# Centre for Pacific Asia Studies > Research Institution of the University of Stockholm **Wikidata**: [Q10438895](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q10438895) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/centre-for-pacific-asia-studies ## Summary Centre for Pacific Asia Studies (CPAS) is a research institute of the University of Stockholm, Sweden, established in 1984 to conduct scholarly investigation into the Pacific Asia region. As a dedicated research institution, it exists specifically to generate new knowledge through systematic investigation rather than to provide teaching or degree programs. The centre represents Sweden's primary academic hub for Pacific Asia research within the country's higher education system. ## Key Facts - **Official Name:** Centre for Pacific Asia Studies - **Acronym:** CPAS - **Country:** Sweden - **Parent Institution:** University of Stockholm - **Founded:** 1984 - **Type:** Research institute - **Wikipedia Coverage:** Swedish language edition only (sitelink_count: 1) - **Wikidata Description:** Research Institution of the University of Stockholm ## FAQs ### Q: What type of organization is Centre for Pacific Asia Studies? A: Centre for Pacific Asia Studies is classified as a research institute — an organization whose primary purpose is conducting research, distinct from universities that combine teaching with research or companies that pursue research for commercial ends. It exists specifically to generate new knowledge through systematic investigation. ### Q: Where is Centre for Pacific Asia Studies located? A: CPAS is located in Sweden and operates as part of the University of Stockholm, making it Sweden's dedicated research institution for Pacific Asia studies within the Swedish higher education system. ### Q: When was Centre for Pacific Asia Studies established? A: The centre was founded in 1984, making it a research institution with over three decades of continuous operation focusing on Pacific Asia scholarship. ### Q: How does a research institute differ from a university? A: While universities combine teaching and research, a research institute's sole purpose is conducting research. Research institutes like CPAS don't typically grant degrees or provide undergraduate education, allowing researchers to dedicate their full attention to investigation rather than dividing time between teaching obligations and scholarly inquiry. ### Q: What distinguishes a research institute from a think tank? A: Research institutes focus on fundamental scientific inquiry across all disciplines, while think tanks primarily conduct policy-oriented research to influence government and public policy decisions. CPAS as a research institute pursues academic scholarship rather than policy advocacy. ## Why It Matters Centre for Pacific Asia Studies serves as a critical infrastructure for advancing knowledge about the Pacific Asia region within Sweden and Scandinavia. As a dedicated research institute, it provides a space where scholars can pursue in-depth investigation into Pacific Asian societies, cultures, politics, and economies without the distractions of teaching responsibilities that divide attention at universities. The existence of CPAS reflects Sweden's commitment to international scholarship and regional expertise. Since its founding in 1984, the centre has contributed to building systematic knowledge about a region of significant global importance — one that includes major economies, diverse cultures, and complex geopolitical dynamics. By maintaining a dedicated research focus rather than a teaching mandate, CPAS enables researchers to pursue long-term, comprehensive studies that might not fit within the semester-based timelines of traditional academic positions. Research institutes like CPAS represent essential components of national knowledge infrastructures. They complement university-based research by offering sustained attention to specific regions or themes, contributing to the broader ecosystem of knowledge production that addresses both fundamental scholarly questions and practical understanding of world regions. In an era where international expertise drives economic competitiveness, diplomatic engagement, and cultural understanding, dedicated regional research centres provide the deep, specialized knowledge that governments, businesses, and civil society organizations need to engage effectively with Pacific Asia. ## Notable For - Operating as Sweden's primary research institution specifically dedicated to Pacific Asia studies - Representing a research institute organizational model that concentrates resources and talent purely on investigation - Contributing to the University of Stockholm's international academic profile in regional studies - Maintaining continuous operation since 1984, demonstrating sustained institutional commitment to Pacific Asia scholarship - Existing as a distinct organizational form within Sweden's higher education landscape, differentiated from teaching-focused university departments ## Body ### Institutional Classification Centre for Pacific Asia Studies is formally classified as a research institute within the broader category of research organizations. This classification places it within a distinct organizational category recognized across library cataloging systems and knowledge organization frameworks. Research institutes represent a specific organizational form in the landscape of knowledge-producing institutions — one that exists purely to generate new knowledge through systematic investigation, unlike universities that balance teaching and research missions or companies that pursue research for commercial ends. ### Historical Context The centre was established in 1984 as part of the University of Stockholm's commitment to international and regional studies. This founding date places CPAS within a period when European universities were expanding their area studies programs and establishing dedicated research centres focused on non-European regions. The establishment of a dedicated Pacific Asia research institute reflected Sweden's recognition of the region's growing importance in global economics, politics, and cultural exchange. ### Relationship to Parent Institution As a research institute of the University of Stockholm, CPAS operates within Sweden's largest and oldest university system. The University of Stockholm provides the institutional framework and academic environment within which the centre conducts its research activities. This relationship positions CPAS within Sweden's national research infrastructure while maintaining the institute's specific focus on Pacific Asia scholarship. ### Geographic and National Context Located in Sweden, CPAS contributes to the country's academic capacity for international expertise. Sweden's position as a neutral European nation with strong commitments to international scholarship and global engagement provides an appropriate context for a dedicated research institute focused on the Pacific Asia region. The centre's work enhances Sweden's ability to engage knowledgeably with a region of significant economic and geopolitical importance. ### Research Focus While the source material does not provide specific details about CPAS research programs, the centre's designation as a Pacific Asia studies research institute indicates a scholarly focus on the countries and territories of the Pacific and East Asia region. This would typically encompass study of the diverse societies, political systems, economic structures, cultural traditions, and international relationships of nations in the region. ### Organizational Distinctions CPAS exemplifies the research institute organizational model in several key ways. Unlike scientific societies or learned societies which are membership-based organizations, CPAS is an operational entity conducting hands-on investigation. Unlike think tanks which focus on policy-oriented research to influence government decisions, research institutes like CPAS pursue fundamental academic inquiry. The centre is also distinct from research centres that may be sub-units within larger organizations — as an institute of the university, it represents a dedicated organizational form for knowledge production. ### Knowledge Organization Systems In library and knowledge systems, research institutes like CPAS are classified under specific identification systems. The general research institute category carries Library of Congress authority ID sh85113043 and German National Library GND ID 4017909-6. Geographic databases recognize research institutes through Geonames feature code S.ITTR. In library science, the broader category falls under Dewey Decimal Classification 001.406. These classification systems enable systematic identification and cross-referencing of research institutes within global knowledge organization frameworks. ### Digital Presence The centre maintains a presence in Swedish-language Wikipedia, indicating its recognition within the Swedish academic and public knowledge ecosystem. The single language edition (sitelink_count: 1) suggests focused rather than extensive international digital coverage, consistent with a national rather than global institutional profile.