Research Institutes

"The Think Tank Index"-- "Field guide" article by James McGann in Foreign Policy, January/February 2009, discussing the goals, political tendencies, and influence levels of major think tanks: "the first comprehensive ranking of the world’s top think tanks, based on a worldwide survey of hundreds of scholars and experts."

Atlas's Think Tank Directory-- "Compiles information on nearly 500 think tanks worldwide that are sympathetic to the values of a free society," accessible by institute name, country, region, or alphabetic directory.

DocuTicker-- Excellent free librarian-run service that "offers a hand-picked [annotated] selection of resources, reports and publications from government agencies, NGOs, think tanks and other public interest organizations." Posts archives in many subjects, with daily updates, and sends free weekly e-mail newsletter highlighting recent posts. To access the full archives in any subject, check the "Categories" column.

Foreign Policy Research Institute’s Think Tank Directory-- "Lists think tanks devoted to security and international affairs research and education," accessible by country or search term.

Global Information Access NeT (GIANT)-- From the University of Pittsburgh, three projects: International Affairs Contact Network, a searchable directory of international affairs organizations and experts worldwide; Access International Education, a survey of international education opportunities for underrepresented populations; and the Peace and Security Studies Thesaurus, "to provide a standardized terminology in the field of peace and security studies."

Policy Archive-- "Universal, easy-to-use, free, and open digital archive" with "summaries and full texts, videos, reports, briefs, and multimedia material of think tank, university, government, and foundation-funded policy research." From the Center for Governmental Studies and the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis Library. Requires free registration.

Policy Library-- An excellent social, economic, and foreign policy site, with a large database of free, online full-text studies from leading research organizations. Many international affairs papers are included, plus information about policy jobs and a World Think Tank Directory.

Research Centers in International Relations on the Web-- Very useful world list maintained by the United States Institute of Peace Library.

• American Enterprise Institute-- "Private, nonpartisan, not-for-profit [U.S.] institution dedicated to research and education on issues of government, politics, economics, and social welfare [whose] purposes are to defend the principles and improve the institutions of American freedom and democratic capitalism--limited government, private enterprise, individual liberty and responsibility, vigilant and effective defense and foreign policies, political accountability, and open debate."

• ARC Global Scan-- Excellent site from Angus Reid Consultants, "a project devoted to providing the latest information on public opinion and democracy, featuring the world's largest free-access online database of polls." Charts "attitudes and perceptions of citizens around the world on the political, social and economic happenings that shape the future of humanity [with] daily information on worldwide public opinion, and follows democratic processes around the world." Includes Polls & Research,  Election Tracker, and Trend Analysis sections, among others.

• Atlantic Council of the United States-- "Promotes constructive U.S. leadership and engagement in international affairs based on the central role of the Atlantic community in meeting the international challenges of the 21st century. The Council embodies a non-partisan network of leaders who aim to bring ideas to power and to give power to ideas." Up to date news and analysis with policy papers, reports, and audio online. Note the policy blog New Atlanticist and online dialogue capabilities.

• British American Security Information Council-- An independent research organization that  analyzes government policies in defense, disarmament, military strategy, and nuclear issues. Searchable, with online publications on security 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. Note both the Foreign Policy and the World sections for international analysis and commentary.

• 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. Specialties are "particularly in the areas of Russia and Eurasia, China, the Indian subcontinent/South Asia, globalization, nonproliferation and security affairs." Many publicationsare posted online, such as policy briefs, working papers, and reports. The excellent Non-Proliferation Project section presents news, information, and analysis on matters concerning weapons of mass destruction. Also note the "Arab Reform Bulletin" and other resources in the Middle East section.

• Carter Center-- A non-profit, nonpartisan U.S. public policy institute founded by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn. The Center is dedicated to fighting disease, hunger, poverty, conflict, and oppression through collaborative initiatives in the areas of democratization and development, global health, and urban revitalization.

• Cato Institute-- This libertarian U.S. think-tank features a large online library of free policy studies and briefings, some on international affairs, such those of the Center for Trade Policy Studies. Note the Institute's annual Economic Freedom of the World report, free online, that ranks countries on dozens of measures of economic freedom.

• Center for International Policy-- Promotes a U.S. foreign policy that reflects democratic values and a more sympathetic, farsighted, and non-militaristic approach to the developing world. Many studies available online.

• Center for Strategic and International Studies-- Excellent site from a major U.S. public policy research institution, with many online studies of country situations and of key functional areas, such as international finance, U.S. domestic and economic policy, and U.S. foreign policy and national security issues. Note their online Comparative Connections-- East Asian Bilateral Relations E-Journal and Hemisphere Highlights (monthly analysis of noteworthy events in the Western Hemisphere).

• 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... CIGI's interdisciplinary work includes collaboration with policy, business and academic communities around the world." 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 briefing papers, reports, news, and press releases.

• 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 about international relations and U.S. foreign policy, by region and topic. Note the section of the site on Terrorism. 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.

• Faculty Club-- Of the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy, at Georgetown University's Walsh School of Foreign Service, a great source of free case studies  in international affairs for teaching use. Free registration required.

• Foreign Policy in Focus-- The Interhemispheric Resource Center and the Institute for Policy Studies coordinate the publication of a series of progressive policy briefs on varied foreign policy issues, to promote a more responsible and visionary U.S. foreign policy.

• Forum of Federations-- Excellent site from an "international network that seeks to strengthen democratic governance by promoting dialogue on and understanding of the values, practices, principles, and possibilities of federalism." Posts many online publications, key speeches, and news articles about federalism, plus the Federations bulletin.

• 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.

• Geneva Centre for Security Policy-- "International foundation that was established in 1995 under Swiss law to 'promote the building and maintenance of peace, security and stability.'" Produces and posts studies on a wide range of peace, security, conflict, and globalization issues and institutions around the world, plus news, seminars, and discussions.

• 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 [searchable] 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 on domestic and international affairs, with ongoing programs of policy-oriented research in economics, political science, history, international relations, law, and other disciplines. Online publications.

• Institute of Federalism-- From the University of Fribourg, a documentation and research center on federal forms of government, with online publications, conference papers, and legal databases on that issue, plus a newsletter and annotated links database.

• International Relations Center-- Research and advocacy institute "working to make the U.S. a more responsible member of the global community by promoting progressive strategic dialogues that lead to new citizen-based agendas." Site offers "policy briefs, special reports, talking points, commentaries, and other publications"

• 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, and several free e-mail newsletters are available.

• National Democratic Institute for International Affairs-- Nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., working to strengthen and expand democracy worldwide, with practical help to promote democratic values, practices, and institutions. Affiliated with the Democratic Party of the United States. Online information about the work of the Institute and problems of democracy worldwide. Note especially Access Democracy, "selected web sites and resource materials...to identify resources, share lessons and communicate best practices for promoting peaceful political change."

• National Endowment for Democracy--  Private, nonprofit U.S. organization created in 1983 to strengthen democratic institutions around the world through nongovernmental efforts. Note the Democracy Resource Center, the Journal of Democracy (with some articles online), and a mailing list called "DemocracyNews."

• Netherlands Institute for International Relations ("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 fine studies and online newsletter. Note their excellent annotated weblinks section.

• Peter G. 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-- Excellent for authoritative data and analysis on world, regional, and national population and demographics trends. Features a large downloadable graphics bank of PowerPoint presentation graphics. 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." Search for data and analysis by topic, region, or country. The handy DataFinder has data on "133 population, health, and environment variables for more than 220 countries, 28 world regions and sub-regions, and the world as a whole." The quarterly Population Bulletins on selected topics are very useful.

• Public Citizen-- Ralph Nader's U.S. consumer advocacy group with several international interests, especially at Global Trade Watch.

• RAND Corporation-- A nonprofit U.S. institution providing research and analysis for policy and decisionmaking. Sign up for e-mail notices about the free online RAND Review, with articles and news about RAND research products. Numerous excellent international issues studies are online, so check the online publications page, among others. For a European issues perspective, check the website of RAND Europe, based in the UK.

• Stanley Foundation-- 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.

• Strategic Foresight Group-- Based in India, a "think tank engaged in anticipating and influencing the future in uncertain times. It produces scenarios, creates policy concepts and facilitates political processes. It advises governments and business leaders and informs the public on future trends as well as discontinuities." Posts studies on major world and Asian issues and trends.

• Terror Free Tomorrow-- "Non-partisan, not-for-profit organization established in Washington, D.C... the only organization dedicated to a new strategic vision: leading the fight against terror by winning the popular support that empowers global terrorists." Posts international public opinion polls, issue briefs, and news items.

• Transnational Crime and Corruption Center-- "First center in the United States devoted to teaching, research, training and formulating policy advice in transnational crime, corruption and terrorism...under the auspices of American University's  School of International Service." Emphasis on the CIS. Many studies posted online, including access to the survey Russian Regional Report.

• 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 Library and the Research Centers in International Relations on the Web directory, by country.

• 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 some of their publications.

• World Policy Institute-- At the New School for Social Research, this U.S. think tank conducts policy research and advocacy on key world issues, from an internationalist perspective. Selections and abstracts from the World Policy Journal and papers from special projects are online, some full-text.

• World Security Institute-- From Washington, D.C., a "non-profit organization committed to independent research and journalism on global affairs... with divisions[that]... serve to educate the public and policy-makers about U.S. and global challenges, while identifying creative solutions to meet them." Posts newsletters, e-magazines, and the journal Arab Insight.