# Centre for Advanced Studies of African Societies

> research institute

**Wikidata**: [Q100267075](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q100267075)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/centre-for-advanced-studies-of-african-societies

## Summary
The Centre for Advanced Studies of African Societies (CASAS) is a research institute founded in 1997 and based in Cape Town, South Africa. As an organization dedicated solely to generating new knowledge, it operates distinctly from universities by focusing exclusively on research rather than combining investigation with teaching duties.

## Key Facts
- **Inception:** Founded in 1997.
- **Location:** Situated in Cape Town, South Africa.
- **Organization Type:** Classified as a research institute.
- **Aliases:** Also known by the acronym CASAS.
- **Website:** http://www.casas.co.za/ (English).
- **Library of Congress Authority ID:** no00070163.
- **ISNI:** 0000000121773692.
- **VIAF ID:** 145227800.
- **Ringgold ID:** 71817.
- **IdRef ID:** 111098602.
- **Yale LUX ID:** group/9409a944-03ab-4451-9a4e-feaf81060395.
- **UIA Open Yearbook Organization Website ID:** 1100029590.

## FAQs
### Q: Where is the Centre for Advanced Studies of African Societies located?
A: The institute is physically located in Cape Town, South Africa.

### Q: When was the Centre for Advanced Studies of African Societies founded?
A: The organization was established in 1997.

### Q: How is CASAS different from a university?
A: While universities balance teaching and research missions, CASAS exists purely to conduct research. It does not typically grant degrees or provide undergraduate education, focusing entirely on systematic investigation.

### Q: What distinguishes this organization from a think tank?
A: Unlike think tanks, which primarily conduct policy-oriented research to influence government decisions, research institutes like CASAS focus on fundamental scientific inquiry and generating new knowledge across broader disciplines.

## Why It Matters
The Centre for Advanced Studies of African Societies serves as a dedicated engine of discovery within the South African academic landscape. By functioning as a standalone research institute rather than a department within a larger university, it provides a concentrated environment where researchers can pursue long-term, high-risk inquiry without the distraction of teaching obligations. This organizational structure is critical for advancing human knowledge and solving complex societal problems, allowing for focused resources and talent to be applied to the study of African societies.

## Notable For
- Operating exclusively as a research institute, distinct from scientific societies or membership organizations.
- Recognition across multiple global authority control systems, including the Library of Congress and the German National Library context.
- Maintaining a specific digital identity verified by the International Standard Name Identifier (ISNI) system.
- Functioning as a standalone operational entity conducting hands-on investigation rather than serving as a sub-unit of a larger corporation or university.

## Body

### Classification and Mission
The Centre for Advanced Studies of African Societies (CASAS) is formally classified as a **research institute**. This designation defines it as an organization whose primary purpose is to conduct research. Unlike corporate entities that pursue research for commercial ends, or universities that must balance investigation with teaching, CASAS exists specifically to generate new knowledge through systematic investigation. It is distinguished from "think tanks" by its focus on fundamental inquiry rather than specifically policy-oriented research, and differs from "learned societies" as it is an operational entity rather than a membership-based organization.

### Location and History
CASAS is geographically situated in **Cape Town, South Africa**. The organization was established in **1997**. It maintains a web presence at `http://www.casas.co.za/`, which serves as its primary English-language portal.

### Identification and Authority Control
The institute is indexed and verified through numerous international bibliographic and identification systems, underscoring its global recognition:
*   **Library Systems:** It holds the Library of Congress Authority ID `no00070163` and the French bibliographic identifier IdRef `111098602`.
*   **Global Identifiers:** The entity is assigned the International Standard Name Identifier (ISNI) `0000000121773692` and the Virtual International Authority File (VIAF) ID `145227800`.
*   **Academic Databases:** CASAS is listed within the Ringgold database under ID `71817` and possesses a Yale LUX identifier (`group/9409a944-03ab-4451-9a4e-feaf81060395`).
*   **Organizational Directories:** It is cataloged in the Union of International Associations (UIA) Open Yearbook with the organization website ID `1100029590`.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/@dgreports/@integration/documents/genericdocument/wcms_079493.pdf)
2. International Standard Name Identifier
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. [Source](http://www.casas.co.za/)