Research centers and libraries

Worldwide overview of the main institutes and research centres dealing with Chinese law, collected and divided by macro geographical areas. This section is also constantly updated.


Europe


CSCC-Center for studies on contemporary China

The CSCC, headquarter of the Ambassador with Alberto Bradanini, is an association of social promotion association whose aim is a systemic and structured knowledge of political China specific to contemporary attention, with the economy, culture and society.  In these areas the CSCC intends to develop quality international research activity of international service of the Italian entities that are nterested in interacting, in various ways, with the People's Republic of China, as well as the public interested in the various issues involving China. 

The CSCC promotes events, conferences and meetings with scholars.

Website: http://www.cscc.it/


Center of Italian-Chinese Juridical Studies

The Center was established at the Department of Legal Sciences of the Sapienza University of Rome, following January the Zhongnan University of Economics and Law signed the Convention on the 13th of January 2017.

The Centro boasts a very expanded library of over 3,500  volumes of legal texts, in Chinese.


Centro Amilcar Cabral

The Centro Amilcar Cabral was founded in 1974 upon the will of the Municipality of Bologna with the aim of developing knowledge about international political problems, in particular: social, economic and cultural life in the countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America.

The Centre has an impressive library, which since 2010 has been part of the Libraries Institution of the Municipality of Bologna, with a collection of over 35,000 volumes and over 600 periodicals. The themes that are mainly documented are: history, political, economic and social life, literature, culture and religion in countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America, international relations, development aid, emergency and humanitarian interventions; conflicts and conflict resolution; human rights and the situation of women in developing countries; sustainable development; history of the meeting between East and West, inter-ethnic relations and foreign immigration.

The main aims of the Centre are the development and enhancement of the library and also the organization of information and in-depth moments on the themes of interest of the Centre.

Website:  http://www.centrocabral.com/


Centre for Contemporary Chinese Studies, University of Durham

The Centre for Contemporary Chinese Studies was founded in 1999 at the University of Durham, UK, it is a multidisciplinary research centre dedicated to the research of contemporary China and East Asia, focused on the fields of business, education, law, languages, culture, geography, international politics and economic policy.

The Centre prides itself on one of the most important libraries in the UK on East Asia.

The Center is very active in its collaboration with the Chinese academic and institutional world, promoting various training activities.

Website: https://www.dur.ac.uk/china.studies/


China Center, University of Macerata

The China Center is a multidisciplinary center for research and training, which was created to enhance the skills and knowledge gained over the years by researchers at the University of Macerata (UNIMC) in various fields and Rights on China Economy fields with political purpose, international business, are just a few examples of the disciplines covered.

For years UNIMC, applying  the traditions of Matteo Ricci, has been conducting studies, organizing cultural events, conferences and meetings, participating in national and European projects on typical issues of the social sciences and humanities that have as their focus China. Particular attention is also paid to companies to assist them in developing strategies for internationalization and global expansion.

The Director of the Centre is Professor Francesca Spigarelli.

Website:  http://www.unimc.it/chinacenter/it Chinese Centre/

 

Centro Studi Cinesi Università Urbaniana

The Centre of Chinese Studies, founded in 1975, aims to strengthen, develop and spread a knowledge of China through an in-depth study of "Chinese local knowledge", of those worldviews and daily social practices that distinguish the Chinese social and cultural context.

The main purpose of the Centre is academic research on historical, socio-cultural and religious aspects of China, and the promotion of research projects, courses and conferences on topics relevant to the knowledge of the Chinese world.

The Centre has already activated, in the university, courses and seminars on Chinese culture, philosophy and thought, particularly in the Faculty of Missiology.

The Centre also collaborates with universities and Chinese study centres, both Italian and international, and participates in conferences and seminars organised by these institutions.

Website  http://www.cinurbaniana.net/

  

Dickson Poon China Center, University of Oxford

The Dickson Poon China Center was founded in September 2014 and is a new academic structure of Oxford University. The Center is a center of excellence where some of the best scholars of Chinese culture are gathered. The focus is constant on new, possible, forms of research and design involving Chinese and European researchers. To this regard, the university itself encourages meetings and seminars where progress is analyzed in areas such as economic, political, social. The library of the Centre has 60,000 volumes and a significant part of the volumes come from the "Bodleian Libraries".

Website: http://www.chinacentre.ox.ac.uk/

 

Finnish China Law Center, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finlandia

The Finnish China Law Center is a center which most universities in Finland are members of.

The centre coordinates and supports research and education on Chinese law and legal culture and collaborates with several Finnish universities and Chinese universities.

The activities aim to improve the understanding of Chinese law and legal culture and to support the development of research on these subjects.

The Centre is very active in training and information activities.

Website: http://blogs.helsinki.fi/chinalawcenter/

 

Netherlands China Law Centre

The Netherlands China Law Centre (NCLC) was founded at the Faculty of Law of the University of Amsterdam in June 2010, after more than a decade of academic research and cooperation between the Netherlands and China it is the first academic center in the Netherlands specializing in the study of Chinese law

In the Centre several researchers study the formation and functioning of the law and legal institutions in China, in particular the role that law can play in balancing the regulation of the economy and public and private interests.

The Centre aims to build a connecting role between the Netherlands and China, from the academic world to practice, from law to social sciences.

Website: http://nclc.uva.nl/


NIAS - the Nordic Institute of Asian Studies

The Nordic Institute of Asian Studies is a research center in Copenhagen, the University's independent interest with a prevalence in the social sciences.

The Center is based on three dogmas: research, collaboration, divulgation.

The research is founded on the continuous comparison between scholars who, together, investigate the changes, news and traditions of the Asian culture in today's world. They analyze the factors that have influenced Asian culture over the years, what has been accepted, what has been discarded and the results obtained. A particular interest of the Centre is to spread the processed information, so that it can always have new comparisons with researchers and scholars interested.

NIAS has an important library and database.

Website: http://nias.ku.dk/

 

Norvegian China Law Centre, University of Bergen

The Norwegian China Law Centre, was established on 23 February 2017, located at the University of Bergen, Norway. At the University of Berger, since 2016, a course of Chinese law has been established which offers students a first introduction to the entire Chinese legal system. In addition, as part of the "History of Law and Comparative Law with a particular focus on Chinese legal culture" course, law students of the University have the opportunity to attend the "Chinese Law Summer Program" at the University of the People based in Beijing. The summer program has been in operation since 1998.

Website: http://www.uib.no/en/chinese-law-centre

 

Observatory on the codification and training of the jurist in China within the framework of the romanesque legal system

The Observatory on the codification and training of the jurist in China within the framework of the Romanesque legal system was established in 2008 on the basis of an agreement between the University of Rome "Tor Vergata", "Sapienza" University of Rome, Department of Cultural Identity of the C.N.R., University of China of Political Science and Law (CUPL) - Beijing upon the initiative of Professor Sandro Schipani.

The Observatory's activities, which collect and develop those started in 1988 by the Chair of Roman Law, are carried out in three directions: scientific research, training, documentation with a particular focus on the 'translation'/'translation' of sources of Roman law and Italian law, as well as the study of new laws of the PRC, linking closely research and training of Chinese scholars and lecturers.

Since 1999 the Observatory has launched a series of translations into Italian of laws of the Rpc "Translated laws of the People's Republic of China".

 

School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London

The School of Oriental and African Studies, known as "SOAS" of the highest European institutions, specializes in the study of the language, humanities, economics and law of the countries of Asia, Africa and the Near and Middle East.

In Europe SOAS is the center with the highest number of scholars of Chinese culture and, by far, one of the best centers in the world for the study of China. It boasts the collaboration of the most illustrious scholars in the field and promotes meetings and seminars with them that can inspire future researchers.

The SOAS library, located in the Philips Building, is the national archive for all materials relating to Asia and Africa and, of its kind, is one of the largest libraries in Europe

Website: https://www.soas.ac.uk/


America


Asian Law Center, School of Law, University of Washington

The Asian Law Center was founded in 1962 and is a center within the Department of Constituted Law of the University of Washington.

Mission of the Asian Law Center is to deepen knowledge of Chinese law, commerce, culture, economic development and socio-political systems in Asia, promoting dialogue and understanding of the Chinese legal system.

The Center, active in the spreading of Chinese law, in the training of lawyers, in providing support to various government agencies, was one of the first centers in the United States to deal with Chinese law Director of the Asian Law Center is Professor Zan Dongsheng.

Website: https://www.law.washington.edu/asianlaw/default.aspx


Center for Asian Law, Georgetown Univerisity Law Center

The Center for Asian Law established at the Georgetown University Law Center is the center for research and teaching of Asian law.

Each year the Center hosts researchers from all over Asia, assisting them in their research activities.

The Center also pursues legal reform work in collaboration with Asian partners, other centers and institutions of the and draws on the extensive experience of the Georgetown University Faculty of Law in Georgetown and its global network of alumni, many of whom operate in Asia.

Website: https://www.law.georgetown.edu/law-asia/faculty-and-staff/


Center for Asian Law, University of Pennsylvania Law School, CAL

The Center for Asian Law of the Faculty of Law of the University of Pennsylvania carries out and promotes an important activity of collaboration between professors and students to encourage the study of international and comparative law and the analysis of the Asian political order. Every year, the Centre hosts foreign scholars, researchers and fellows from all over the world.

Website: https://www.law.upenn.edu/institutes/cal/


Center for Chinese Legal Studies – Columbia law School

It is the largest center in the United States for the study of Chinese law. it offers a wide range of curricular, extra-curricular and exchange activities related to China and acts as a bridge with the Chinese legal community.

The Center offers scholarships and also has a strong network of active students worldwide.

Columbia Law School also offers a wide range of courses in Chinese law, depending on the importance of the Chinese legal system and some areas of law, including international trade, the media and the environment.

Website: http://www.law.columbia.edu/chinese-legal-studies


Center for Chinese Studies, UCLA

The Center for Chinese Studies, founded in 1986 at the University of California, based in Los Angeles, has a strong reputation in studies on China.

The Center's goal is to become the most prestigious institution in the West and to become an independent mediator for dialogue with the China of the past, present and future.

The Center, since its establishment, has always recruited prestigious researchers and professors in order to improve the research and spreading of knowledge about China.

The interest of the Center, which has subjects of an interdisciplinary nature, concerning anthropology, archaeology, history, art, geography, law, language, medicine, political science and sociology.

The Centre offers each year numerous scholarships.

The director of the Centre is Professor Min Zhou.

Website: http://www.international.ucla.edu/ccs/home


China Guiding Cases Project, CGCP

In 2010, after the Supreme People's Court decided that specific court rulings should be considered as a " guiding case ", Mei Gechlik of Stanford Law School launched the China Guiding Cases Project.

Over the years, the CGCP team has grown considerably, counting almost 200 law students, many lawyers and professional translators working all over the world.

The CGCP has the principles of transparency and independence and by working with foreign experts contribute to the development of a Chinese judicial system informed to the principles of transparency and independence and by contributing to the training of future professionals of  law.

Website: https://law.stanford.edu/china-guiding-cases-project/


Clarke Program in East Asian Law and Culture, Cornell Law School

The Clarke Program, established after a generous donation by Jack and Dorothea Clarke to Cornell Law School, offers a broad interdisciplinary and humanistic panorama for law studies in East Asia. By means of research, teaching and scientific dialogue, the Program seeks to broaden the scope of legal research and to develop new ways of thinking about law, politics and transnational culture.

It also sponsors numerous activities and events, including scholarships, conferences, research projects, and short and long-term study exchanges. The mission of the Clarke Programme is to promote collaboration - between disciplines, cultures, scholars, young researchers - that brings to light new questions and new answers on topics of urgent contemporary interest.

Website: https://www.lawschool.cornell.edu/international/clarke_program/


East Asian Legal Studies, EALS

The East Asian Legal Studies program of East Asian Law Studies, directed by William P. Alford, was created in 1965 as a result of growing interest from lawyers and scholars in international and comparative law in the legal culture of China, Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia.

It is acknowledged as the oldest and most extensive academic program in the United States dedicated to the study of the law and legal history of the nations and peoples of East Asia and their interaction with the United States.

The activities offered by the Program are numerous and different including lectures, workshops and meetings also with other faculties of Harvard University.

Website: http://www.law.harvard.edu/programs/eals/


Michigan China Law Faculty – University of Michigan 

The Michigan China Law Faculty is one of the leading centers for the study of Chinese law and legal institutions in the United State.

In the first four decades of the twentieth century, the Law Faculty of the University of Michigan was the main destination of the best Chinese law graduates.

Currently, the Faculty of Law offers more courses in Chinese law than any other university in the United States, with the example of Canada. The courses offered, but not limited to, concern the Chinese legal system, the history of Chinese law, constitutional law, law, the World Trade Organization.

The library of the Center is one of the most important libraries of Chinese law in the United States.

Director of the program of studies on Chinese law is Professor Nicholas Howson.

Website: https://www.law.umich.edu/mlawglobal/curriculum/chineselegalstudies


Paul Tsai China Center – Yale University

The Paul Tsai China Center, founded in 1999 by Paul Gewirtz, is an institution dedicated to launching legal reforms in China, improving relations between China and the United States and increasing understanding of China in the United States.

It collaborates with numerous government and academic experts to prepare practical projects.

Since 1999, the Center has also initiated and developed projects with a wide number of institutions and sections in the People's Republic of China including courts, administrative departments, legislature, leading universities, scholars, and lawyers.

Recent research topics include judicial reform, administrative law, criminal law and procedure, constitutional law, legal education, and cetera.

The Centre has an extensive programme of Lectures, Public Testimonials and other activities to raise awareness of Chinese law. Director of the Paul Tsai China Center is Professor Paul Gewirtz.

Website: https://law.yale.edu/china-center


U.S.- Asia Law Institute, USALI

The Asia Law Institute of the NYU School of Law aims to enhance the rule of law and human rights in Asia and to promote a better understanding and in-depth study of some issues of law of common interest.

The Asia Law Institute is recognized as one of the most important American research centers for the study of the law of the People's Republic of China and Taiwan, also very active in the publication and in the exchange of students and teachers.

Website: https://usali.org/


Asia


Center for Asian Legal Studies (CALS) - Faculty of Law- National University of Singapore- NUS

NUS The Center for Asian Legal Studies is known as the global law school in Asia. The main emphasis of the Center is on Asian law research, which gives the Center a strategic role in Asia.

At NUS, the course of Legal Systems of Asia is a mandatory basic course for all university students.

NUS has activated several scholarships that have allowed and allow the on a regular basis execution of research activities that have allowed NUS to acquire a privileged position in the Asian Law Institute (ASLI), in the Asian Journal of Comparative Law (ASJCL) and in cutting-edge research projects.

Website: https://law.nus.edu.sg/cals/index.html


Asian Law Institute – Faculty of Law – National University of Singapore

The Asian Law Institute (ASLI) was founded in 2003 as a result of the combined efforts of several major schools of Asian law to promote Asian legal doctrine and enhanced interaction between Asian law scholars and foreign law research scholars.

The National University of Singapore (NUS), which led the ASLI constitution initiative, continues to provide administrative and financial support.

Each year ASLI organizes an annual conference on Asian law, meetings and conferences, one of the most important, if not the most important.

Website: https://law.nus.edu.sg/asli/index.aspx


The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)

The Chinese University of Hong Kong was founded in 1963 and its main purpose is to combine tradition with modernity in order to harmonize Chinese law with the West. The University has established a series of research programmes in various subject-matter areas in order to provide consulting services and to carry out projects with companies and industries.

The Faculty of Law of the CUHK is both innovative and sensitive to the evolution of local, regional and international law. CUHK offers tailor-made programs with the collaboration and support of leading academics and lawyers.

The Faculty has a highly international focus with professors and teachers from seventeen different countries in Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand, mainland China, Taiwan and other parts of Asia.

Website: http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/english/index.html


Australia


China Studies Centre - University of Sidney

The China Studies Centre of the University of Sydney was founded in 2011

The Centre engages in multi-disciplinary research on different aspects of China, collaborates with numerous universities, businesses and government agencies in order to raise awareness and to spread knowledge about China, the role of China and its impact in Australia and in the world.

The center organizes every year the Business Forum on China.

Director of the Chinese Studies Centre is Professor Luigi Tomba.

Website: http://sydneyuniversity.cn/director-of-china-studies-centre-visits-centre-in-china

  

Asian Law Centre – University of Melbourne

The Asian Law Centre (ALC) started its activity in 1985 and is the first as well as the largest centre in Australia dedicated both to the study and understanding of Chinese law.

It has the aims, by way of exaK’mple but not necessarily limited, but also to improve the knowledge and understanding of Chinese law, to support the rule of law in China, to promote the teaching and research of Chinese law in Australia, to exchange information with foreign universities, to promote the comparative method in the study of Chinese law.

Website: http://law.unimelb.edu.au/centres/alc


Australian National University - College Of Asia & The Pacific

This University, based in Canberra, is one of the most important teaching and research centers in the world for Asia.

The University has its roots in the research school of the University of Pacific and the School of Oriental Languages, founded in 1946 and 1952 respectively.

China Institute, within the University, is composed of all the disciplines staff and students from the Australian National University, engaged in education and research on every aspect of the Chinese world.

Currently the Australian National University has more than 50 academics doing research on the China

Website: http://chinainstitute.anu.edu.au/