INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS RESEARCH
INSTITUTES
Directories, Databases, and Search Engine for International Affairs Research Institutes and Their Products
NOTE: Specialized research institutes are also found on the Peace, Conflict Resolution, and International Security, American Foreign Policy, Global Environment, European Union, and International Development pages of this site, among others.
Directories of Major Research Institutes Worldwide--
World
Press, Harvard
Kennedy School
Australian
Policy Online-- "Easy access to much of the best
Australian social, economic, cultural and political
research available online... a news service and library
specialising in Australian public policy reports and
articles from academic research centres, think tanks,
government and non-government organisations."
Global Go
To Think Tank Index Reports-- From the Think Tanks
and Civil Societies Program at the University of
Pennsylvania, descriptive and analytical results of an
annual "international survey of over 1,950 scholars,
public and private donors, policy makers, and journalists
who helped rank more than 6,500 think tanks using a set of
18 criteria developed by the TTCSP."
Harvard Kennedy School Library Think Tank Search-- "A custom Google search of more than 680 think tanks and research centers... [i.e.] institutions affiliated with universities, governments, advocacy groups, foundations, non-governmental organizations, and businesses that generate public policy research, analysis, and activity." Note the useful "Related Links" list on this page.
Navigating
Through Turbulence: Think Tanks' Impact on Policy in a
Rapidly Changing World-- Broad-ranging,
comprehensive, and evaluative study by FP Analytics, the
independent research division of Foreign Policy magazine. "FP
Analytics conducted an in-depth survey and semi-structured
interviews with think tank personnel to highlight the
experiences and viewpoints of the think tank staff working
on the ground to advance democracy, economic openness,
human rights, and poverty reduction in their home
countries."
Top Influential Think Tanks-- From
Academic Influence, a ranking and description of the top
50 highly influential think tanks in the world today.
Some Major International Affairs
Research Institutes
• Atlantic
Council-- "Promotes constructive leadership and
engagement in international affairs based on the Atlantic
Community's central role in meeting global challenges." Up
to date news and analysis with policy papers, reports, and
more online. Note the various policy
analysis blogs.
• British American Security Information
Council-- An independent research organization
that analyzes government policies in defense,
disarmament, military strategy, and nuclear issues.
• Brookings Institution-- The oldest
think tank in the U.S., seeks to improve the performance
of American institutions, the effectiveness of government
programs, and the quality of U.S. public policies,
including foreign policy. The Foreign Policy section provides
international analysis and commentary. There is an international
affairs blog.
• Carnegie
Council for Ethics in International Affairs-- Fine
large site from an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit
U.S. organization dedicated to research and education in
the areas of international ethics, war and peace, global
social justice, and religion in politics. Posts a wide
range of videos, "research papers, articles, and annotated
collections of materials."
• Carnegie
Endowment for International Peace-- Conducts
programs of research, discussion, publication, and
education in international affairs and U.S. foreign
policy, and publishes the quarterly journal Foreign
Policy. The Carnegie Endowment has other centers
with diverse publications in Beirut and Brussels (for
the EU), and a Russia Eurasia
Center in Berlin.
• Center for
European Policy Analysis-- Washington-based, with
the mission "to ensure a strong
and enduring transatlantic alliance rooted in democratic
values and principles with strategic vision, foresight,
and impact. Through cutting-edge research, analysis, and
engagement, we provide innovative insight on trends
affecting democracy, security, and defense..."
•
Center for
Strategic and International Studies-- Leading U.S.
public policy research institution, with many online
studies and multimedia resources on country and regional
situations and key functional areas, such as international
finance, U.S. domestic and economic policy, and U.S.
foreign policy and national security issues. Features Topical,
Regional,
and Analysis sections.
• Center for
Transatlantic Relations-- At Johns Hopkins
University's School of Advanced International Studies, "a
non-profit research center that engages opinion leaders on
contemporary challenges facing Europe and North America.
The goal of the Center is to strengthen and reorient
transatlantic relations to the dynamics of a globalizing
world." Posts articles, policy studies, conference
proceedings, and news on the topic.
• Centre for International Governance
Innovation-- "Independent, nonpartisan [Canadian]
think tank that addresses international governance
challenges... supports research, forms networks, advances
policy debate, builds capacity, and generates ideas for
multilateral governance improvements." Site posts blogs
and CIGI's research products in many forms.
• Chatham
House-- Home of the Royal Institute of International
Affairs, this is the UK's foremost, world-class institute
for international affairs research and is publisher of The
World Today and International Affairs. Posts
many briefing papers, reports, news, and press releases on
global and regional matters.
• Clingendael-- The leading Dutch international affairs research organization. "Special attention is devoted to European integration, transatlantic relations, international security, conflict studies, policy making on national and international energy markets, negotiations and diplomacy, and to the United Nations and other international organisations." Posts many studies and online newsletter.
• Council on Foreign Relations-- The
most influential private organization in U.S. foreign
policy, whose ranks include nearly all past and present
senior U.S. government officials who deal with
international matters, renowned scholars, and leaders of
business, media, human rights, humanitarian, and other
nongovernmental groups. This excellent site posts Council
studies, with much current and archived analytical
material online. The Center for
Preventative Action posts a Global Conflict
Tracker map and highlights "conflicts to watch"
and "what to worry about" in annual reports.
The Council's prestigious journal Foreign
Affairs has contents and some full-text articles
and book reviews online, with archive, plus links to
related online resources.
•
Danish
Institute for International Studies-- Financed
mainly by the Government of Denmark, posts many
insightful studies in European and world topics from its
"multidisciplinary
research on globalisation, security, development and
foreign policy." One of the world's top think tanks on
international affairs.
• European Council on Foreign Relations-- "Award-winning international think-tank that aims to conduct cutting-edge independent research; provide a safe meeting space for policy-makers, activists and intellectuals to share ideas; offer a media platform to get Europeans talking about their role in the world."
• European
Leadership Network-- "Works to advance the idea of a
cooperative and cohesive Europe and to develop the
collaborative European capacity to address the pressing
foreign, defence, and security policy challenges of our
time." Posts reports, publications, news, and other
resources on the topic.
• European Union Institute for Security
Studies-- An autonomous agency of the European
Union, this institute conducts many insightful and
thorough studies, posts them online, and offers a
newsletter about security issues of interest to the EU.
• Freedom House-- Many online studies
ranking countries on measures of freedom, such as the
annual Freedom of the Press, the annual Freedom in the
World, informative backgrounders and other publications,
are offered by this nonprofit, nonpartisan U.S.
organization dedicated to promoting democracy around the
world.
• Gateway House: Indian
Council on Global Relations-- From Mumbai, a
"foreign policy think-tank... to engage India’s leading
corporations and individuals in debate and scholarship on
India’s foreign policy and its role in global affairs...
independent and non-partisan... based on intellectual
scholarship." Posts much information and analysis on the
topic.
• German Council on Foreign
Relations-- "Germany’s network for foreign policy.
As an independent, non-partisan, and nonprofit membership
organization, think tank, and publisher the DGAP has been
promoting public debate on foreign policy in Germany for
over 50 years." Posts policy-oriented research products,
blogs, and the online Internationale Politik
Quarterly.
• German
Institute of Global and Area Studies-- Major
research institute focusing on Africa, Asia, Latin
America, and the Middle East, in the context of major
global questions about democracy, globalization, global
power shifts, governance, emerging powers, violence and
security, and other systemic issues. Posts many studies on
these matters.
• Henry L. Stimson Center-- Nonprofit,
nonpartisan U.S. institution "devoted to enhancing
international peace and security through a unique
combination of rigorous analysis and outreach." Posts
publications in the research areas of transnational
threats, regional security, and effective institutions.
• Heritage Foundation-- A
conservative U.S. think tank aiming to spread the ideas of
free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom,
traditional American values, and a strong national
defense. Policy papers online. Note the Index
of Economic Freedom, "a practical reference guide to
the world's economies. It includes country-by-country
analyses and the most up-to-date data available on foreign
investment codes, taxes, tariffs, banking regulations,
monetary policy, black markets, and more,"co-published
with The Wall Street Journal.
• Hoover Institution on War, Revolution
and Peace-- U.S. public policy research center at
Stanford University, on domestic and international
affairs, with ongoing programs of policy-oriented research
in economics, political science, history, international
relations, law, and other disciplines. Note the Hoover Digest, which "offers
informative writing on politics, economics, and history by
the scholars and researchers of the Hoover Institution..."
• Institute for
Defence Studies and Analyses-- From India, "a
non-partisan, autonomous body dedicated to objective
research and policy relevant studies on all aspects of
defence and security. Its mission is to promote national and
international security through the generation and
dissemination of knowledge on defence and security-related
issues." Posts many insightful studies on Indian foreign
relations and world affairs.
• Institute for Security and Development
Policy-- From Stockholm, "dedicated to expanding
understanding of international affairs, particularly the
interrelationship between the issue areas of conflict,
security and development. The Institute’s primary areas of
geographic focus are Asia and Europe’s neighborhood," with
many publications online.
• Jamestown Foundation-- Nonpartisan U.S. research institute aiming to "inform and educate policy makers and the broader policy community about events and trends in those societies which are strategically or tactically important to the United States." Main emphasis is on terrorism and the Eurasian region. News items, many insightful publications by a global network of experts.
• Japan
Institute of International Affairs-- "Private,
nonpartisan policy think-tank focused on foreign affairs
and security issues. In addition to a wide range of
research projects, the Institute promotes dialogues and
joint studies with other institutions and experts at home
and abroad, examines Japanese foreign policy and makes
proposals to the government, and disseminates information
on international relations to the public." Posts many
studies in English, reflecting Japanese perspectives on
international issues.
• Lowy Institute for
International Policy-- "An independent, nonpartisan
international policy think tank located in Sydney,
Australia. Ranked as Australia's top think tank, the
Institute provides high-quality research and distinctive
perspectives on the trends shaping Australia and the world
and fresh policy options on these questions."
• LSE Ideas--
The "foreign policy think tank" of the London School of
Economics and Political Science, "a forum that informs
policy debate and connects academic research with the
practice of diplomacy and strategy" and posts excellent
studies on a wide range of international affairs topics.
• Migration Policy Institute-- "Independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit think tank in Washington, D.C. dedicated to the study of the movement of people worldwide," with much data and analysis online, including country profiles. Note their Migration Information Source for "fresh thought, authoritative data, and global analysis of international migration and refugee trends... [and] useful tools, vital data, and essential facts on the movement of people worldwide."
• Open Canada-- "Canada’s
hub for international affairs," from the Canadian
International Council, to "advance debate on international
issues across academic disciplines, policy areas, and
economic sectors." Posts features, topics, and other
relevant Canadian content.
• Peterson Institute for International
Economics-- A highly-regarded, private, nonprofit,
nonpartisan American research institution devoted to the
study of international economic policy, especially in
anticipating emerging issues and offering "practical
ideas, presented in user-friendly formats, to inform and
shape public debate." Many working papers, policy briefs,
speeches, testimonies, and so forth are online.
• Population Reference Bureau-- Superb
for authoritative data and analysis on world, regional,
and national population and demographics trends. Features
a large multimedia repository. The data section
is very good. Note their Annual Report
and their annual World Population Data Sheet for
"up-to-date demographic, health, and environment data for
all the countries and major regions of the world."
• RAND Corporation-- A nonprofit U.S.
institution providing research and analysis for policy and
decision making. Sign up for e-mail notices about the free
online RAND Review and other features, such
as articles and news about RAND research products.
Numerous excellent studies about international issues are
posted, so check the publications page and the International
Affairs section, among others. RAND publishes some
of its conference
proceedings. For a European issues perspective,
check the website of RAND Europe, based in the UK.
• Royal United Services Institute-- World-class "independent think tank engaged in cutting edge defence and security research," in London, with expertise "utilised by governments, parliament and other key stakeholders." Posts authoritative studies online-- "rigorous, expert and objective analysis of current trends and developments"-- some free and some for members only.
• Russian International Affairs Council-- Organization whose mission is "to facilitate the prospering of Russia through its integration in the global world... a link between the state, expert community, business and civil society in an effort to find foreign policy solutions." Large site posts studies on Russian foreign policy, Russian views of world affairs, and general analysis.
• Stanley Center for Peace and Security--
U.S. research institute that is "focused on promoting and
building support for principled multilateralism in
addressing international issues." Pursues policy
initiatives on several major current issues and posts many
conference reports and bulletins.
• Transparency
International-- Transparency International is the
"leading global non-governmental organisation devoted to
combating corruption." Their many corruption surveys,
indexes, and reports rank "the home countries of the
payers of international bribes" and rank "countries in
terms of the degree to which they are perceived to be the
homes of bribe-takers-- public officials who abuse their
office for personal gain."
• United
States Institute of Peace-- The mission of the USIP is to strengthen
the nation's capabilities to promote the peaceful
resolution of international conflicts. Institute project
reports, briefings, event summaries, and news items are
available online, with archives and extensive links on
conflict topics. Note the Publications section. Peace Terms is an "extensive
glossary [that] provides short definitions of a wide
range of complex and often confusing terms used in the
field of conflict resolution."
• Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars-- Offers fellowships for scholars in residence in Washington, D.C., and researches issues of concern to official policy, hosting seminars and conferences, and producing publications and broadcasts. Site has information about these programs and projects, and many of their publications.
