Foreign policy think tanks

Foreign policy interest groups could include foreign policy think tanks -policy research organisations set up to influence foreign policy from arguments constructed on the basis of research and analysis. In the United States they are quite common but not so in developing countries where funding for think tanks is mostly limited to bilateral and multilateral funders.
According to Raucher, Americans worried about democratic control of foreign policy and so organisations focusing on foreign policy were set up: The Foreign Policy Association and the Institute of Pacific Relations. They wanted to bridge the gap between ivory tower specialization and the public need for value-free, objective, and relevant knowledge. So, unlike many other think tanks that sought to open the decision making process, these think tanks sought, at least initially, to close it.
Examples of Foreign policy think tanks in developing countries
Less well know, foreign policy think tanks in developing countries have emerged out of a similar concern.
South Asia
South Asian think tanks have much to do with security studies, be it traditional security or human security. Pakistani and Indian think tanks in particular deal with these issues, and are also interested in ethnic conflict, terrorism, and nuclear proliferation.
Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies
New Delhi, India
Founded in 1996
Staff size: 21 researchers, 26 visiting fellows.
Areas of research: Disarmament and arms control; non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; comprehensive and cooperative security; non-military threats to security; confidence building measures; terrorism; Indo-Pakistani relations; Sino-Indian relations; regional cooperation in South Asia; South and South-east Asian security; foreign policies of countries in South and South-east Asia; foreign policies of major powers; China's security policies; general security and governance; human security.
Funding sources: government agencies and private sources.
Web page: http://www.ipcs.org
Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Founded in 1978
Staff size:
Areas of research: human security; Bangladeshi national security; non - traditional security studies.
Funding sources: BIISS has its own fund which consists of grants made by the Government, gifts and endowments, income from research undertaking and consultancy services, sale proceeds and royalties of publications and moneys received from any other source.
Web page: http://www.biiss.org/
Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Founded in
Staff size: approximately 17.
Areas of research: traditional security; non-traditional security; trans-national security; climate change and security; water Security; human security; security and governance; comprehensive and cooperative security; confidence building measures; conflict management; conflict prevention and negotiation; information warfare; regional studies.
Funding sources: individuals, private foundations, corporations, and government agencies.
Web page: http://www.bipss.org.bd
Twitter: @bipss
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/BIPSS/124940557533092
Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis
New Delhi, India
Founded in 1965
Staff size:
Areas of research: military affairs; nuclear and USA topics; West Asia and Africa; China and South/East Asia; terrorism and internal security; defence economics and industry; non military threats; energy and economic security; strategic technologies; modelling and net assessment.
Funding sources: the Indian Ministry of Defence, private individuals (Indian nationals) and institutions, and members
Web page: http://www.idsa.in
Twitter: @IDSAIndia
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InstituteforDefenceStudiesAnalyses
Institute of Policy Studies
Islamabad, Pakistan
Founded in 1979
Staff size:
Areas of research: Pakistan Affairs; Security and Foreign Policy; International Relation; Globalization; Global Issues and Politics; The Muslim World: Pakistan and its Neighbours; Islam and the West; Islamic Thought.
Funding sources: sponsorship and membership, and revenues from books and periodicals
Web page: http://www.ips.org.pk
The Pakistan Institute for International Affairs
Karachi, Pakistan
Founded in 1948
Staff size:
Areas of research: Foreign relations and diplomacy; security and defense; development studies; economic issues; political issues; conflict resolution; human rights; armament, disarmament and dynamics of security in the world.
Funding sources: Rental income, membership fees, publications sales.
Web page: http://www.piia.org.pk/about-us
Gateway House - Indian Council on Global Relations
Mumbai, India
Founded in 2009
Staff size:
Areas of research: geoeconomics; geopolitics; foreign policy analysis, BRICs and bilateral treaties; democracy and nation building; national security, ethnic conflict and terrorism; science, technology and innovation; energy and environment.
Funding sources: corporate funders, and membership fees
Web page: http://www.gatewayhouse.in/
Twitter: @GatewayHouseIND
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gatewayhouse.in?ref=ts
Observer Research Foundation (Center for International Relations)
New Delhi, India
Founded in 1990
Staff size: 66 researchers
Areas of research: international relations; security affairs; politics and governance; resources management and economy and development
Funding sources:
Web page: http://www.orfonline.org
The Takshashila Institution
Chennai, India
Founded in 2010
Staff size: 6 council members, 11 fellows.
Areas of research: geopolitics and foreign policy; national security; inclusion and governance; cyber-strategy studies; defence economics; energy security; transforming the India - US relationship.
Funding sources:
Web page: http://takshashila.org.in
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/takshashilainstitution
Strategic Foresight Group
Mumbai, India
Founded in 2002
Staff size: 9 research analysts, 5 research assistants.
Areas of research: geopolitics; conflict and peace studies; technology and environment (especially water scarcity)
Funding sources: governmental and private.
Web page: http://www.strategicforesight.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Strategicforesightgroup
South Asia Centre for Policy Studies
Kathmandu, Nepal
Founded in 2005
Staff size:
Areas of research: economic cooperation; free trade areas; international relations; regional cooperation; regionalism; trade policy; trade strategies.
Funding sources:
Web page: http://www.saceps.org
Middle East
Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies (ACPSS)
Cairo, Egypt
Founded in 1968
Staff size:
Areas of interest: regional and international developments; egyptian strategic, political, economic, and social affairs; issues of international politics dealing with the Middle East in general and the Arab-Israeli conflict in particular; international conflict and conflict resolution; political, economic, and social aspects of Arab society in general and Egyptian society in particular
Funding sources: It is an independent research unit functioning within the framework of Al-Ahram Foundation, partly owned by the Egyptian government.
Web page: http://acpss.ahram.org.eg
Institute for Political and International Studies
Tehran, Iran
Founded in 1983
Staff size:
Areas of interest: Iranian foreign policy.
Funding sources:
Web page: http://www.ipis.ir
Center for Strategic Studies - University of Jordan
Amman, Jordan
Founded in 1984
Staff size:
Areas of interest: conflict; international relations; security; democracy; political pluralism; the economy and the environment.
Funding sources:
Web page: http://www.ju.edu.jo/Pages/Centers/StrategicStudies.aspx
Jordan Institute of Diplomacy
Amman, Jordan
Founded in 1994
Staff size:
Areas of interest: principal executive tool for training Jordanian diplomats and others from different government organizations who are involved in diplomatic work. JID programs were restructured to focus primarily on the appropriate research, studies and training in all its aspects (politics, economics, culture, and security).
Funding sources: governmental.
Web page: http://www.id.gov.jo
Palestinian Academic Society for the Study of International Affairs
Jerusalem, Palestinian Territory
Founded in 1987
Staff size:
Areas of interest: the Palestinian question; diplomacy; strategic studies
Funding sources: Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, the Japanese Endowment Fund, the Finnish Representative Office in Ramallah, etc.
Web page: http://www.passia.org
Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PSR)
Palestinian Territory
Founded in
Staff size: research team of 8.
Areas of interest: domestic politics and government; strategic analysis (includes foreign policy), and survey research
Funding sources:
Web page: http://www.pcpsr.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Palestinian-Center-for-Policy-and-Survey-Research/203002023067726
Association des Etudes Internationales
Tunis, Tunisia
Founded in 1980
Staff size: approximately 11.
Areas of interest: the development of the United Nations system; security and development in the Mediterranean area; the creation of the Arab Maghreb Union and its future perspectives; the Middle East peace process.
Funding sources:
Web page: http://www.aei-tn.org
Tunisian Institute for Strategic Studies
Carthage, Tunisia
Founded in 1993
Staff size:
Areas of interest: energy security; geopolitics
Funding sources:
Web page:
The Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR)
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Founded in 1994
Staff size:
Areas of interest: contemporary issues and their implications for the United Arab Emirates, the Persian Gulf region, and the Middle East; international economic issues that affect the UAE and the Persian Gulf Region, namely: oil, international trade, economic blocs, domestic issues related to economic policies, labor market organization, population structure, and development of national human resources and increasing their contribution to the labor market.
Funding sources:
Web page: http://www.ecssr.ac.ae
Center for Strategic Studies Research and Documentation
Beirut, Lebanon
Founded in 1990
Staff size: 25 members
Areas of interest: geopolitical and strategic transformations since the end of the Cold War; disintegration of the Soviet Union, especially their repercussions on the Arab and Islamic worlds; issues concerning the Arab regional order and the various suborders including structural relations between the three spheres: Arab, Iranian and Turkish.
Funding sources: UNDP
Web page: http://www.cssrd.org.lb
Centre for Arab Unity Studies
Hamra, Lebanon
Founded in 1975
Staff size:
Areas of interest: International Relations; Pan-Arabism; Political Ideologies and Doctrines; Political Systems and Forms of Government; Regional Cooperation; Regionalism; Terrorism
Funding sources:
Web page: http://www.caus.org.lb/Home/index.php?Lang=en
Institute for Palestine Studies
Beirut, Lebanon
Founded in 1963
Staff size: around 50 members
Areas of interest: Palestinian Affairs and Arab-Israeli conflict.
Funding sources: IPS activities are financed by income from its endowment, contributions and gifts from donors, and sales of its publications.
Web page: http://www.palestine-studies.org/
Twitter: @PalStudies
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palstudies
East Asia
China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations
Beijing, China
Founded 1965
Staff size: 400
Areas of interest: regional studies, including Asia, North America, South America, Africa and Europe; counterterrorism; security and arms control; Taiwan - related studies; ethnic and religious studies; Hong - Kong and Macao related studies; economic security; marine strategy.
Funding sources: Governmental - affiliated with China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS), and overseen by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.
Web page: http://www.cicir.ac.cn/english/
China Institute of International Studies
Beijing, China
Founded 1956
Staff size: approximately 100
Areas of interest: international structure; international order; big power relations; geo-politics issues; globalization as well as China's relationship with outside world; new trends in world economy; problems related to WTO; economic security and economic diplomacy, the international trade; regional studies including America, Europe and Eurasia; Asia - Pacific security and cooperation.
Funding sources: governmental - think tank of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Web page: http://www.ciis.org.cn/english/index.htm
Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (SIIS)
Shanghai, China
Founded 1958
Staff size: more than 700 employees, including 465 research staff.
Areas of interest: international finance; international trade; international investment; globalized economy; regional cooperation, and international political economy. It has research centers for Europe, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan,-Hong Kong-Macro, Multinational Management, WTO, International Human Rights, and the International Market, etc.
Funding sources: receives most of its funds from the Shanghai municipal government. Also draws financial support from various non-governmental sources at home and abroad including foundations, corporations and individuals.
Web page: http://english.sass.org.cn/
Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs
Beijing, China
Founded 1949
Staff size:
Areas of interest: regional studies including North and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania.
Funding sources:
Web page: http://www.cpifa.org/en/
Institute of World Economics & Politics of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
Beijing, China
Founded 1980
Staff size: 105
Areas of interest: The new trend of international trade, WTO and global trade liberalization; global strategies of transnational corporations and FDI; financial globalization and financial turbulence in the world, international financial system reform, regional monetary cooperation and global income inequality; science of foreign affairs, comparative politics and the major relations between countries; identification of regional hot spots and conflict distribution; Identifying issues in arms control, disarmament, and nonproliferation; regional security and cooperation; study of China's peripheral security; the United Nations and international organizations, especially the study of the challenges the United Nations encounters in the new period; comparative study of parties in each country; study of globalization, including the study of global problems, globalization theories and anti-globalization phenomena.
Funding sources:
Web page: http://en.iwep.org.cn/
The World and China Institute
Beijing, China
Founded 1994
Staff size:
Areas of interest: national security, regional conflict, international economic and political development, Sino-U.S relations, Japan and other countries.
Funding sources:
Web page: http://www.world-china.org/newsdetail.asp?newsid=452
Southeast Asia
There are several foreign policy think tanks in this region of the world, and are mainly concerned with security and national defense. An explanation the proliferation of think tanks of this nature is these countries’ developmental state and the regional dynamics that emerged between them. Their developmental status and proximity to each other has caused them to be in constant competition and so their relations with each other, as well as their security, are a main point of concern.
The Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Founded in 1994
Staff size: a research team of 52
Areas of interest: small arms, Cambodia's regional economic relations, national defense policy, international affairs such as Cambodia's foreign policy and the impact of ASEAN membership.
Funding sources: Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES), USAID, IDE-JETRO, World Bank Institute, Korea Foundation, World Resource Institute, JICA Study Team, Harvard University, Asia Foundation, The (TAF), British Embassy in Phnom Penh, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Canada Fund/ Canadian Embassy in Phnom Penh, Embassy of the Republic of Korea, Embassy of Japan in Phnom Penh, Heinrich Boll Foundation, Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)/Program-on Canada-Asia Policy Studies, University of British Columbia (PCAPS/UBC), the Embassy of Russian Federation in Phnom Penh.
Web page: http://www.cicp.org.kh
Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS)
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Founded in 1983
Staff size:
Areas of interest: defence, security and foreign affairs; national and international economic affairs
Funding sources:
Web page: http://www.isis.org.my/
Center for Strategic and International Studies
Jakarta, Indonesia
Founded in 1971
Staff size: 40 researchers
Areas of interest: strategic and security issues, the political economy of international relations, non-traditional security issues, and area studies. Recently, emphasis has been placed on Indonesia defence and security policy, transnational crimes, terrorism, and small arms transfers in the Asia Pacific.
Funding sources: It is funded in part by the Chinese Indonesian business community. They turned down an offer to become a presidential think tank in order to stay independent and credible amongst international actors.
Web page: http://www.csis.or.id/
The Institute for Strategic and Development Studies
Manila, Philippines
Founded in 1991
Staff size: approximately 22.
Areas of interest: ISDS has a Strategic and Security Studies Program and an International Studies Program
Funding sources:
Web page: http://www.isdsphilippines.org/index.htm
The Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies - Nanyang Technological University Graduate School
Singapore, Singapore
Founded in 1996
Staff size:
Areas of interest: Asia - Pacific security; conflict and nontraditional security; international political economy; country studies.
Funding sources: through the RSIS Endowment Fund, funded by the Singapore Totalisator Board, the Bakrie Center Foundation, Ngee Ann Kongsi, the Lee Foundation, the Temasek Foundation, the Ford Foundation, and the Sasakawa Peace Foundation
Web page: http://www.rsis.edu.sg/idss/
Twitter: @RSIS_NTU
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RSIS.NTU
Africa
Institute for Security Studies
Pretoria, South Africa
Founded in 1996
Staff size:
Areas of Interest: arms control and disarmament; children and security; international crime and terrorism; migration, refugees and internally displaced persons; peacekeeping and conflict management; private security; conflict prevention and analysis; economic development; environmental security and climate change.
Funding sources: the Institute continues to benefit from international and other partners through the ISS Partnership Forum. These consist of the governments of Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, Finland and the Open Society Foundation (South Africa). The Institute also receives support from a number of other partners and institutions.
Web page: http://www.iss.co.za/default.php
Twitter: @issafrica
South African Institute of International Affairs
Johannesburg, South Africa
Founded in 1934
Staff size: approximately 50.
Areas of Interest: governance and democracy; economic diplomacy; great powers and Africa; South African foreign policy and African drivers; global governance and sustainable development.

Funding sources: Support to the institute’s programme work is currently provided by the following organisations: The British High Commission, Canadian International Development Agency, Open Society Institute, Open Society Foundation for South Africa, The Nordic Africa Institute, Centre for International Governance and Innovation, Centre for International Cooperation and Development, AusAid, The Bradlow Foundation, The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, The International Institute for Sustainable Development, The Konrad Adenauer Foundation, The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, The Royal Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Royal Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the UK Department for International Development.
Web page: http://www.saiia.org.za/
Latin America
Centro Andinos de Estudios Internacionales - Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar
Quito, Ecuador
Founded in
Staff size:
Areas of Interest: andean countries’ foreign policy; regional integration; regional economic relationships; regional security and defence; regional cooperation for development; human rights and migration; global affairs.
Funding sources:
Web page: http://www.uasb.edu.ec/contenido_proyecto.php?cd_programa167&pagpath4
Consejo Mexicano de Asuntos Internacionales
Mexico D.F., Mexico
Founded in 2001
Staff size: approximately 450.
Areas of interest: the international financial crisis, human rights, environmental and climate change issues, international organizations, Mexican foreign policy, defense, security, democracy, disarmament, energy, Mexico and the Security Council, public opinion, international politics, Mexican - United States relations.
Funding sources: Membership fees.
Web page: http://consejomexicano.org/es/
Twitter: @COMEXI
Facebook: facebook.com/pages/Mexican-Council-on-Foreign-Relations/118714014839941?nr=110927885622474
Centro Peruano de Estudios Internacionales - Universidad del Pacifico
Lima, Peru
Founded in 1983
Staff size:
Areas of interest: regional, hemispheric and global affairs; economic affairs; international economic negotiations; security, democracy and governability; international law, particularly the law of the sea and Peru’s participation in the Convention on the Law of the Sea, and other Peruvian foreign policy issues.
Funding sources:
Web page: http://www.cepei.org.pe
Instituto de Estudios Internacionales - Pontificia Universidad Católica del Peru
Founded in 1991
Staff size:
Areas of interest: foreign policy; defence and security, incluiding human trafficking, drug trade, terrorism and corruption; international public law; international economics and commerce; diplomatic law; international humanitarian law; integration; gender studies and women´s rights; immigration policies.
Funding sources:
Web page: http://www.idei.pucp.edu.pe
Instituto de Estudios Internacionales - Universidad de Chile
Santiago de Chile, Chile
Founded in 1966
Staff size:
Areas of interest: : Latin America’s insertion in the international system and its relations with the United States, developing countries, Europe and Japan; comparative foreign policy in Latin America; Chilean foreign policy; economic integration; Law of the Sea and maritime resources, and cultural cooperation between Latin America and with the rest of the world.
Funding sources:
Web page: http://www.iei.uchile.cl
Centro Argentino de Estudios Internacionales
Founded in 2005
Staff size: 223
Areas of Interest: International Relations, political phenomenology in the American continent, Regional studies (Africa, Latin America, North America, Asia-Pacific, former USSR, Europe, and the Middle East), and Thematic studies (Science and Technology, International Trade, Defence and Security, International Economics, Energy and Natural Resources, Geopolitics, History programme of International Relations, Regional integration, the Environment, International Organizations, Argentinian Foreign Policy, and Theories of International Relations
Funding sources: Public and private institutions, national and international, as well as individuals.
Web page: http://www.caei.com.ar/
Centro Brasileiro de Relacoes Internacionais
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Founded in 1998
Staff size: 21 members
Areas of Interest: sustainable energy, Brazilian foreign policy, regional affairs.
Sources of funding: Government and private sector, members, international institutions
Web page: http://www.cebri.org.br/

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