UNU-CRIS
The Institute for Comparative Regional Integration Studies of the United Nations University ( Engl. United Nations University Institute on Comparative Regional Integration Studies , shortly UNU-CRIS ) is a research and training institute dedicated to comparative studies on regional integration regional, monitoring and evaluation Integration as well as the study of the interactions between regional and global organizations. The aim of the institute , founded in 2001 in Bruges , Belgium , is to produce policy-relevant knowledge regarding new forms of governance and cooperation and to make a contribution to capacity building with regard to regional integration, especially in developing countries.
UNU-CRIS is located in the Grootseminarie in the historic abbey of ter Duinen (Potterierei 72, 8000 Bruges).
financing
UNU-CRIS is financed by the Flemish government and the Kingdom of Belgium . With the support of the Province of West Flanders , UNU-CRIS is in the Grootseminarie. The letter of intent signed by the United Nations University and the Flemish government in 2001 established institutional cooperation with the College of Europe .
structure
The structure of the UNU-CRIS follows the guidelines of the UNU and the UNU Council. UNU-CRIS is managed by the Director and Deputy Director, who are responsible for research, the management of the facility and the implementation of the requirements of the scientific advisory board. The latter consists of internationally renowned scientists and meets annually to evaluate performance and discuss future development and strategy. The actual research is carried out by scientists on site in Bruges as well as associated scientists from institutions from different regions of the world.
assignment
The mission of UNU-CRIS is to contribute to the achievement of the universal goals of the United Nations ( UN ) and the UNU. Through comparative and interdisciplinary research, a better understanding of the processes and the influence of intra- and interregional integration should be achieved. To this end, the work of UNU-CRIS attaches importance to:
- The visualization of how multi-level governance is formed
- The observation of regional integration,
- Deepening the critical understanding of regional integration as a process of social transformation and of the relationships between micro- and macro-regionalism,
- The strengthening of "governance capacities" at local, national, regional and global level with regard to regional integration,
- The evaluation of the real and the possible role of regions in the UN system.
research
The research activities are aimed at implementing the mandate of UNU-CRIS and the strategies of the scientific advisory board. For this purpose, the research is divided into four main areas:
Comparative regional integration
- Critical evaluation of the governance modes currently observable in the existing regional integration arrangements in order to be able to provide comparative analyzes of these.
- Investigation of the driving forces and shaping factors that determine regional integration arrangements as well as investigation of new circumstances that cause the emergence of multilevel governance systems.
- Development of an interdisciplinary conceptual understanding and the explanation of regional governance models in order to deepen the awareness and understanding of the political, economic and social relationships inherent in regional cooperation.
- Consider normative questions related to governance, sovereignty, democratization and policy-making in the context of regional integration.
- Deriving policy-relevant outputs, which are suitable for the various actors involved in the regional integration processes, as well as concrete answers to specific inquiries from relevant client groups.
- Support of activities for capacity-building of various actors involved in the management of regional integration and cooperation.
Observation of regional integration
- Systematic identification and description of the diversity as well as the evolution of currently existing regional integration arrangements using different time horizons.
- Support for the discussion on the role and importance of the (macro) regional level in global governance through a stronger empirical basis.
- Development of retrospective observation and measurement tools as well as predictive forecasting tools for the regional integration process.
- Organization of participatory simulations to identify possible scenarios for regional integration processes as well as contribution to the promotion of the sustainability of these by the inclusion of different interest groups in the visualization of the future of their region.
- Support for actors and academics by providing a database with qualitative and quantitative information on regional integration processes (Regional Integration Knowledge System - RIKS).
Regional peace and security
- Investigation of the extent to which regional integration can make a contribution to achieving human security.
- Inclusion of all relevant interest groups (through the use of participatory methods) in the evaluation of the extent to which they can contribute to various forms of integration and to integration with the aim of promoting peace and security.
- Establishment of a database of research and training modules that can contribute to capacity building, especially for regional organizations, in order to achieve human security.
Socio-economic dimension of regional integration
- Analysis of the extent to which regional integration can serve new development paradigms which are part of the UN Millennium Development Goals.
- Analysis of the conditions under which new multi-dimensional regionalism can serve as an effective engine for development.