National Social Science Fund of China

National Social Science Fund of China
Name	National Social Science Fund of China
Native name	国家社会科学基金
Formed	1986
Jurisdiction	People's Republic of China
Headquarters	Beijing
Parent agency	Chinese Academy of Social Sciences

National Social Science Fund of China is a central funding body established to support research in humanities and social sciences within the People's Republic of China. It provides competitive grants to scholars affiliated with institutions such as the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Peking University, Tsinghua University and regional universities across provinces like Guangdong, Sichuan, and Jiangsu. The fund has awarded projects involving researchers from organizations including the Chinese Academy of Engineering and collaborations with international partners such as the United Nations, World Bank, and universities like Harvard University and University of Oxford.

History

The fund was created in 1986 during the reform era led by leaders including Deng Xiaoping and implemented through ministries like the Ministry of Education (People's Republic of China) and the Ministry of Finance (People's Republic of China). Early administrations involved institutes such as the Institute of Economics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and scholars connected to the Beijing Normal University and Fudan University. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s the fund expanded under policy frameworks influenced by documents from the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council of the People's Republic of China, paralleling initiatives seen in funding bodies like the National Natural Science Foundation of China and programs supported by the National Development and Reform Commission. High-profile recipients have included scholars associated with the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, Renmin University of China, Zhejiang University, and research centers tied to the People's Liberation Army think tanks.

Organization and Administration

Administration of the fund involves committees and panels linked with institutions such as the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the State Council Information Office, and provincial science and technology offices in regions like Hubei and Shandong. Oversight has involved officials from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the Central Party School of the Communist Party of China, and the National Bureau of Statistics of China. The fund’s governance structure includes discipline-specific review boards with experts from universities including Nankai University, Wuhan University, Sun Yat-sen University, and specialty institutes such as the Institute of Sociology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the Institute of Philosophy, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Financial administration coordinates with entities like the Ministry of Finance (People's Republic of China) and auditing bodies modeled on practices from the China Audit Office.

Funding Programs and Grant Categories

Grant categories cover projects comparable to international schemes such as the Horizon 2020 framework and national equivalents like the 973 Program and 863 Program, with categories for "major projects", "key projects", "general projects", and "young scholar projects". Recipients have included teams from Peking University HSBC Business School, Tsinghua University School of Public Policy and Management, and regional centers at Northeast Normal University and Southwest University. Cross-disciplinary initiatives have linked units like the National School of Development, Peking University, the China Academy of Social Sciences Institute of Law, and collaborations with the World Health Organization on social policy topics. Funding streams also support publication and translation efforts involving publishers such as People's Publishing House and academic presses like China Social Sciences Press.

Application and Evaluation Process

Applications are submitted through institutional channels at universities and think tanks including CASS Institute of World Economics and Politics, Renmin University School of Law, and municipal research offices in cities like Shanghai and Chengdu. Peer review panels draw specialists from institutions such as Beijing Foreign Studies University, Central University of Finance and Economics, Tianjin University, and international reviewers with affiliations to Columbia University, Stanford University, and the London School of Economics. Evaluation criteria reference disciplinary norms found in publications from the China Law Society, Chinese Sociological Association, and professional associations like the Econometric Society and American Political Science Association where applicable. Funding decisions are announced in coordination with provincial education commissions and research administration offices at institutions like Jilin University and Xiamen University.

Major Projects and Impact

Major funded projects have addressed topics tied to national priorities addressed by bodies such as the State Council of the People's Republic of China, covering areas investigated by researchers at Renmin University of China, Fudan University School of Sociology and Anthropology, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences institutes. Notable outcomes include monographs and policy briefs influencing ministries including the Ministry of Civil Affairs (People's Republic of China), Ministry of Commerce (People's Republic of China), and policy units within the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. Collaborative research has engaged international centers like the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation secretariat, the International Monetary Fund, and university centers at Yale University and Australian National University. The fund has supported landmark studies on urbanization involving municipal governments in Beijing, Shenzhen, and Chongqing, and cultural projects in partnership with institutions such as the Palace Museum and the National Library of China.

Controversies and Criticism

Criticism has centered on issues of political influence linked to oversight by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and administrative practices involving the Ministry of Education (People's Republic of China), raising debates among scholars at Peking University, Tsinghua University, and Renmin University of China. Concerns about transparency and peer review processes have been voiced by academic societies such as the Chinese Sociological Association, legal scholars at Tsinghua University School of Law and international observers from institutions like Human Rights Watch and the Open Society Foundations. Disputes over project selection and priorities have led to discussions in media outlets including Xinhua News Agency, China Daily, and academic journals published by China Social Sciences Press.

Category:Research funding in China