The organisers > About us

About us

The French Network for Asian Studies, or " GIS Asia " was created in 2013 as the initiative of the CNRS and 15 other public institutions of research and higher education. This growing consortium currently includes the following 20 institutions and their research units on Asia. More than 30 French research centers, in France and abroad, belong to this network, where 1300 researchers, PhD students and postdocs focus on Asian Studies.

The FNAS promotes dialogue and stimulates initiatives within the research community on Asian studies, encompassing all disciplines of the humanities and social sciences: history, geography, anthropology, linguistics, sociology, economics, political science, etc. A CNRS administrative team provides support for the FNAS’s directors and the scientific committee.

Its mission is to share scientific expertise and resources of French research in the humanities and social sciences on Asia. The French Network for Asian Studies serves as a network of initiatives and discussion for laboratories and researchers in this field.

Our goals (and how we acheive them)

The FNAS studies the distribution of research topics according to geographical areas and disciplines. It is also concerned with mid-term perspectives on emerging issues and maintaining classic knowledge. It keeps records of the size of the community working on Asian studies, as well as the number of submitted theses. Regular assessments of the state of Asian studies are published. When requested, the FNAS also carries out appraisals for its members or for public institutions.

To bring together the French community on Asian Studies and encourage

The FNAS is a French institutional network for Asian studies. By bringing together the humanities and social sciences, it enhances interdisciplinary cooperation. By promoting French Asian Studies abroad, it fosters international cooperation. An international conference that takes place every 2 years provides a great opportunity for French, European, American and Asian researchers to meet and discuss their current research. A thousand participants attend this conference.

To act for the benefit of young researchers working in the field of Asian studies

The FNAS pays close attention to the needs of young researchers in the field of Asian studies, in particular those related to specific geographical and cultural research. The level of tomorrow’s research depends on the quality of the education today. The FNAS supports the initiatives of young researchers; this support is coordinated by a national office located at their headquarters and takes the form of meetings and methodological training. The FNAS helps young researchers to attend international conferences, and every year three young researchers are awarded prizes for the three best theses.

To contribute to the diffusion of research results and to the organization of the French community on Asian studies

Because of its unifying action, the FNAS lends visibility to French/ Asian studies. About 85 % of the community of Asian studies has joined the FNAS. Its specific collection of literature, published by CNRS Editions contributes to the dissemination of the most recent research results and emblematic new tendencies. The newsletter and the internet website are also efficient ways to organize the community and disseminate scientific news.

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France and Asia

Sixty per cent of the world’s population lives in Asia, in other words 4.5 billion inhabitants. For two decades, this part of the world has been the scene of sweeping transformations. In the context of globalization, knowledge about Asian countries is extremely valuable. The aim of Asian studies, and of the FNAS in assembling them is to improve this knowledge.

Five French research units in Asia are also part of the FNAS: they are based in Tokyo, Hong-Kong, Bangkok, New-Delhi and Pondicherry. They are under the administrative supervision of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the CNRS. They play a key role by welcoming researchers who want to work in the field and by facilitating international cooperation with Asian colleagues.

GIS ASIE MEMBERS