosophy of mind and language, English and American literature, American history, American women’s history, modern history of Germany, and history of Sino-American relations. The research focus of the Sociology and Economics Division included the characteristics and changes of European and American societies and economies, globalization and its impact, European and American social policies, educational theories and developments and the cultural issues derived from them, while comparing the similarities and differences between Taiwan, European, and American societies. The research focus of the Law and Political Science Division mainly included Sino-American relations, the United States and European governments, and European and American public policies that involved labor, society, family, women’s employment, government reengineering, oceans, fisheries, and environmental protection. The division also focused on how to observe the development of the European Union from legal and political perspectives, and studied the organization and operation of the EU, the theory and model of EU integration, human rights protection, European Central Bank, the Euro and the European Monetary Union, the expansion of the EU, and the development of the EU constitution. On September 6 and 13, 1997, the IEAS discussed in detail the opinions of the “Humanities Division Deliberation Report” of Academia Sinica, and decided to revise the content of the Institute’s medium and long-term development plan. The IEAS reviewed the current status of interactions among the three research divisions, the existing research priorities, future research areas, and research topics, and consequently, devised a well-constructed plan for developing thematic research projects to provide a long-term research direction for the academic development of the entire Institute. Since 2003, in order to coordinate with Academia Sinica’s organizational adjustment policy, the IEAS abolished the three research divisions, Humanities; Sociology and Economics; and Law and Political Science, and shifted its research focus to six thematic research projects and individual projects. Among the six projects, “Research on Globalization and Social Changes in Europe and the United States” was terminated due to the restructuring of its members and merging into other projects. Since then, although the remaining thematic research projects have undergone changes in members and IIIIndelible Accomplishments: Research Performance and Academic Strengths 19 50 Years and Beyond: The History and Prospects of the Institute of European and American Studies
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTQ2MTk4NA==