▁comb ines ▁this ▁analysis ▁with ▁innov ative ▁compar ative ▁research ▁on ▁international ▁relations , ▁development ▁and ▁global isation , ▁violence ▁and ▁security , ▁and ▁political ▁systems . ▁The ▁G IG A ▁advis es ▁the ▁Federal ▁Foreign ▁Office ▁and ▁other ▁branches ▁of ▁the ▁federal ▁government . ▁Since ▁ 2 0 0 9 ▁it ▁has ▁had ▁an ▁office ▁in ▁Berlin . ▁▁ ▁The ▁G IG A ▁is ▁a ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁Le ib n iz ▁Association . ▁ ▁Research ▁The ▁G IG A ▁is ▁a ▁leading ▁international ▁research ▁inst itute ▁for ▁area ▁studies ▁and ▁compar ative ▁area ▁studies . ▁It ▁emp lo ys ▁approximately ▁ 1 6 0 ▁people , ▁ 9 0 ▁of ▁whom ▁are ▁political ▁scient ists , ▁econom ists , ▁social ▁scient ists , ▁peace ▁and ▁conflict ▁research ers , ▁or ▁histor ians . ▁The ▁G IG A ’ s ▁research ▁is ▁organ ised ▁according ▁to ▁a ▁matrix ▁structure . ▁The ▁academ ics ▁study ▁the ▁four ▁global ▁regions ▁of ▁▁ ▁Africa , ▁ ▁Asia , ▁ ▁Latin ▁America , ▁and ▁the ▁Middle ▁East ▁ ▁and ▁simultaneously ▁work ▁within ▁the ▁four ▁research ▁program mes ▁on ▁the ▁following ▁issues : ▁▁ ▁Account ability ▁and ▁Part icip ation , ▁▁▁ ▁Peace ▁and ▁Security , ▁▁▁ ▁G row th ▁and ▁Development , ▁and ▁▁▁ ▁Power ▁and ▁Ide as . ▁ ▁Organisation ▁ ▁The ▁G IG A ▁was ▁founded ▁in ▁ 1 9 6 4 ▁as ▁the ▁German ▁O verse as ▁Institute ▁( De utsch es ▁Über see - Institut ) ▁by ▁the ▁City ▁of ▁Hamburg ▁and