The Global TOP20 Policy Thinks recognized with the Global Economic Development Mark of Excellence

Public Opinions based in Kampala Uganda East Africa in partnership with the Asia Africa Development Council (ADCO) which is managed by the Council for Sustainable Peace and Development has today 1^st January 2022 offered a GLOBAL Economic Development Mark of Excellence Award to the Global Best 20 Policy Think Tanks which have succeeded in research and think-tanking to promote social-economic transformation of Africa and Asia hence attainment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). There are around 7,500 think tanks that exist worldwide.  There are currently 1.777 think tanks in the USA whereby 58 % were founded during the past 25 years. In terms of the number of think tanks, the USA ranks first worldwide, followed by Great Britain and Germany. Public Opinions and the Asia Africa Development Council based in India only considered the Best20 Global Think Tanks that have generated ideas and policies for Africa prosperity. Arranged in Alphabetical order.

1. CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES (CSIS) (USA): The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is one of the most respected think tanks in Washington. Since 1962, CSIS has maintained its stated mission of “finding ways to sustain American prominence and prosperity as a force for good in the world” by providing non-partisan policy analyses on issues such as international relations, trade, technology, finance, energy, and geo-strategy. Over the years, a number of well-respected figures from every part of the political spectrum have worked with CSIS, including Madeleine Albright, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, and former Undersecretary of Defense Michele Flournoy. CSIS regularly publishes books, reports, newsletters, and commentaries targeted at major decision-makers.The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is a think tank based in Washington, D.C., in the United States. CSIS was founded as the Center for Strategic and International Studies of Georgetown University in 1962. The center conducts policy studies and strategic analyses of political, economic and security issues throughout the world, with a specific focus on issues concerning international relations, trade, technology, finance, energy and geostrategy. In the University of Pennsylvania’s 2019 Global Go To Think Tanks Report, CSIS is ranked the number one think tank in the United States across all fields, the “Top Defense and National Security Think Tank” in the world, and the 4th best think tank in the world overall.CSIS has been named the number one think tank for Defense and National Security for the past seven years, and has been declared the ‘Center of Excellence’.
   Since it’s founding, CSIS “has been dedicated to finding ways to sustain American prominence and prosperity as a force for good in the world”, according to its website.CSIS is officially a bipartisan think tank with scholars that represent varying points of view across the political spectrum. The think tank is known for inviting well-known foreign policy and public service officials from the U.S. Congress and the executive branch, including those affiliated with either the Democratic or the Republican Party as well as foreign officials of varying political backgrounds.

2. AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE (AEI): Founded in 1938, the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) seeks to “defend the principles and improve the institutions of American freedom and democratic capitalism” through “limited government, private enterprise, individual liberty and responsibility, vigilant and effective defense and foreign policies, political accountability, and open debate.” In recent years, AEI has become the most prominent think tank associated with Neo-Conservatism, and has succeeded in placing its members in influential government positions—a fact which has made it highly controversial. In fact, more than 20 AEI scholars and fellows served in posts in the George W. Bush administration.

3. ATLANTIC COUNCIL (USA): The Atlantic Council can trace its roots back to the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, during which member countries came together to promote public understanding and support for policies with the potential to bring widespread peace. Since its official establishment in 1961, at which time the US citizen groups were consolidated, the Atlantic Council has provided a forum for the world’s political, business, and intellectual leaders. Its global network is truly unique, and as such has played an important role in shaping the twenty-first century. Atlantic is headquartered in Washington, DC, though it also consists of 10 centers and programs that focus on specific regions such as Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America, among others. Despite its early association with NATO, the Atlantic Council is a separate institution.
4. BROOKINGS INSTITUTION (USA): The Brookings Institution boasts two major claims when it comes to think tanks: it was likely the first think tank to be founded in the United States, and its studies are the most widely cited by the media. Since its foundation in 1916, Brookings has influenced and contributed to the creation of such historic phenomena as the United Nations, the Marshall Plan, the Congressional Budget Office, and various policies of deregulation, broad-based tax reform, welfare reform, and foreign aid. Despite being founded as a Progressive institution, Brookings states that its scholars “represent diverse points of view.” Consistent with this claim is the fact that Brookings is referenced by Conservative politicians almost as frequently as it is by those who are Liberal. To keep up with its widespread influence, Brookings conducts research and education in a number of social sciences, including economics, metropolitan policy, governance, foreign policy, and global economy and development.
5. BRUEGEL (BELIGIUM): Bruegelis a think tank devoted to policy research on economic issues. Based in Brussels, it launched its operations in 2005 and currently conducts research in five different focus areas with the aim of improving economic debate and policy-making. Bruegel was recognised as the best international economics think tank worldwide and the second best think tank in the world, according to the 2019 Global Go To Think Tank Report. It has a governance and funding model based on memberships from Member States of the European Union, international corporations, and other institutions. Bruegel explains its name as a tribute to Pieter Bruegel, the 16th-century painter whose work epitomizes unvarnished and innovative depictions of life in Europe. It can also be read as a reference to a “Brussels European and Global Economic Laboratory. The think tank was initially co-founded by the economists Jean Pisani-Ferry and Nicolas Véron in 2002. It was officially endorsed by former French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder at the 40th anniversary of the Elysée Treaty in January 2003. Former European Commissioner Mario Monti was instrumental in Bruegel’s creation and became its first Chairman in early 2005, following the think tank’s legal creation as an International Non-Profit Association under Belgian law and its first Board election in 2004.Bruegel’s research is divided into five broad research areas: European Macroeconomics & Governance, Global Economics & Governance, Finance & Financial Regulation, Innovation & Competition, and Energy & Climate.

6. CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL PEACE (USA):The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace is a non-partisan think tank that specializes in foreign policy. Though its headquarters are located in the Embassy Row neighborhood of Washington, DC, it also has centers in Moscow, Beirut, Beijing, and Brussels, which make it a unique global network of policy research centers. Each center worldwide houses local experts who produce top-notch work on critical national, regional, and global issues. As intended, these experts often provide national capitals and institutions with a deeper understanding of the circumstances shaping various policy choices. The Endowment remains highly influential, and since 2005 the Endowment’s asset amount has increased 44% from $243 million to $349 million.
7. CHATHAM HOUSE (UK): Chatham House is a world-leading policy institute with a mission to help governments and societies build a sustainably secure, prosperous and just world. Chatham House, also known as the Royal Institute of International Affairs is an independent policy institute headquartered in London. Its mission is to provide authoritative commentary on world events and offer solutions to global challenges. It is the originator of the Chatham House Rule. Its presidents are The Baroness Manningham-Buller, Alistair Darling, and John Major. Chatham House has been a source of independent analysis, trusted dialogue and influential ideas for one hundred years. Today, at the beginning of our second century, we continue to offer solutions to global challenges and actively seek to empower the next generation to change their world. Our three second century goals are intended to enable and build peaceful, sustainable and inclusive societies. We are privileged to hold a long-standing position of trust on the world stage and we seek to use this to champion positive change for people everywhere.
   Chatham House research is structured around five thematic programmes, comprising: environment and society; global economy and finance; global health security; international law; and international security; as well as six regional programmes, covering Africa, the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, Russia and Eurasia, and the US and Americas.Chatham House also contains the Sustainability Accelerator (formerly Hoffmann Centre for Sustainable Resource Economy), which focuses on the political economy of resource production and consumption.

8. CHINA INSTITUTES OF CONTEMPORARY INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS (CICIR) (CHINA): China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR) is a longstanding, extensive and multifunctional research and consultation complex focusing on international strategic and security studies. It covers all geographic areas and major strategic and comprehensive issues in the world. It opened up to the public in 1980 as China Institute of Contemporary International Relations and was renamed in 2003. The China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations(CICIR) is among China’s largest, oldest and most influential research institutes for international studies.In 1964, then-Premier Zhou Enlai ordered the creation of several colleges and university departments to focus on international affairs. A number of ministries, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Public Security, established their own think tanks and research organizations under the decree. CICIR was established in 1965. At that time, it fell under the Foreign Affairs Leading Group of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, and served a number of senior Communist Party officials. CICIR was the only international relations institute or university in China that did not close during the tumultuous years of the Cultural Revolution.In 1980, amidst Deng Xiaoping’s reform and opening up to the outside world, CICIR was designated an “open” institution, and was authorized to engage with foreigners.

9. COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS (CFR) (USA): With offices in New York City and Washington, DC, the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) is considered by some to be the most influential foreign-policy think tank in the United States. Including names like Fareed Zakaria, Colin Powell, Tom Brokaw, and Madeleine Albright, CFR’s impressive membership list has included senior politicians, more than a dozen Secretaries of State, CIA directors, bankers, lawyers, professors, and prominent media figures. CFR is perhaps best known by the general public as the publisher of the widely read bi-monthly journal Foreign Affairs. In policy circles, however, CFR is known for its “David Rockefeller Studies Program,” which often succeeds in influencing foreign policy by making official recommendations to the President and diplomatic community, testifying before Congress, speaking with the media, and publishing on issues of foreign policy.

10. FRENCH INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS (IFRI) (FRANCE): In 2021, Ifri is ranked 5th most influential think tanks in the worldaccording to the University of Pennsylvania’s “Global Think Tank Report 2020” which has reviewed more than 8,000 think tanks from 190 countries. Ifri is also ranked 4th think tank in Western Europe. Founded (1979) and chaired by Thierry de Montbrial, Ifri is the leading independent research and debate institution in France dedicated to the analysis of international issues and global governance. Its director is Thomas Gomart. The institute brings together a multi-national team of fifty collaborators including about thirty permanent professional researchers divided into 11 research units with a

• regional focus: Europe, Russia / NIS, Asia, North America, Sub-Saharan Africa, Turkey / Middle East
• focusing on cross-cutting issues: Security and Strategic Affairs, Energy and Climate, Geopolitics of Technology, Space, Migration and Citizenship.

Ifri’s policy-oriented research strives to shed light on international events and put them in perspective. It is primarily useful for political and economic decision-makers as well as academics, opinion leaders, and civil society representatives.

Ifri’s goal is to:

• Develop applied research in the field of public policy, related to international issues; and
• Foster interactive and constructive dialogue between researchers, professionals, and opinion leaders.

Ifri is independent from all administrative and financial regulatory authorities and has no affiliation with any political party. Its political and intellectual independence is paramount and the Institute chose to diversify its public and private sources of funding. Its budget amounts to about 6.5 million Euros, about 70% of which is from private sources.

11. GERMAN MARSHALL FUND OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (USA): The German Marshall Fund of the United States was founded in 1972 through a gift from Germany as a tribute to the Marshall Plan. The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) is a non-partisan policy organization committed to the idea that the United States and Europe are stronger together.The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) is a non-partisan policy organization committed to the idea that the United States and Europe are stronger together. Those values and that system are under threat from enemies both internal and external.GMF champions the principles of democracy, human rights, and international cooperation, which have served as the bedrock of peace and prosperity since the end of World War II, but are under increasing strain.GMF works on issues critical to transatlantic interests in the 21st century, including the future of democracy, security and geopolitics, alliances and the rise of China, and technology and innovation.By drawing on and fostering a community of people with diverse life experiences and political perspectives, GMF pursues its mission by driving the policy debate through cutting-edge analysis and convening, fortifying civil society, and cultivating the next generation of leaders on both sides of the Atlantic. Founded by Guido Goldman (November 4, 1937 – November 30, 2020) in 1972 through a gift from Germany as a tribute to the Marshall Plan, GMF is headquartered in Washington, DC, with offices in Berlin, Brussels, Ankara, Belgrade, Bucharest, Paris, and Warsaw.

12. HENRY A. KISSINGER CENTER FOR GLOBAL AFFAIRS AT JOHNS HOPKINS SAIS:Established in October 2016 with the largest combined gift in the history of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, the Henry A. Kissinger Center for Global Affairs is home to a distinguished faculty of scholars and practitioners working to address some of today’s most complex global challenges. The return of great power politics and emerging new threats – from climate change to artificial intelligence and cyberwarfare – are reshaping international relations. The Kissinger Center aims to deepen our understanding of this changing strategic landscape through an historically-informed, interdisciplinary approach to the study of international affairs. This approach honors the legacy of Henry Kissinger, whose diplomatic achievements and erudition have inspired multiple generations of foreign policy professionals. Located in the heart of Washington, DC, the Kissinger Center is uniquely positioned to build on Johns Hopkins SAIS’ more than 75 years of excellence in scholarship and public engagement to prepare tomorrow’s global leaders.

13. HERITAGE FOUNDATION (USA):Founded in 1973, the Heritage Foundation rose to prominence during the Reagan administration and the Conservative Movement of the 1980s. In fact, many of Reagan’s policies drew significantly from the “Mandate for Leadership,” Heritage’s official policy study. Since then, Heritage has solidified itself as one of the most influential Conservative organizations in the United States. Consistent with its interest in economic principles, Heritage tracks the yearly growth of federal spending, revenue, debt and deficits, and entitlement programs, which it then publishes as the Budget Chart Book and distributes free to the public. Heritage also publishes a number of political theory books, and partners with the Wall Street Journaleach year to publish the Annual Index of Economic Freedom. Heritage’s current Board of Trustees reads like a “Who’s Who” of the new Conservative movement, and includes such names as Larry P. Arnn (President of Hillsdale College), Jim DeMint (former Senator and now President of Heritage), and Steve Forbes (President and CEO of Forbes).
14. HOOVER INSTITUTION: The Hoover Institution on War, Revolution, and Peace is a think tank associated with Stanford University. Since its founding by pre-presidential Herbert Hoover in 1919, the Institution has been a leader in Domestic Economic Policy, Security, and International Affairs. It describes itself as “moderate Conservative,” which makes sense once you remember that its namesake once toyed with the idea of becoming a Democrat. Regardless, Hoover has maintained the same basic tenets of “representative government, private enterprise, peace, and personal freedom” for nearly 100 years.The Hoover Institution on War, Revolution, and Peaceis a conservative American public policy institution and research institution that promotes personal and economic liberty, free enterprise, and limited government. Located in Stanford, California, on the campus of Stanford University, it began as a library founded in 1919 by Stanford alumnus Herbert Hoover, before he became President of the United States. The library, known as the Hoover Institution Library and Archives, houses multiple archives related to Hoover, World War I, World War II, and other world-historical events.The Hoover Institution has been a place of scholarship for individuals who previously held high-profile positions in government, such as George Shultz, Condoleezza Rice, Michael Boskin, Edward Lazear, John B. Taylor, Edwin Meese, and Amy Zegart—all Hoover Institution fellows. In 2007, retired U.S. Army General John P. Abizaid, former commander of the U.S. Central Command, was named the Institution’s first annual Annenberg Distinguished Visiting Fellow. Former Secretary of Defense General James Mattis served as a research fellow at Hoover before being appointed by the Trump administration.While the Hoover Institution is formally a unit of Stanford University, it has its own board of overseers and less than 2% of its funding come from the university, instead it relies on its own endowment income and gifts.

15. MANHATTAN INSTITUTE FOR POLICY RESEARCH (USA): The Manhattan Institute for Policy Research is a well-known Conservative think tank that seeks to “develop and disseminate new ideas that foster greater economic choice and individual responsibility.” Specifically, the Institute advocates for free market–based solutions to issues plaguing the economy, energy, education, healthcare, welfare reform, the legal system, crime reduction, and urban life, among a number of other things. To do this, it publishes a number of books, articles, op-eds, and interviews targeted towards politicians, scholars, and journalists. The Manhattan Institute for Policy Research (renamed in 1981 from the International Center for Economic Policy Studies) is a conservative 501(c)(3) non-profit American think tank focused on domestic policy and urban affairs, established in Manhattan in 1977 by Antony Fisher and William J. Casey.
16. OPEN SOCIETY FOUNDATION (USA): The Open Society Foundation was founded in 1993 by George Soros. Affiliated with the Soros Foundation Budapest, the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, and the Soros Foundation New York, the Open Society Foundation releases information and funds to civil society groups around the world in an effort to advance justice, education, public health, and independent media. In the US, the Institute has focused recent efforts on advocating for a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants, net neutrality, and the organization of mass protests, including the Occupy Movement. It is also worth mentioning that George Soros remains a very polarizing and controversial figure. Critics on the Left have argued that the Open Society Institute and Foundation serve only to advance a capitalist order, while figures on the Right have claimed the Foundation works with the intention of establishing a unitary global government.
17. RAND CORPORATION: Standing for “Research ANd Development,” the RAND Corporation was founded in 1948 by the Douglas Aircraft Company in order to look into the long-range planning of future weapons. Today, RAND is funded by the US government, a private endowment, universities, and major corporations (especially healthcare), and as such has extended its areas of focus to include everything from energy and the environment, to transportation and public safety. On the education front, RAND is home to the Frederick S. Pardee RAND Graduate School, the world’s largest PhD-granting program in Policy Analysis. RAND also publishes the peer-reviewed RAND Journal of Economics.
18. RUSSIAN INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES (RUSSIA):According to Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 290 On the Federal State Budgetary Institution the Russian Institute for Strategic Studies dated 27 April 2020, the major purpose of the Institute is the information and analytical support of the federal governmental bodies when forming strategic directions of the governmental policy in the area of national security of the Russian Federation.The objectives of the Institute are as follows:a) studying current international and political-military problems, issues of the military and military-industrial policies of the countries all over the world, the social-political and economic situations in the neighbouring countries and determining the development prospects for bilateral relations of the Russian Federation with other countries;
    b) examining and assessing targets and programmes of governmental policy in the area of national security of the Russian Federation;
    c) studying problems and development trends in international economic relations, the global market environment, the economic policy of major partners of the Russian Federation;
    d) analysing and forecasting the sequence of events in different countries and regions which can cause crisis situations, as well as developing suggestions on the ways and methods of handling such situations.
19. THE HAGUE CENTRE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES (NETHERLANDS): The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies (HCSS) was established in 2007 as an independent think tank. The founder, Prof. dr. Rob de Wijk started this organization with a small team of senior experts and analysts drawn from organizations such as the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), RAND, Clingendael, the Dutch Ministry of Defense and the United Nations. HCSS conducts research and provides advice on geopolitical and defence & security issues to governments, international institutions and businesses. Our research is characterized by a datadriven, multidisciplinary approach, specialist knowledge and a strategic orientation. We combine broad, conceptual knowledge with qualitative and quantitative methods and present our findings in the form of recommendations, strategic explorations and scenario analyses. HCSS conducts its activities independently and in collaboration with its large network of affiliated experts. Our products are diverse: full-fledged reports, issue briefs, quick topic reports, and commentaries in the media. These products include strategic surveys, innovative policy recommendations, trend and scenario analyses, risk assessments, geopolitical and regional security analyses, conflict analyses, operational evaluations and identification of lessons learned.
20. WOODROW WILSON INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR SCHOLARS: The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars is a DC-based think tank dealing primarily in issues of international development, science and technology, and security and international affairs. Established in 1968 as part of the Smithsonian Institution, the Center named for former President Woodrow Wilson seeks to “commemorate the ideals and concerns of [Wilson] by: providing a link between the world of ideas and the world of policy; and fostering research, study, discussion, and collaboration among a full spectrum of individuals.” Though officially a Centrist organization, most critics tend to agree that it actually leans toward the Liberal or Progressive side (Wilson was one of the first Progressives, while Democrat John Kerry is a current member).

Public Opinions is a field based organization based in Kampala Uganda east Africa dedicated to work towards attainment of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through Research, Information Dissemination, Public Awareness, Public Relations, International Networking, Investment Advisory, Corporate Branding, Training and mentorship,etc. Web: www.publicopinions.net| www.buyinza.com | Call/Whatsapp:+256701992426