T

he Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) has been recognized as one of the most influential think tanks in the world, according to the 2017 Global Go To Think Tank Index.

The center was the only Indonesian think tank that made it onto the list, which was recently published by the United States-based Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program (TTCSP) at the Lauder Institute of the University of Pennsylvania. It placed 64th on the list of top non-US think thanks and 76th on the US and non-US groups out of 7,815 globally.

The center, which was established in 1971, led other Indonesian groups, placing at number five in the Top Think Tanks in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Region category.

“This is an acknowledgement of our contribution to discourse and policy, especially foreign policy and national defense because these are our core areas,” the center’s executive director, Philips J. Vermonte, told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

Besides being ranked the highest among 26 think tanks in the country, the center — which was co-founded by Jusuf Wanandi — was also recognized in the field of foreign policy and international affairs, as well as defense and national security categories with rankings of 47 and 57, respectively.

The 2017 study, which was the 11th published by the TTCSP, assessed think tanks from all over the world based on the quality and reputation of their research, analysis and staff. It also measured the quality and quantity of their publications, reputation with policy makers and in the media, as well as access to key institutions and the ability to bridge the gap between policy makers, academics and the public.

The program covers various research areas ranging from defense and national security, domestic economic policy, education policy, environment, foreign policy and international affairs, global health policy, science and technology, social policy, up to transparency and good governance.

The center has held various research and discussions on foreign policy, defense, social, politics and the economy to serve as inputs for policymakers.

“I think we should increase the number of think tanks in Indonesia because it is important to have options available to public policy and decision makers,” Philips said, adding that it would also be ideal to develop a think tank culture in the country.

Other think tank groups from Indonesia were also recognized in the Southeast Asia and Pacific region, namely the Indonesian Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia at number 17, the Institute of National Capacity Studies at number 51 and the Centre of Indonesia Policy Studies at number 72.

Prominent anticorruption watchdog Indonesia Corruption Watch ranked 22nd among the most influential transparency and good governance think tanks in the world, while the Center for Regional Information & Studies was at number 34 in the same category.

The Center for International Forestry Research placed 28th in the world’s top environment policy think tanks.

Out of 7,815 think tanks worldwide, 26.2 percent are based in Europe, 25.2 percent in North America, 20.7 percent in Asia, 12.5 percent in Central and South America, while the remaining are in Africa and Australia.

The US-based Brookings Institution was named the think tank of the year by the study. (sha)