Center for Research and Social Action
 | |
| Abbreviation | CIAS |
|---|---|
| Established | 1956 |
| Location |
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Director | Rodrigo Zarazaga, S.J.[1] |
| Affiliations | Jesuit, Catholic |
| Website | CIAS |
Center for Research and Social Action (CIAS) is a Jesuit organization founded in 1956 which combines social research and leadership training. It would foster political leadership and a constituency that acknowledges the responsibility of government to prioritize development for the benefit of the most disadvantaged in society. CIAS is non-sectarian and trains leaders for all parts of Latin America in the economics and politics of good governance.
Institute of Political Leadership
Leadership and Policy Analysis Program
In 2015 CIAS reorganized its training program to include theoretical coursework in analysis and design of public policy supplemented with case studies, debates, simulations, and workshops, devised to develop skills in negotiation, leadership, and constituency-building.
This program involves eight months of coursework followed by optional specialized courses. During the eight months students have 20 class hours on each of six courses: microeconomics for politicians, macroeconomics for politicians, leadership, political communication, the state and public administration, and coalition governments in Argentine politics. Outstanding students in the program are given free a nine-day trip to Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., where they interact with various experts.
Internships and specialization courses
CIAS has arranged that its most promising graduates can intern with major political groups.
Upon completion of the Leadership and Policy Analysis Program, students may take specialized courses in public policy design and evaluation / health, poverty, and education / economics / electoral strategy and political communication.
While CIAS does not endorse any political party, it encourages students to form political and advocacy groups with like-minded persons: students, alumni, academic staff, and political and civil networks locally and abroad.
Selection of participants
Students are generally between 25 and 35 years old and need have no previous experience in the field. CIAS looks to have students from across the socioeconomic spectrum represented in its student body. Scholarships are awarded based on need and academic achievement, with full scholarships available for those who have most distinguished themselves in their previous schooling.[2]
Research
CIAs is a recognized think tank on socio-economic issues.[3] Its current research is focused on three broad areas.
Economic development and political geography
This area includes comparing the performance of various states and determining how this is related to their capabilities, or negatively to back-scratching or to overdependence on the national government. Barriers to socioeconomic progress at the national and more local levels are studied. Underdevelopment is seen as coming not from lack of resources but from insufficient funding, with connivance between government at various levels to enrich themselves while neglecting the needs of the people. Research would find ways to alleviate these problems.
Poverty and public policy
Continuing lack of basic human needs – food, health care, education, employment – for a large segment of Latin America is due in part to poor implementation of policy. Research here would overcome discrepancies between plans and outcomes, increase collaboration between government and those served, and decrease politicization of delivering services. Subtopics include urbanization and shanty towns, the informal work sector, worker potential, and welfare needs.
Democratic quality and representation issues
As democracy becomes more established on the continent, its successes in delivering services and assuring public safety must be studied and replicated. Topics being addressed are excessive presidential power, poor law enforcement, growth of the informal and illegal sectors, and the potential of grassroots organization. [4]