The Yale Center for Comparative Research (CCR) promotes theory-driven, empirically rigorous comparative and historical research into social life. We understand the terms "comparative" and "historical" quite broadly. By design there is no specific temporal, geographical or methodological focus. Some of our participants' research projects compare countries in different historical periods; other projects take emergent groups, organizations or public policies as their units of analysis.

We use a variety of methods and our collective scientific agenda is open and evolving. Current areas of interest include state formation; empire; social networks; religion and politics; comparative political economy; cultures of nationalism; post-communist transitions; the constitution of racial and gender identities; patrimonialism; democracy, law and citizenship; social movements and class formations.

The CCR's primary tasks are to train graduate students and to build scholarly dialogue and community. We also sponsor and support relevant thematic intellectual enterprises, including interdisciplinary conferences and collaborations. These activities range from informal ongoing conversations to articulated research programs and joint publications, in which the faculty and graduate students from various disciplines participate.

The CCR holds a weekly Workshop and occasionally sponsors post-doctoral research fellowships.