OTT Conference 2023 – Think tanks and political uncertainty

Grab your welcome pack and a cup of coffee and meet fellow conference-goers.

Patricia Lewis (United Kingdom) Acting Deputy Director, Research Director, Conflict, Science and Transformation at Chatham House.

A. Thinktanking in times of political uncertainty

Anahide Pilibossian (APRI – Armenia), Sonja Stojanovic Gajic (Serbia), Dhananath Fernando (Avocata Institute – Sri Lanka) and Renata Skardziute-Kereselidze (Georgian Institute of Politics – Georgia)

This session will explore the external and internal-facing challenges for think tanks in unstable political environments.

B. New voices, new experts – evolving conversations

Fiona Moejes (Mawazo Institute – Kenya), Scarlett Varga (Bruegel – Belgium) and Denisse Rodriguez Olivari (Voceras – Peru)

It will explore the role of new voices (women, young researchers, typically underrepresented groups in policy research) in the way that the think tank industry can respond to the loss of trust in experts. Experiences from Africa, Latin America and Europe will illustrate the discussion and inform approaches to bring about deliberate change in the sector.

C. Working together: think tank cooperation amid political uncertainty

Sophie Pornschlegel (EPC – Belgium), Nader Kabbani (Middle East Council on Global Affairs – Qatar), Helena Hahn (EPC – Belgium) and Sherine Ghoneim (Economic Research Forum – Egypt)

This session will provide a forum for participants to share their experiences, ideas, and insights on think tank cooperation in times of political uncertainty, and to explore strategies for enhancing the effectiveness and sustainability of networks and coalitions. Cases from the Middle East, West Africa and Europe will be explored.

Goran Buldioski (Germany), Director of the Open Society Foundations Initiative for Europe.

A. Bursting the bubble: potentials and ways of public participation for think tanks

Franziska Hackenes (Germany), Weronika Perlinski (DGAP – Germany), Monika Lüke (DGAP – Germany), Chiara Rosselli (Apropos Group – Italy) and Fayyaz Yaseen (Accountability Lab – Pakistan).

This session deals with the importance and potential of reaching politically alienated publics by participatory events in times of political uncertainty.

B. Credibility construction: A de-politicised think tank industry?

Diane Stone (European University Institute – Italy) and Denisse Rodriguez Olivari (Voceras – Peru)

The session will address the ‘myth’ of think tank independence and why the TT sector promotes this (questionable) depoliticised image, and its probable effects – i.e., underwriting policy stability and paradigm maintenance. Rather than non-governmental, or quasi-independent, think tank are mostly ‘near-governmental’.

C. Does AI usher greater uncertainty in the sector?

Sonja Jalfin (Sociopublico – Argentina) and Enrique Mendizabal (OTT – Peru)

This session will go beyond the hype to discuss the most likely impact that AI will have on think tanks contexts and practice.In this session we will explore the practical opportunities and challenges that think tanks and the broader knowledge industry face and identify some interesting and promising efforts to stay ahead of AI developments.

Share your reflections and takeaways from the day's sessions.

Coffee and pre-conference catchups!

Gala Diaz Langou (Argentina), Executive Director at the Center for the Implementation of Public Policies for Equity and Growth.

A. Depolarising public debates – the role of think tanks in developing transformative communication

Ivor Chipkin (New South Institute – South Africa), Igor Bandovic (Belgrade Centre for Security Policy – Serbia) and Jessica Espey (University of Bristol – UK)

This session will delve into the roots of political polarisation and explore how think tanks can develop transformative and de-polarising narratives. The opening speakers will discuss the causes of polarisation in public debates, and how think tanks can foster more productive communication.

B. Futures thinking workshop: bringing citizens along through inclusive approaches to futures

Krizna Gomez (Netherlands) and Reema Patel (Ipsos – UK)

It will explore practical approaches for think tanks to use to creatively engage and involve citizens and members of the public in imaginaries and narratives about (a more stable) future? Cases from the UK, Colombia and Seychelles will inform the discussion.

C. Experts’ trustworthiness in a post-truth world

Christian Acemah (Uganda National Academy of Sciences – Uganda), Celia Nalwadda (Uganda National Academy of Sciences – Uganda) Marcel Mballa-Ekobena (UK), Katy Murray (Cast from Clay – UK) and Aïda Ndiaye (Meta – UK)

This session will provide a neutral platform for participants to candidly discuss opportunities to counter misinformation and disinformation.

During this session, funders will reflect on what they have heard during the conference. They will attempt to: Summarise what they see as the main challenges related to political uncertainty faced by think tanks; reflect on how they own strategies and practices support (or not) think tanks in these contexts; and suggest new ways of working with think tanks in the future.

All participants will have a chance to ask questions, share their own views and offer additional recommendations for action.

Discussion kick-starters: Kristin Corbett (IDRC – Canada); Susanne Zels (Bosch – Germany); Savior Mwambwa (Global Programs, Open Society Foundations New York – United States)

Moderator: Clara Richards (OTT – Argentina)

Olumide Abimbola (Germany), Executive Director of the Africa Policy Research Institute.

A. Working politically: evidence users in times of crisis

Emily Hayter (OTT – UK), Laura Boeira (Veredas Institute – Brazil), Agnes Titriku (African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs – Ghana), Celia (Uganda National Academy of Sciences – Uganda) and Kuranda Morgan (Nesta – UK) are the speakers.

This session aims to bring the practical experiences and needs of evidence users into the conference.

B. Regional meetings

Andrea Baertl (On Think Tanks – Peru)

The aim is to create a space for participants from the same regions to meet, share impressions and consider how they may continue to network, collaborate or cooperate in the future.

C. Policy and bringing order to (ethical) debates

Hans Gutbrod (Germany)

What should think tanks have to do with ethics? On consideration, it turns out that many policy issues can be stuck because of deep and lasting disagreements in society. These disagreements can appear fundamental – and yet, an ethical ordering of the issues at play can sometimes make it possible to come to some kind of accommodation. This talk will focus on the particular contentious question of how to deal with thorny legacies of the past