{"id":7403,"date":"2020-01-30T20:27:51","date_gmt":"2020-01-30T17:27:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/?p=7403"},"modified":"2020-01-30T20:31:01","modified_gmt":"2020-01-30T17:31:01","slug":"rasanah-holds-a-workshop-on-the-future-of-think-tanks-in-shaping-policymaking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/news\/rasanah-holds-a-workshop-on-the-future-of-think-tanks-in-shaping-policymaking\/","title":{"rendered":"Rasanah Holds a Workshop on \u201cThe Future of Think Tanks in Shaping Policymaking\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The\nInternational Institute for Iranian Studies (Rasanah) held at its headquarters\nin Riyadh today &nbsp;(Thursday, January 30,\n2020) a workshop on &#8220;The Future of Think Tanks in Shaping Policymaking,\u201d &nbsp;in coordination with the&nbsp;Think\nTanks&nbsp;and Civil Societies Program (TTCSP), &nbsp;University of Pennsylvania.&nbsp; The workshop was attended by representatives from\nSaudi think tanks universities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the opening\nremarks, the Founder and President of Rasanah, Dr. Muhammad Alsulami&nbsp; was happy\nto announce that Rasanah won&nbsp; first place\namong all think tanks in Saudi Arabia in &nbsp;2019 and ranked eighth in &nbsp;the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). It\nalso ranked&nbsp; 26<sup>th<\/sup>&nbsp; of the best &nbsp;regional studies think tanks,&nbsp; 31<sup>st<\/sup>&nbsp; of &nbsp;the\nbest think tanks on &nbsp;foreign policy and international\naffairs, 52<sup>nd<\/sup> of &nbsp;the best\nthink tanks worldwide (US and non-US), 53<sup>rd<\/sup> for the best &nbsp;think tank worldwide ( non-US), according to\nthe Global Go To Think Tank Index Report (University of Pennsylvania). &nbsp;Alsulami confirmed that Rasanah is planning to\ncompete in new classification records such as national security programs and\nnew media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-3 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"643\" src=\"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/01\/DSC06353-1024x643.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"7404\" data-link=\"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/?attachment_id=7404\" class=\"wp-image-7404\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"661\" src=\"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/01\/DSC06369-1024x661.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"7405\" data-link=\"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/?attachment_id=7405\" class=\"wp-image-7405\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"595\" src=\"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/01\/DSC06320-1024x595.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"7406\" data-link=\"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/?attachment_id=7406\" class=\"wp-image-7406\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"726\" src=\"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/01\/DSC06340-1024x726.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"7407\" data-link=\"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/?attachment_id=7407\" class=\"wp-image-7407\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"750\" src=\"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/01\/DSC06351-1024x750.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"7408\" data-link=\"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/?attachment_id=7408\" class=\"wp-image-7408\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"692\" src=\"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/01\/DSC06438-1024x692.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"7409\" data-link=\"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/?attachment_id=7409\" class=\"wp-image-7409\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"723\" src=\"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/01\/DSC06428-1024x723.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"7410\" data-link=\"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/?attachment_id=7410\" class=\"wp-image-7410\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"785\" src=\"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/01\/DSC06416-1024x785.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"7411\" data-link=\"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/?attachment_id=7411\" class=\"wp-image-7411\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"664\" src=\"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/01\/DSC06405-1024x664.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"7413\" data-link=\"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/?attachment_id=7413\" class=\"wp-image-7413\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"698\" src=\"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/01\/DSC06402-1024x698.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"7414\" data-link=\"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/?attachment_id=7414\" class=\"wp-image-7414\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"758\" src=\"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/01\/DSC06380-1024x758.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"7415\" data-link=\"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/?attachment_id=7415\" class=\"wp-image-7415\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"615\" src=\"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/01\/DSC06376-1024x615.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"7416\" data-link=\"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/?attachment_id=7416\" class=\"wp-image-7416\"\/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"585\" src=\"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/01\/DSC06456-1024x585.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"7417\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/01\/DSC06456-scaled.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/?attachment_id=7417\" class=\"wp-image-7417\"\/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The first paper\nof the workshop entitled, &nbsp;&nbsp;\u201cWhy Are Think Tanks Necessary for\nPolicymaking and Guiding Political Decision-Making?\u201d &nbsp;was presented by Dr. Afaf Alonsi, a\nsociologist.&nbsp; The first topic she discussed\nwas &#8220;The Evolution of Think Tanks in the World&#8221; and the&nbsp; second topic was &nbsp;\u201cThink Tanks and Their Added Values in\nPolicymaking and Guiding Decision-Making.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Alonsi talked\nabout the origins and development of think tanks around the world historically\nthrough four waves, and the local development of &nbsp;think tanks between the 1970-1990s and &nbsp;in light of Saudi Vision 2030. Among the\nrecommendations, Alonsi suggested forging a council of Saudi think tanks\naffiliated to &nbsp;an accredited &nbsp;government body such as the Ministry of\nCulture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Mohammed Althaqafi,\nthe head of Global Experience for Studies, Consulting and Training Center, &nbsp;presented a paper entitled, &#8220;Evaluating\nThink Tanks and Their Challenges,&nbsp; in\nwhich he discussed two main topics: &#8220;Saudi Think Tanks in Light of\nFinancial, Human Resource, Organizational and Technological Challenges,&#8221;\nand &#8220;Towards Activating and Sustaining Saudi Think Tanks in Policy Making.&#8221;\nAlthaqafi listed and detailed the most important challenges, mechanisms for\nactivation and sustainability of think tanks.&nbsp;\nHe also discussed the weaknesses, strengths and opportunities of the\nmost well-known think tanks in the region and the world. He also identified the\nareas &nbsp;of local think tanks: politics,\nsecurity, economy, military, information, ideology, culture, education, health,\nfood, social, legal, media, and sustainable development. The second paper\npresented three procedural recommendations: to study the funding and activation\nof &nbsp;think tanks; to restore and support\ntrust between the centers and decision-makers, and to invest in think tanks to\nbenefit from the opportunity of Saudi Vision 2030 the Saudi Royal Decree which &nbsp;compels government agencies to attract the\nexperts .<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition,\nthe third paper entitled, \u201cThe Future of Think Tanks in Light of Competition\nand Strategic Complexities,\u201d was presented by Dr. Mansour Almarzouqi, Assistant\nProfessor at Prince Saud Al-Faisal Institute for Diplomatic Studies. His paper\nwas divided into two topics:&nbsp; \u201cComplexities\nof International Strategic Environment,\u201d and &nbsp;\u201cWhy are Think Tanks the Best Option to\nComprehend the International Environment and Its Growing Crises and\nComplexities?\u201d Al Marzouqi explored three concepts of the international\nstrategic environment: military science, international relations, and\ninternational economics. He also talked about recent problems and fluctuations in\nthe international arena, which made the work of decision-makers more\ncomplicated and difficult, such as the tyranny of terrorism and the fight\nagainst terrorism after the September 11 attacks. Moreover, he said &nbsp;the ramifications of globalization&nbsp; affected the policymaking process as they\nincreased chaos in the world order, turning it into non-polar world. He also discussed\nthe importance of think tanks in trying to help decision-makers to decode the\nfluctuations by mentioning two&nbsp; elements that\ncan help achieve this end: universities and think tank centers. He believes &nbsp;that the think tanks are more helpful &nbsp;than universities to decision-makers, due to their\nability to adapt, and their flexibility with regard to the expectations of the\ndecision-making elite. The presenter of the third paper also identified a set\nof risks surrounding think tanks, most notably the lack &nbsp;of scientific and methodological competence,\nthe dominance of the state with regard to the &nbsp;gathering of urgently needed &nbsp;information from decision-makers, and the loss\nof the initiative and motivation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The International Institute for Iranian Studies (Rasanah) held at its headquarters in Riyadh today &nbsp;(Thursday, January 30, 2020) a workshop on &#8220;The Future of Think Tanks in Shaping Policymaking,\u201d &nbsp;in coordination with the&nbsp;Think Tanks&nbsp;and Civil Societies Program (TTCSP), &nbsp;University of Pennsylvania.&nbsp; The workshop was attended by representatives from Saudi think tanks universities. At the opening [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":7417,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,1],"tags":[4053,2466,4052,1708],"class_list":["post-7403","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-events","category-news","tag-policymaking","tag-rasanah","tag-the-future-of-think-tanks","tag-workshop"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7403","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7403"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7403\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7418,"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7403\/revisions\/7418"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7417"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7403"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7403"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rasanah-iiis.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7403"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}