Institute of International and Social Studies  

The Institute of International and Social Studies (IISS) is an interdisciplinary research and development institute operating in social sciences. Activities of IISS include implementation of scientific projects and teaching of sociology.

IISS was established on 4th October 1988 as the Institute of Philosophy, Sociology and Law of the Academy of Sciences of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic, uniting the workgroups of the former Institute of History and Institute of Economy of the Academy of Sciences.

In 2008, two formerly independent establishments merged with IISS – the Chair of Social Sciences of the Estonian Institute of Humanities and the Department of Sociology of the Social Sciences Faculty. Today, in addition to research activities, IISS offers both graduate and postgraduate education in sociology.

Research and information units of IISS, namely (1) Department of Ethnosociology & Political Studies; (2) Department of Social Stratification; (3) Centre for Lifestyles Studies; (4) Centre for Gender Studies; and (5) Centre for Civil Society Research and Development – all participate in numerous local and international research projects. Research fellows of IISS participate as experts in public discussion and as evaluators in policy planning.

Studies and research are well integrated; the teaching staff consists of specialists who teach subjects well-known to them through their research projects, and all of the students of IISS are offered the possibility of participating in these projects.