About

This blog is about think tanks (or policy research institutes; or institutos de investigación de políticas públicas o centros de investigación, in Spanish). I believe that these organisations can serve an important public good purpose even if they are sometimes dismissed as ideological or interest driven. They play a key role in any modern society that values the contribution that knowledge can make to the world of politics.

This blog is particularly about think tanks and for think tanks in developing countries -as well as think tanks that focus on ‘international development’ issues. But much of the commentary and resources will also be useful for think tanks in the developed world.

I hope that the posts and the resources published here will support think tanks to be more strategic in the way they make short and long-term decisions. The blog will focus on key internal and external issues of relevance and interest to think tanks and their staff and supporters.

The blog is a project of Mendizabal Ltd and I, Enrique Mendizabal, write most of the posts and edit the site. From time to time, other ‘bloggers’ will post on onthinktanks and they will be identified as contributors.

The team

Enrique Mendizabal, Director

For the record, I am currently an independent researcher, working through my own limited company, Mendizabal Ltd. Until December 2010 I worked for the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) -an international development think tank based in the UK- where I headed the Research and Policy in Development (RAPID) programme. In 2011 I focused on the study of think tanks as part of a project carried out with the support of IDRC and others; including my own funds. Besides this blog I provide consultancy services and advice to think tanks and their funders and collaborate with several think tanks whenever possible -always trying to encourage them to join in the discussion on the nature of think tanks.

For more news about me can be found here.

Adrián Lauer, research assistant and blogger

Adrián Lauer is currently studying a BA on Political Science at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, in Lima, Peru. He is focusing his studies on International Relations, and his main academic interests are international political economy, multilateral treaties and migrations. He is currently a member of Internacia, a student group focused on international relations based at PUCP.

Andrea Moncada, research assistant and blogger

Andrea is a BA student of political science in Lima, Peru, currently in her final semester at the  Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, in Peru. Her main academic interests are international relations theory, international security, counterterrorism and conflict resolution.  She is also currently a member of the Peruvian delegation for the Harvard National Model United Nations, a member of the research committee for Internacia, a student group focused on international relations, and the Security Council Committee director for this year’s Model United Nations at PUCP.