The Institute of Sociology (IOS) of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) was founded on January 18, 1980. As China’s national and the largest academic institution dedicated to sociology, the IOS is the earliest-established sociological institute after the restoration of sociological studies and has long served as an important think tank. In addition, the IOS hosts the administrative bodies and secretariat of three national associations: the Chinese Sociology Association, the Chinese Social Psychology Association and the Chinese Social Change Research Association. In the meanwhile, Beijing Lu Xueyi Sociological Development Foundation, China’s first sociology foundation named after an individual, is also headquartered here. The first director of the IOS was distinguished sociologist Professor Fei Hsiao-Tung. His successive successors include Professor He Jianzhang, Professor Lu Xueyi, Professor Jing Tiankui and Professor Li Peilin respectively. The incumbent director is Professor Chen Guangjin and the deputy directors are Sun Zhuangzhi, Zhang Yi and Zhao Kebin. The IOS currently has 84 staff members, including 20 research fellows, 33 associate research fellows and 20 assistant research fellows. Among its research staff, 73 holds doctoral degrees earned from the prestigious universities at home and abroad, while 15 have post-doctoral research experience. 　　 

　　The IOS has 17 research departments, including Social Theory, Social Survey and Sociological Methods, Sociology of Development, Urban Sociology, Rural Sociology, Sociology of Marriage and Family, Youth Studies and Sociology of Education, Social Psychology, Sociology of Economy,Science and Technology, Sociology of Consumption and Culture, Sociology of Gender, Social Policy Studies, Society work and Social Governance, Sociological Studies Editorial Office, Youth Studies Editorial Office, General Administration Office and Research Administration.