Regional Coordination of Economic and Social Research

CRIES (Coordinadora Regional de Investigaciones Económicas y Sociales), known in English as the Regional Coordination of Economic and Social Research, is a Latin American and Caribbean think tank and regional network founded in 1982 in Managua, Nicaragua. It connects more than 70 research centers, think tanks and civil society organizations to promote public debate and citizen participation in the regional agenda. Its work spans research, analysis and advocacy for Latin America and the Caribbean. The organization was born as a space for articulation between researchers and civil society organizations. Over the decades it has accompanied central debates for Latin America and the Caribbean: it expanded across the region in the 1990s, consolidated as a reference on security and human rights in the 2000s, incorporated an environmental and sustainable development agenda in the 2010s, and in the 2020s has updated its methodologies and adopted artificial intelligence as a key tool in its projects. CRIES is structured around research areas and programs. Its research areas include Regional Security and Arms Control, with monitoring of violence and small arms and light weapons (SALW) trafficking dynamics through interactive dashboards and data analysis technologies; Climate Security and Peace, analyzing the impact of climate change on regional stability and developing mitigation strategies for the prevention of socio-environmental conflicts; Combating Disinformation, implementing technological tools and data intelligence to identify, analyze and neutralize disinformation campaigns; Human Rights and Early Warning, with normative monitoring and proactive documentation of risk scenarios using early warning systems to protect vulnerable populations; Conflict Prevention, managing tensions and building peace through political dialogue; and International Relations and Integration. Its programs include Building Resilience and Preventive Mechanisms, aimed at identifying, analyzing and fostering activities around strengthening preventive capacities for the protection of human rights, based on Latin American and Caribbean experiences; Citizen Diplomacy and Civil Society, which combines the "non-official" search for channels of dialogue and/or conflict transformation between confronting groups or countries with sustained action in multilateral spheres, both regional and global, to promote an agenda of change around peacebuilding and violence prevention; Regional Integration and New World Order, which promotes studies monitoring the state of regional integration in Latin America and the Caribbean from a civil society perspective, analyzing conventional integration schemes such as the Central American Common Market (MCCA), CARICOM, CAN and MERCOSUR, as well as recent integration projects in the region (UNASUR, ALBA and CELAC), and integration proposals that include the United States and Canada (NAFTA, the US-Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement, and various bilateral treaties); and Pensamiento Propio, which promotes the publication of the academic journal "Pensamiento Propio," gathering economic, political and social analysis from recognized academics, political leaders and civil society members from the region and the world. Since 2023, Andrei Serbin Pont has held the position of President. CRIES describes itself as a Latin American and Caribbean think tank dedicated to research, analysis and advocacy for Latin America and the Caribbean.

CRIES (Coordinadora Regional de Investigaciones Económicas y Sociales) was founded in 1982 in Managua, Nicaragua, as a space for articulation between researchers and civil society organizations. It is a non-governmental organization or regional think tank made up of a network of research centers, non-governmental organizations, professional associations and foundations that promote economic and social research in Latin America and the Caribbean. Over the years, the network has accompanied central debates for Latin America and the Caribbean. In the 1990s it expanded across Latin America and the Caribbean. In the 2000s it consolidated as a reference in security and human rights. In the 2010s it incorporated an environmental agenda and sustainable development. In the 2020s it has updated its methodologies and adopted artificial intelligence as a key tool in its projects. Its mission is to promote the participation of civil society in regional integration processes and in public debate on issues related to regional and global agendas, and to empower networks and civil society organizations in the formulation, implementation and monitoring of public policies related to thematic focuses. CRIES organizes its work through research areas and programs. Its research areas include Regional Security and Arms Control, Climate Security and Peace, Combating Disinformation, Human Rights and Early Warning, Conflict Prevention, and International Relations and Integration. Its programs include Building Resilience and Preventive Mechanisms; Citizen Diplomacy and Civil Society; Regional Integration and New World Order; and Pensamiento Propio, which promotes the publication of the academic journal of the same name. Since 2023, Andrei Serbin Pont has held the position of President.

• 2023

  Andrei Serbin Pont assumes the presidency.

• 2020

  Updating of methodologies and adoption of artificial intelligence as a key tool.

• 2010

  Incorporation of environmental agenda and sustainable development.

• 2000

  Consolidation as a reference in security and human rights.

• 1990

  Expansion across Latin America and the Caribbean.

• 1982

  Founded in Managua, Nicaragua.

A Latin American and Caribbean think tank and regional network promoting public debate and citizen participation in the regional agenda.

• Pensamiento Propio

• Regional Security and Arms Control

• Climate Security and Peace

• Combating Disinformation

• Human Rights and Early Warning

• Conflict Prevention

• International Relations and Integration

1. 1CRIES - Iniciocries.org
2. 2CRIES - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3CRIES - Wikipedia (Spanish)es.wikipedia.org