CENTER FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES
A. CONCEPTS ABOUT STRATEGIC STUDIES:
Strategy is the art and science of marshalling human and material resources and planning for action on multiple levels and on complex 'terrain' to reach articulated
goals. Carl Conetta (2006)
The most challenging conditions for strategy are when there is concerted human opposition, as in politics, sports or warfare. Grand strategy refers to the complex of
strategic elements necessary for achieving very large-scale objectives such as winning a war or changing the political course of a nation.
Political strategies are employed in conditions of uncertainty and against concerted opposition also employing strategy. The strategist attempts to anticipate the
dynamics of the system in order to optimize plans. Successful strategies anticipate and plan contingency options for the unpredictable and prepare counter moves to
the actions of the opposition.
Strategic studies is an interdisciplinary field devoted to topics concerning: the relationship between politics, geography and natural resources, economics,
and military power, such as the role of intelligence, diplomacy and threats in the preparation and use of force.
B. HOW IS A STRATEGIC STUDIES CENTER FORMED:
1. Goal formation - set clear goals for the center which will at the end measure progress and help make a compelling case for funding.
- Consider the work done by leaders and other prominent people of various areas. It also allows understanding about the "why" behind the decisions
they make and the roles and responsibilities they assign.
- Discuss important areas such as "current needs to organize a center", how can these needs be met, and identify goals that will determine
specifically set of actions to be undertaken;
2. Identify who will be the members that will constitute the organization;
3. Identify conditions that will control, limit and guide actions - i.e. how the actions envisioned will bring toward the realization of objectives or goals setforth.
4. Accurately determine the geographic area where the planned project is going to be implemented. The site might have some economic and political
features, which contribute specific characteristics to the process.
5. Determine time frames - set duration of processes (pacing) and the order of activities to be undertaken as well as the actual possibilities regarding
implementations. Project participants may have different time availability, depending on the activities they are participating at;
6. Secure sufficient resources - the resources needed to adequately execute the project. Resources may be either internal or external origin.
7. Clear determination about expected results. - all processes involve results within the short- medium- and long-term as at the end of the process.
compliance with deadlines gives credibility and consistency to the project. Tangible results be connected to each other, be of a continuous nature and
achievable throughout the life of the project, within close timeframes between each other.
C. GOALS/VISIONS AND OUTCOMES OF A STRATEGIC STUDIES CENTER:
a. to promote good governance and democratic values in the defense and security sectors within an area;
b. establish long-term active communications with leaders across a region and/or a political-geographic area;
c. a think-tank which focuses on important and pressing issues of a geo-political area, thereby raising awareness;
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d. to facilitate raising of awareness - regularly commissions, publish journals, books, monographs and articles, periodically organizes seminars and conferences reporting on security and political issues to readers/subscribers from embassies, ministries, NGOs, businesses, universities and individuals;
e. undertake policy researches and analyze strategic issues concerning a country or a region; researches are conducted with established consultants and in
partnership with government agencies, business industries, the private sector, tertiary institutions, research partners and the wider community;
f. become a platform for policy related discussions - thru seminars, trainings, workshops, roundtable forums, closed door discussion seminars, etc.
g. the advancement and dissemination of knowledge and the promotion of research on all matters appertaining to some interest;
h. "A centre of studies on a foreign country may be established with a view to developing expertise on countries of strategic importance";
i. such Centres will be able to advise the government, especially in terms of strategic negotiations... Such centres will necessarily have advisory boards of former
foreign secretaries and ambassadors."
j. An engaged study of policy would provide a sound basis for creating an interpretative framework within which a particular issue may be understood."
D. NATURE OF A STRATEGIC STUDIES CENTER:
a. Think-tank or a Policy institute Is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military or
technology issues. (Either a non-profit organization or are funded by governments, advocacy groups, or businesses, or derive revenue from
consulting or research work related to their projects. A few have endowments).
E. USUAL FUCTIONS:
a. Seek political support for policies;
b. Legitimise policies;
c. Spaces of debate - seen as spaces where experts/politicians can test the soundness of their policies and plans.
d. Financial channels for political parties or other interest groups
e. Expert cadres of policy-makers and politicians –
F. BASES OF FUNDING:
a. as an Independent research center: work is done with core or flexible funding that allows the researchers the liberty to choose their research questions and
method. It may be long term and could focus on ‘big ideas’ with no direct policy relevance. On the other hand, it could focus on a key policy problem that
requires a thorough research and action investment.
b. as a Consultancy: this would be work done through commissions with specific clients and addressing one or two key questions. Consultancies often respond to
an existing agenda.
c. as an Influencing/advocacy: this would be work done through communications, capacity development, networking, campaigns, lobbying, etc. It is likely to be
based on research based evidence emerging from independent research or consultancies.
G. BASES OF THEIR WORK OR ARGUMENTS:
a. Ideology, values or interests
b. Applied, empirical or synthesis research
c. Theoretical or academic research
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H. SOME EXAMPLES OF EXISTING STRATEGIC STUDIES CENTERS:
CSIS
Center for Strategic &
Int'l Studies
SSI
Strategic Studies
Institute
Washington DC, USA
Pennsylvania, USA
CSIS provides strategic
insights & bipartisan policy
solutions to decision makers
in government, international
institutions, the private sector,
and civil society.
SSI publishes national security
and strategic research and
analysis
which serves to influence
policy
debate and bridge the gap
between
Military and Academia.
A preeminent public policy
institutions on foreign policy
and national security issues.
Conducts research and
analysis and develops policy
initiatives that look into the
future and anticipate change.
provides strategic insights and
policy solutions to
decisionmakers in
government, international
institutions, the private sector,
and civil society.
Offers programs and initiatives that
will find strategic insights and
policy solutions to problems that
can be grouped into by broad
research areas of topics or regions.
Areas covered are Defense &
Security, Energy and Climate
Change, Global Health, Global
Trends & Forecasting Governance,
Human Rights, Technology, Trade
& Economics.
IISS
ECSSR
ACSS
RISSC
International Institute
for Strategic Studies
The Emirates Center for
Strategic Studies &
Research
Africa Center for
Strategic Studies
Royal Islamic Strategic
Studies Center
London, UK
World’s leading authority on
political-military conflict/ on global
security: facts, analysis, influence.
Provide the objective information on
military and political developments;
Analyzes policies to be pursued by
various governments and other
actors in furthering & maintaining
international peace & security.
Convenes gov't ministers, officials,
int'l civil servants, independent
analysts, businessmen, journalists to
advance understanding of political,
military, technological, business,
economic, environmental, social,
religious & other trends that could
have a military dimension.
Maintain, nurture & continually
enlarge an int'l network of influential
& knowledgeable individuals,
corporate entities, governments &
other bodies to ensure the effective
dissemination of information,
analysis & understanding of the
subjects and activities addressed by
the Institute's work.
Aim to influence and promote the
adoption of sound policies to
maintain & further international
peace & security and civilised
international relations by all actors
able to realise this aim.
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Washington DC, USA
Amman, Jordan
An advanced and independent
research institution that keep
abreast with new developments at
the political, economic & social
spheres of human endeavour, &
also formulate the most suitable
responses and strategies for
keeping the UAE society ahead in
the race of modernity.
Supports the US foreign and
security policies in identifying and
resolving security challenges.
An independent research entity
affiliated with the Royal Aal alBayt Institute for Islamic Thought.
Conduct relevant, timely, &
efficient programs focused on
national security policy
development, counter-terrorism,
civil military relations, defense
economics and resource
management, and conflict
prevention;
Protect, preserve & propagate
traditional, orthodox, ‘moderate’
Islam principles.
Conduct studies and research on
topics relevant to the national
security and economic and social
well-being of the United Arab
Emirates and the Gulf region and
on other relevant international
concerns
Provides community services
through scientific activities & the
convening of symposia, lectures
& conferences on topics related to
the research agenda of the
Center.
Actively assists & promotes the
professional development of UAE
nationals through training
programs.
Extends support to the
government's decision-making
process by preparing reports on
best policy scenario mix &
providing research inputs to
decision-makers
Build African military capacity and
professionalization, respect for the
rule of law, and civil-military
relations.
Focus on countering transnational security challenges and
initiatives that build partner
capacities.
Build a network of African civil,
military, & opinion leaders who
can promote a common
understanding among U.S. and
African leaders on U.S.-African
security-related policies,
programs, & priorities.
Propagate & publicize religious
and legal positions of traditional,
orthodox, ‘moderate’ Islam on key
issues relevant to life in the
modern world.
Study trends & events among all
the world’s religions, religious org.
and religious movements,
particularly in their attitudes
towards Islam and Muslims.
Monitor & co-ordinate with other
similar think tanks internationally,
and co-ordinate with both Islamic
& interfaith centres & academic
institutions internationally.
Engages members on rigorous
academic and outreach programs
that build strategic capacity and
foster long-term, collaborative
relationships.
Foster shared programs with
European allies, partner countries,
and select international, regional,
and civil-society organizations to
fulfill common goals.
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