About Regional Studies

Regional Studies is what other universities would call ”Area Studies”, focusing on the study of different geographical regions of the world. By regions we understand geographical areas bound together by cultural, historic, economic, social and political factors. Although these are not necessarily consolidated regions linked together by regional integration schemes they may be considered in some way, regions in the making.

Through our courses and research we try to give a deeper insight into the realities of these areas, presenting their particular contexts in all their complexity in order to understand in a more adequate way the contemporary problems and issues that affect them.

African Studies
The University of Gothenburg is one of the strongest environments in Sweden for research related to Africa. This research is conducted in a range of faculties and departments, focusing on a range of themes including sustainable development, eradication of poverty, health, gender, culture, religion, democracy, conflict and security, aid etc. The most viable research within African Studies (previously the Center for African Studies) and School of Global Studies is on conflict management, intervention and post-conflict reconstruction, regionalization, gender issues, international development cooperation and democratization. Geographically, most attention is directed at South, East and Central Africa; however, there is also expertise in relation to West and North Africa.

Asian Studies
Asian Studies (preciously the Center for East and Southeast Asian Studies) is a multidisciplinary environment and includes lecturers and researchers from various disciplines such as Chinese Studies, Japanese Studies, Social Anthropology, Peace and Development Studies, Human Ecology, and Economic Geography. The research conducted at Asian Studies has a long tradition and covers for example democracy, conflict, security, development, religion and politics and gender. Geographically, most attention is directed at Southeast Asia, but the research expertise regarding South Asia as well as East Asia is expanding.

Latin American Studies
The areas of most prominent research within Latin American Studies (previously the Institute of Ibero-American Studies) is citizenship and civil society (with a special priority to gender issues and social movement), identity and culture (related to indigenous or peasant communities), gender- and labourorganizing and globalization, and HIV and civil society. In the areas of Latin American Studies, research has always had a direct connection to the courses given in the area, for instance on social movements and gender.

The Latin American Studies has hosted several guest researchers and has the editor responsibility of a journal, Anales. Latin American Studies also coordinates a Nordic research network on gender issues in Latin America, HAINA that publishes the HAINA series after the regular workshops of the network. Latin America Studies is also part of the board of the European research network on Latin America, CEISAL.

Middle Eastern Studies
Middle Eastern Studies (previously the Center for Middle Eastern Studies) at School of Global Studies is a strong environment in Sweden for research related to the Middle East. Middle Easter Studies is a multidisciplinary environment and includes lecturers and researchers from disciplines such as Peace and Development Research, Social Anthropology, Political Science, and Religious Studies. The research agenda covers topics such as conflict management, intervention and post-conflict reconstruction, political leadership, gender issues and family relations, radical religious movements, gender issues, and democratization. Geographically, most attention is directed at the Palestinian- Israeli conflict; however, there is also expertise in relation to Iraq, Lebanon, and the greater Middle East.