About Us

The Division of Ethnic and Religious Studies of the Institute of West Asian and African Studies (IWAAS)/ China-Africa Institute (CAI) of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) was established in November 2019. It’s a new division established according to the guidance of CASS and IWAAS/ CAI on the adjustment of disciplines and research divisions. The new division focuses on the basic situation of ethnicity and religions in the Middle East and Africa, ethnic issues, religious issues, ethnic and religious factors behind the hot issues, the evolution and interaction of African traditional religions, Islam, Christianity, Judaism and other religions.

There are 5 staff (including 1 postdoctoral researcher) in the Division of Ethnic and Religious Studies, all of whom have PhD degrees. Three researchers focus on Sub-Saharan Africa, and two on the Middle East and North Africa. The Director of the Division is Dr. Li Wengang (liwg@cass.org.cn), the Associate Researcher of the IWAAS/CAI and the Deputy Director is Dr. Guo Jia (guojia@cass.org.cn), the Assistant Researcher of the IWAAS/CAI.

Major Fields of Research

According to the staffs’ research expertise, research interests and the needs of the development of the Division, the academic interests and case study countries of the researchers are as follows:

 Li Wengang, African Ethnic Religious Studies, African Islamic Studies, and Nigerian Ethnic &Religious Studies.

Guo Jia, the study of African ethnicity and religions, the field of study is African Christianity; Congo and DR Congo.

Zhang Bo, ethnic-religious study in the Middle East in general, and Judaism and Islam; Israel and Turkey.

Qi Qiangfei, ethnic-religious study in the Middle East in general; Egypt and Iran.

Postdoctoral Yu Tao, theoretical studies of African ethnic issues.

Research Projects

Each staff of the Division has long paid close attention to the religious issues of the African peoples and those in the Middle East. Currently, the main projects undertaken by the members of the Division include: African Islam Studies, African Christian Studies, the Study of Ethnic and Religious Issues and the Process of the Democratization of Nigeria, Guide to World States: Nigeria, A Social History of the Jews in the Ottoman Empire in the 16^th and 17^th Centuries, the Ibn Sina on Soul and Intellect.

While strengthening the study on the basic ethnic and religious situation and hot issues in key countries in the Middle East and Africa, the research fellows also put forward high-quality think tank reports to meet the needs of the national “the Belt and Road Initiative”.

Contact information

Dr. Li Wengang, Director

Division of Ethnic and Religious Studies

Institute of West Asian and African Studies/China-Africa Institute

Chinese Academy of Social Sciences

Building 3, No. 1 National Stadium North Road

Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101

China

Tel: 86 10 87421062