Network of Democracy Research Institutes
Member Institutes
The institutional profiles below provide contact information, program descriptions, and research and publication highlights for current members of the Network. Most institutions provide more detailed information, including full texts of selected publications, on their own Web sites. Unless otherwise noted, all Network member Web sites listed herein contain information in English.
Middle East
Al-Urdun Al-Jadid Research Center
Contact: Hani Hourani, founder and director general
P.O. Box 940631
Amman 11196, Jordan
Phone: +962-6-553-3112/4
Fax: +926-6-553-3118
ujrc@ujrc-jordan.org
www.ujrc-jordan.org
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Mission:
Established in 1993, the Al-Urdun Al-Jadid Research Center seeks to foster sustainable development and democratization in Jordan and the Middle East. To that end, the Center conducts research and hosts conferences in the areas of civil society, democracy and human rights, economic studies, electoral and parliamentary studies, peace studies, social history, water and the environment, and women's studies.
Activities include:
- promoting sustainable democracy by sponsoring national dialogue, encouraging political participation, strengthening democratic legislation, and expanding the role of civil society
- providing analysis of major economic, political, and social issues and presenting alternative policies to the government and to private sector institutes
- publishing research as a tool for public education and facilitating general access to information
- building networks between research centers, institutions and civil society organizations at the local, regional, and international levels for cooperation and professional exchange
- building resources, such as archives and libraries, to provide free public access to information and to enhance public awareness of democracy and development issues
- improving public awareness of political and economic realities through the provision of training opportunities in areas such as electoral participation, human rights, and freedom of expression with the ultimate goal of reinforcing the consolidation of democracy in Jordan
Publication Information: For a list of the Center's publications, please visit www.ujrc-jordan.org/web/publications.htm.
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Center for Strategic Studies, University of Jordan
Contact: Fares Braizat, researcher
Center for Strategic Studies
University of Jordan
Amman, Jordan
Phone: +962-6-530-0100
Fax: +962-6-535-5515
css@css-jordan.org
www.jcss.org/default.aspx
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Mission:
The Center for Strategic Studies (CSS) was established in 1984 as an academic unit of the University of Jordan concerned mainly with research in the fields of regional conflicts, international relations and security. With the initiation of the country's democratization process in 1989, the center expanded its scope of activities to include planning and research in such new fields as democracy, political pluralism, the economy and the environment.
Activities include:
- conducts domestic, regional, and international public opinion surveys
- evaluates Jordan’s economic performance through its Economic Studies Unit
- examines Israeli society and politics through its Israeli Studies Unit
- publishes books, working papers, and series and survey reports about regional relationships, democracy, and security.
Publication Information: Please visit http://www.jcss.org/SubDefault.aspx?PageId=80# for a list of recent publications.
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Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy (CSID)
Contact: Radwan A. Masmoudi, president
1625 Massachusetts Avenue N.W.
Suite 601, Washington, DC 20036, USA
Phone: +1-202-265-1200
Fax: +1-202-265-1222
masmoudi@islam-democracy.org
http://csidonline.org/
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Mission:
The Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy (CSID) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to studying Islamic and democratic political thought and merging them into a modern Islamic democratic discourse. The organization was founded in March 1999 by a diverse group of academicians, professionals, and activists—both Muslim and non-Muslim—from across the United States who agree on the need for the study of and dissemination of reliable information on this complex topic. CSID works to produce scholarship that clarifies the relationship between Western principles of democracy and the Islamic tradition and that promotes a greater understanding of Islam's approach to individual freedom, civil rights, and political pluralism.
Activities include:
- organizing conferences, lectures, and workshops in Muslim countries that bring together scholars, political leaders, and activists to discuss issues related to Islam and democracy
- organizing an annual academic and policy conference in Washington, D.C.
- developing international networks of Muslim democrats
- publishing conference summaries, occasional papers, and newsletters
Publication Information: Please visit http://tinyurl.com/2qwhbk for list of publications.
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Centre for the Research of Societal Problems (TOSAM)
Contact: Dogu Ergil, president
Bagcilar Mahallesi, 2. Sokak, Villagul Apt. No: 1/1, 06670 G. O. P
Ankara, Turkey
Phone: +90-312-447-1133
Fax: +90-312-446-8959
dogu.ergil@tosam.org
www.tosam.org
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Mission:
Established in 1999, the Centre for the Research of Societal Problems (TOSAM) supports the promotion of democracy and conflict resolution in Turkey through research and training exercises. TOSAM particularly focuses its training on multiethnic youth and partners with other organizations to provide conflict management and vocational training. The Centre also hosts democratization and conflict management seminars and workshops throughout Turkey.
Activities include:
- producing weekly radio programs on democracy called "Democracy Belt"
- organizing conferences, seminars, and panel discussions in Turkey on democratization, conflict resolution, the rule of law, and multiculturalism
- publishing articles, reports, and newsletters
- writing policy papers on such issues as civil liberties, governmental transparency, human rights, and public opinion
- training governmental leaders, including members of parliament, mayors, and business and youth leaders
Publication Information: A list of publications is available on TOSAM's Web site.
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Gulf Research Center
Contact: Dr. Oskar Ziemelis, Director of Cooperation
187 Oud Metha Tower,
11th Floor, 303 Sheikh Rashid Road,
P.O. Box 80758
Dubai, UAE.
Phone: +971-4-324 7770
Fax: +971-4-324 7771
info@grc.ae
www.grc.ae
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Mission:
The GRC is committed to making knowledge available for all. The Center aims to enrich and foster academic and intellectual understanding of the political, economic, security, social, educational and environmental issues relevant to the Gulf region through objective research. In order to facilitate reforms in the region and secure a better future for its citizens, the Center also promotes communication, collaboration and dialogue using its media, education provider, and information dissemination and consultancy services. The Center is also devoted to facilitating dialogue among scholars specialized in Gulf affairs, both within and outside the region.
Activities include:
- conducting research on Gulf issues.
- providing education solutions through a “knowledge program,” which targets higher management circles in the fields of politics, economics, business administration and security from an international perspective and within a framework of coordination with international universities and institutes.
- offering training courses for students, especially post-graduate students, government and non-government employees related to the Center’s areas of expertise.
- monitoring news coverage of events and developments in the Gulf region as published, broadcast, and telecast by local, regional, and international media.
- preparing studies and offering expert consultation to governmental and non-governmental organizations in different fields within the Center’s primary concerns.
- translation and publishing of scholarly books on topics in the fields of social sciences and humanities.
Publication Information: Please visit http://tinyurl.com/3946mx for a list of recent publications.
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Ibn Khaldun Center for Development Studies (ICDS)
Contact: Saad Eddin Ibrahim, chairman
17, Street 12, P.O. Box 13
Mokattam, Cairo, Egypt
Phone: +2-02-508-1030; +2-02-508-1617; +2-02-667-0653
Fax: +2-02-667-0973
info@eicds.org
www.eicds.org
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Mission:
Ibn Khaldun Center for Development Studies (ICDS) is a non-governmental institution founded in 1988 in Cairo. The main objective of the Center is the advancement of applied social sciences, with special emphasis on Egypt and the Arab World. It is committed to the promotion of responsible dialogue, democracy, peace, and development for all peoples in the region. From June of 2000 until June of 2003, the Center was shut down due to the politically-motivated imprisonment of its chairman and 27 other associates.
Activities include:
- holds a series of seminars on issues such as religion and politics, history, literary issues, Egyptian affairs, the Arab-Israeli conflict, and regional and international affairs
- holds an annual conference on "Ethnic, Religious, and Political Minorities," as well as other conferences and seminars
- conducts research and completes projects on democratization and civil society, sects, ethnic, and minority groups, and gender and human development
Publication Information: Please visit the Center's Web site for a list of recent publications.
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Israel Democracy Institute (IDI)
Contact: Arye Z. Carmon, president
P.O. Box 4702
Jerusalem, 91046
Israel
Phone: +972-2-5300-888
Fax: +972-2-5300-837
info@idi.org.il
www.idi.org.il
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Mission:
Founded in 1991, the Israel Democracy Institute is an independent, nonprofit organization focused on building democratic institutions and values in Israel. The Institute conducts research on political accountability, the constitutional process, legislative information, political reform, and religion and the state. It also offers politicians and government officials seeking professional and nonaffiliated partners a venue for examining ideas and considering practical ways to implement them.
Activities include:
- promoting political and economic structural reforms
- providing policy analysis, information, and comparative research for the Israeli Knesset and government agencies
- serving as an educational body to broaden the horizons of decision makers and the general public
Publication Information: For a list of IDI's publications, please visit www.idi.org.il/english/catalog.asp.
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Lebanese Center for Policy Studies (LCPS)
Contact: Oussama Safa, director
Box 55215
Tayyar Center Sin el-Fil
Beirut, Lebanon
Phone: +961-1-490-561
+961-1-486-429
Fax: +96-1-490-375
info@lcps-lebanon.org
www.lcps-lebanon.org
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Mission:
The Lebanese Center for Policy Studies is a non-partisan, not-for-profit research center headquartered in Beirut. Aside from its main focus of research and publication, the center also focuses on advocacy, training, and cooperative efforts. LCPS is concerned with a variety of issues including governance, elections, social and economic development, judicial reforms, and media reform.
Activities include:
- managing several political, economic and social development projects which include the presentation of a reform proposal for new parliamentary election law, municipal government, the judiciary, Lebanon's industrial policy, environmental policy, and civil society
- planning, organizing, and implementing several conferences, workshops, and seminars on political, social, and economic issues in Lebanon
- publishing books, periodicals, as well as the Lebanese Economic Tribune.
Publication Information: Please visit the Center's Web site for a list of publications.
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Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research
Contact: Khalil Shikaki, director
Off Irsal street
P.O.Box 76
Ramallah, Palestinian Authority
Phone: +972-2-296-4933
Fax: +972-2-296-4934
pcpsr@pcpsr.org
www.pcpsr.org
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Mission:
The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PSR) is an independent nonprofit organization that conducts policy analysis and academic research. PSR was founded to advance scholarship on issues of immediate concern to Palestinians in three areas: domestic politics and government, strategic analysis and foreign policy, and public opinion polls and survey research. PSR promotes objective and nonpartisan research and analysis and seeks to encourage a better understanding of the Palestinian domestic and international environment in an atmosphere of free debate and the exchange of ideas. PSR is registered as a nonprofit institution in the Palestinian Ministry of Justice.
Activities include:
- conducting academic and policy studies
- organizing surveys and opinion polls on current political and social attitudes
- sponsoring study groups and task forces on issues of critical importance to the Palestinians
- organizing conferences, public lectures, and briefings on current policy issues
Publication Information: For a list of publications, please visit the Center's Web site.
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René Moawad Foundation
Contact: Nadia Abourizk-Asaad, executive director
844 Alfred Naccache Street, 7th floor
Achrafieh, Beirut, Lebanon
Phone: +961-1-613-367 (-8-9)
Fax: +961-1-613-370
rmf@rmf.org.lb
www.rmf.org.lb
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Mission:
Created on November 22, 1990, the René Moawad Foundation is a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization whose main goals are to help facilitate human, economic, social, and rural development in Lebanon and to help in the creation of a responsible civil society that will consolidate the national unity and contribute to a sustainable peace.
Activities include:
- organizing seminars and workshops on human rights, women's and children's rights, liberalism, and democracy
- publishing a monthly magazine, Hurriyat (Liberties)
- publishing books on human rights and liberalism, as well as manuals on women's rights
Publication Information: Please visit the Foundation's Web site for a list of publications.
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Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV)
Contact: Can Paker, chairman of the board
Bankalar Caddesi, No: 2 Kat: 3, Minerva Han
Karaköy 80020, Istanbul, Turkey
Phone: + 90-212-292-8903 pbx
Fax: + 90-212-292-9048
info@tesev.org.tr
www.tesev.org.tr
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Mission:
Established in 1994, the Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV) is an Istanbul-based, nongovernmental think tank supported by private sector funding from Turkey and abroad. TESEV's roots date back to the Economic and Social Studies Conference Board (ESSCB), which was founded in 1961 by late Dr. Nejat Eczacibasi, a prominent businessman and philanthropist. During the early 1990s, members of the academia from different universities, members of NGOs and leading officials from the Turkish Foreign Ministry decided to collaborate to establish a fundraising foundation for the purpose of promoting applied policy related research. What emerged from these collaborative efforts was the merger of ESSCB with various other initiatives to establish TESEV.
TESEV's research and project agenda is grouped under four titles: Turkey and the European Union (EU), State and Reform, Civil Society, and Civic Contributions to Foreign Policy.
The mission of the foundation is to enhance and encourage social and political transformation in Turkey, to support Turkey's accession to the EU and its implementation of the Copenhagen criteria, to study and analyze the rapid social and cultural changes taking place in Turkey (as well as the government's responses to these changes), to study the effects of globalization, to encourage independent and alternative thinking, to help Turkish society become an integral part of democratic political life and to ensure that civil society plays an active role in the transformation process, to encourage the development of transparency and openness in Turkey, and to inform the public on issues of democracy.
Activities include:
- conducting research on a wide array of issues, including civil society, the fight against corruption, transparency and accountability, state reform, the role of Islamic organizations in Turkish economic life, Turkey's relations with the EU, and civic contributions to foreign policy
- organizing seminars and conferences for academic specialists and policy makers from Turkey and the international community
- publishing books, monographs, research reports, seminar proceedings, electronic newsletters, and position papers
Publication Information: Please visit TESEV's Web site for a list of publications.
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