History and Mission

“Helping to bridge the gap between knowledge and policy”

The Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program (TTCSP) of the Lauder Institute at the University of Pennsylvania conducts research on the role policy institutes play in governments and civil societies around the world. Often referred to as the “think tanks’ think tank,” TTCSP examines the evolving role and character of public policy research organizations. Over the last 25 years, TTCSP has developed and led a series of global initiatives that have helped bridge the gap between knowledge and policy in critical policy areas such as international peace and security, globalization and governance, international economics, environmental issues, information and society, poverty alleviation, and healthcare and global health. These international collaborative efforts are designed to establish regional and international networks of policy institutes and communities that improve policy making while strengthening democratic institutions and civil societies around the world.

The TTCSP works with leading scholars and practitioners from think tanks and universities in a variety of collaborative efforts and programs, and produces the annual Global Go To Think Tank Index that ranks the world’s leading think tanks in a variety of categories. This is achieved with the help of a panel of over 1,900 peer institutions and experts from the print and electronic media, academia, public and private donor institutions, and governments around the world. We have strong relationships with leading think tanks around the world, and our annual Think Tank Index is used by academics, journalists, donors and the public to locate and connect with the leading centers of public policy research around the world. Our goal is to increase the profile and performance of think tanks and raise the public awareness of the important role think tanks play in governments and civil societies around the globe.

Since its inception in 1989, TTCSP has focused on collecting data and conducting research on think tank trends and the role think tanks play as civil society actors in the policymaking process. In 2007, TTCSP developed and launched the global index of think tanks, which is designed to identify and recognize centers of excellence in all the major areas of public policy research and in every region of the world. To date TTCSP has provided technical assistance and capacity building programs in 81 countries. We are now working to create regional and global networks of think tanks in an effort to facilitate collaboration and the production of a modest yet achievable set of global public goods. Our goal is to create lasting institutional and state-level partnerships by engaging and mobilizing think tanks that have demonstrated their ability to produce high quality policy research and shape popular and elite opinion and actions for public good.

About the Lauder Institute
Founded by brothers Leonard and Ronald Lauder in 1983 in honor of their father, Joseph, the Joseph H. Lauder Institute for Management & International Studies provides a fully integrated business education to a new generation of leaders coming of age in a rapidly globalizing world.
 
Research on Think Tanks and Civil Societies
The center conducts research on the role of think tanks in the policy making process and as key civil society in countries around the world. 
 
Think Tank Capacity Building Program
The TTCBC conducts research and provides technical assistance on a wide range environmental challenges and organizational development issues facing think tanks and policy communities around the globe. In addition, TTCBC develops and implements strategies that will increase the capacity of think tanks so that they can better serve policy makers and the public
 
Database and Directories
The Center developed the first interactive, global, comprehensive, multi-sectoral database and directory of think tanks. Most databases and directory are organized by discipline, country or region. The Center maintains the only multi-sectoral database of think tanks consisting of over 14000 think tanks in 179 countries. Specialized databases of think tanks in areas such as development, democracy, security, international affairs and health have been created.
 
Program Objectives:
 The TTCSP collects data and conducts research on think tanks and policy communities around the globe and then disseminates the findings as widely as possible. In addition, TTCSP develops and implements strategies that will increase the capacity of think tanks so that they can better serve policy makers and the public. The TTCSP works with think tanks, knowledge communities, policy makers and civil society representatives to:

• Develop strategies that will improve the performance and effectiveness of think tanks in the creation, dissemination and utilization of policy-relevant proposals and will engage policy makers and civil society representatives in the policy making process.

• Create a virtual global think tank that will foster collaboration, information sharing and the transfer of innovative policies and proposals from one institution or policy community to another.

• Promote a constructive dialogue and collaborative research and analysis on policy issues through the creation of global issue networks that build on existing local and regional networks wherever possible.

• Identify, test and disseminate strategies and technologies that will facilitate collaborative research and information sharing among public policy research organizations and other policy and knowledge based institutions around the world.

• Promote an ongoing interdisciplinary global dialogue among think tanks, policy makers and civil society representatives that will explore the critical role think tanks play in civil societies and how these institutions can be sustained over time.

This program is designed to identify and disseminate innovative technologies and best practices developed by think tanks both in the US and abroad. Those technologies and strategies that have been successfully employed by institutions have been documented and shared via conferences, newsletters, the Internet and manuals. Failed strategies, programs and policy initiatives will also be analyzed.  Over the last 10 years, the TTCSP has been working to help develop:

• Creative approaches to the research and analysis of policy problems.

• Effective use of knowledge and issue networks to facilitate the creation, dissemination and utilization of policy relevant information and ideas.

• Innovative strategies for engaging the press, policy makers and the public

• Successful resource development and sustainability strategies.

• Creative approaches for recruiting, motivating and retaining key personnel for think tanks.

• Enterprising use of technologies, products and programs that increase policy impacts.

• Imaginative programs and organizational designs for think tanks.

In recent years, we have become concerned about the lack of attention that has been given to assuring the long-term vitality of these institutions. In an effort to help improve the effectiveness and sustainability of established and fledgling think tanks, the project will actively promote innovative approaches to fundraising, management, public engagement and policy analysis and research.