The Center on African American Politics and Society (CAAPS) provides an intellectual infrastructure for social science research on the political, social, and economic conditions affecting black communities. It aims to support theoretically sophisticated and policy-informed research among Columbia faculty, using a variety of methods and approaches that intersect various disciplines, including political science, psychology, sociology, law, economics and urban studies. The center strives to:
be a cutting-edge research unit that facilitates collaborative research within and across disciplines
conducts conferences and workshops, support graduate studies in the social sciences on the black experience
through teaching and mentoring, encourage undergraduates to pursue graduate studies on topics that inform black communities
With its emphasis on policy-relevant research, the Center on African-American Politics and Society aims to bridge the center's research with the needs and concerns of policy and community-based actors who work within and in behalf of black communities.
