Think Tanks and Civil Societies Project (TTCSP)
The TTCSP programs are designed to increase the profile, capacity, and performance of think tanks at the national, regional, and global levels, so they can better serve policy makers and the public. TTCSP conducts research on the relationship between think tanks, politics, and public policy, produces the annual Global Go To Think Tank Index, develops capacity-building resources and programs, supports a global network of close to 7,000 think tanks, and trains future think tank scholars and executives.
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Publication Africa Virtual Think Tank Summit Report 2020(2020-01-01) McGann, James G; Wadsworth, Alisa; Harris, EmmaThe Africa Virtual Think Tank Summit was hosted by the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program (TTCSP) on Friday, December 4, 2020. Think Tanks and scholars from all over the continent and beyond gathered to reflect on how the COVID-19 pandemic transformed the world and what implications were unique to Africa. Panelists characterized the pandemic as a black swan event and offered actionable plans to prepare for the effects of the pandemic. The event promoted an optimistic and pragmatic approach to the post-pandemic world and emphasized the need for a ‘Resilient, Responsive, and Inclusive Government.’ The Summit concluded with discussing the T20 and the need to make it ‘Fit for an Uncertain Future.’Publication 2018 China Global Think Tank Innovation Forum(2018-01-01) McGann, James GThe Third Annual China Global Think Tank Innovation Forum was held on June 17, 2018 in Beijing, China. It comes at a critical juncture in global politics and economies. The fragile global economy has proven robust enough to navigate shocks that defined the year 2017, from waves of populist politics to worldwide protectionist tendencies. However, the world still faces looming dangers, such as ticking debt bombs, intensifying geopolitical competition, and the precarious position of industrial workers due to rapid technological advancements and the development of global value chains.Publication 2017 Middle East and North Africa Program EU-Middle East Forum (EUMEF)(2017-01-01) McGann, James GPublication Center for a New American Security(2015-01-01) Center for a New American SecurityThe mission of the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) is to develop strong, pragmatic and principled national security and defense policies. Building on the expertise and experience of its staff and advisors, CNAS engages policymakers, experts and the public with innovative, fact-based research, ideas and analysis to shape and elevate the national security debate. A key part of our mission is to inform and prepare the national security leaders of today and tomorrow.
CNAS is located in Washington, and was established in February 2007 by co-founders Dr. Kurt M. Campbell and Michèle A. Flournoy. CNAS is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt nonprofit organization. Its research is independent and non-partisan. CNAS does not take institutional positions on policy issues and all views, positions, and conclusions expressed in its publications should be understood to be solely those of the authors.
CNAS board members, founders, leaders, scholars, and interns have held or gone on to prominent positions in the U.S. government, at the departments of Defense and State; the White House; the Central Intelligence Agency; Congress; and the private sector. CNAS enjoys a strong network of supporters in all corners of the policymaking community as a result.
Publication 2020 Africa Think Tank Summit(2020-01-01) McGann, James GAfrican think tanks have the potential to provide much-needed localized expertise that can infuse policy debates with rigorous evidence-based data and an authentic African perspective. By focusing on examples of African think tanks that are succeeding, African think tanks can come together to collaborate and create a unified African voice, whereby showing donors how crucial they are to the success of their respective countries and increase support for the fragile African think tank ecosystem. As a think tank community, we must work to ensure that African think tanks have the tools to thrive, prosper and grow.Publication 2015 First Annual US-India Think Tank Summit(2015-01-01) McGann, James GSince 2013, the Think Tank and Civil Societies Program of the University of Pennsylvania (TTCSP) has been organizing a series of regional and global “Think Tank Summits”, bringing together professionals of top-ranked think tanks to connect as a trade association for networking, reflection and discussions on the pressing issues of the day. Over nine summits have been held so far, including regional convocations for Asia, Africa, Europe, Middle East, Latin America and North America, the G20 countries. The First Annual US India Think Tank Summit brought together over seventy think tanks from India and the United States of America to discuss how best to create a sustainable future for Indian think tanks.Publication 2017 Africa Think Tank Summit Report: Fit for the Future: Enhancing the Capacity, Quality, and Sustainability of Africa's Think Tanks(2017-01-01) McGann, James GDiscussions were organized around the following three key themes and were designed to feature some of the best practices and innovation strategies, products and programs that have been developed in Africa and other regions of the world: 1. Enhancing the Capacity and Quality of Think Tank Research and Public Engagement: The national and regional development requires finely tuned research, analysis and engagements capacities. Think tanks can only contribute to the development of effective and responsive policies by conducting evidence based research and effectively engaging both policymakers and the public in policy issues that are key to Africa’s development. 2. Making Africa’s Think-Tanks Fit for Purpose: Think tanks can only carry out the above tasks if they have the requisite internal capacities and resources to undertake these tasks. What are the best strategies and structures (i.e. institutional architecture) for the policy and funding environment in Africa? Specifically what structures, staffing patterns and strategies, products, methods are best suited for the policy and funding environment in Africa? 3. Creating a Sustainable Future for Think Tanks in Africa: The Forum featured some of the best practices and innovative strategies, products and programs that have been developed in Africa and other regions of the world.Publication 2016 Latin America Think Tank Summit Report: Creating New Ideas for the Future of Latin America: The Think Tank 5.0(2016-01-01) McGann, James GPublication 2019 Global Go To Think Tank Index Report(2020-06-18) McGann, James GThe 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 29 years, the 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 1,796 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, the 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 2006, the TTCSP developed and launched a pilot project named the global index of think tanks, 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 85 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.Publication 2020 Africa Think Tank Summit(2020-04-01) McGann, James GAfrican think tanks have the potential to provide much-needed localized expertise that can infuse policy debates with rigorous evidence-based data and an authentic African perspective. By focusing on examples of African think tanks that are succeeding, African think tanks can come together to collaborate and create a unified African voice, whereby showing donors how crucial they are to the success of their respective countries and increase support for the fragile African think tank ecosystem. As a think tank community, we must work to ensure that African think tanks have the tools to thrive, prosper and grow.