Think Tanks and Non-Governmental Organizations - Online Course - Shanghai University

Spring – 2020

Monday 17:00 -19:000 and Sunday 17:00 – 18:30 (Shanghai Time Zone)

Course Website: http://internationalstudiesandsociology.blogspot.com/

Instructor: Tugrul Keskin             

Office:   College of Liberal Arts                

Cell: 86+15000-465734

Office Hours: Thursday 1:00 – 4:00 PM or by appointment

                                                                                                

“I know where a lot of them [the elite or elitists] live.  Where's that?  Well, in our nation's capital and New York City. I've seen it. I've lived there.” ― John McCain (An American politician and military officer, who served as a United States senator for Arizona from January 1987 to 2018)

Of the many influences on the US foreign policy formulation, the role of think tanks is among the most important and appreciated. - Richard N. Haass (The current president of CFR and a former Director of Policy and Planning - U.S. Department of State)    

Course Description and Objective:

In this course, we will examine the emergence and development of think tanks and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from a comparative perspective. In the 19^th and 20^th centuries, the concept of the modern state emerged out of the growth of capitalism and industrialization and led to the creation of a complex bureaucracy and an interconnected social, political and economic environment within the global political arena.  However, WWI and II gave birth to the UN (originally the League of Nations) as a venue for negotiation between nation-states in the international arena in order to prevent political conflicts.

Particularly after the 1929 economic crisis, and the move from Keynesian capitalism to the neoliberal era in the second half of the 20^th century, we started to see the materialization of political institutions above and beyond the state bureaucracy. The result was the Washington Consensus, which created the World Bank and the IMF. Over the next half-century, the world economic community was dominated by the policies of these institutions. In the 1950s, we also saw the birth of the European Union as a new political actor within world politics. This led to the rise of regional economic, political and cultural competition over economic resources.

Think tanks (semi-governmental institutions) are the other important economic and political actors within and between the modern nation-state. We will review the concept of the nation-state in this class. The emergence of think tanks or policy institutes dates back to the time of imperial Britain. These institutions were affiliated with security studies at the beginning stages of their emergence because they support the colonial dream of imperialism; however, this has changed slightly with the establishment of American think tanks and the rise of the US as a global power. Hence, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (1910), the Brookings Institute (1916), the Hoover Institution (1919), The Century Foundation (1919), the Council on Foreign Relations (1921) and the Rand Corporation (1946) were all founded in the first half of the 20^th century. They were, and still are affiliated with the security establishment of the US. However, these organizations started to play a more effective role within domestic politics in the second half of the 20^th century, because of the rise of the neoliberal economy. Less Keynesianism in the modern American Economy led to an increase in the power and number of these policy-oriented institutions, and they expanded to the social and economic field within the US. As a result, the Heritage Foundation (1973) and Cato Institute (1974) were established. However, the power of think tanks did not become apparent until the first half of the 1980s. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, think tank politics began to dominate the American political landscape inside the beltway, taking on issues like drug policy to immigration, foreign policy and health care. This power led to considerable attention from American corporations. As a result of this trend, many more think tanks were established, and some changed their structures to collaborate with and meet the needs of corporations. Private funding has poured into these policy institutions ever since, and the term, ‘inside the beltway politics,’ coined in the 1980s and popularized in the 1990s, describes these circumstances. Today, the power and role of think tanks cannot be ignored, and should be studied academically from the standpoint of their origins, particularly their domestic and now international political usage.

We will also study the emergence, development and role of non-governmental organizations such as the Committee to Protect Journalists, Doctors Without Borders, Mercy Corps, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch. All of these organizations are fairly new to the global social and political arena.           

Learning Outcomes (Tugrul Keskin):

By the end of the course, you will have enhanced your:

§  Critical thinking in relation to international studies

§  Ability to question dogmas and taboos in today’s societies

§  Consciousness of differing perspectives and diversity

§  Understanding of world issues and trends

§  Understanding of the impact of colonialism and imperialism in                   developing nations

You also will have increased your knowledge concerning:

§  Resources in your potential discipline

§  Resources specific to your region

§  Traditional information sources

§  Alternative information sources

§  Knowledge of relevant methodologies

Core Learning Outcome: Students will demonstrate an understanding of world cultures, politics, and economics, within the context of globalization, as well as developing the skills and attitudes to function as “global citizens.”

Specific Outcomes:

• Demonstrate knowledge of global issues, processes, trends and systems (i.e. economic and political interdependency among nations; environmental-cultural interaction; global governance bodies).
• Can articulate an understanding of her/his culture in global and comparative context; that is, recognizes that her/his culture is one of many diverse cultures and that alternate perceptions and behaviors may be based in cultural differences.
• Demonstrates an understanding of the meaning and practice of political, military, economic, and cultural hegemony within states and within the global system.
• Demonstrates an understanding of how her/his field is viewed and practiced in different international contexts.
• Uses diverse cultural perspectives and frames of reference, including those of the media, to think critically and solve problems.
• Uses information from other languages and other countries to extend their access to information and experiences.

• Interprets issues and situations from more than one cultural perspective.
• Can articulate differences among cultures; demonstrates tolerance for the diverse viewpoints that emerge from these differences.
• Demonstrates a critical understanding of the historical origins of the nation-state, and its current role in the global system.
• Can apply the key theoretical concepts in the field to interpret global issues.
• Exhibits an ongoing willingness to seek out international or intercultural opportunities.

Required Readings:

1.     Think Tanks: The Brain Trusts of US Foreign Policy by Kubilay Yado Arin Spriunger 2013. https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/think-tanks-kubilay-arin/1115919805

2.     NGOization Complicity, Contradictions and Prospects (Edited) By Aziz Choudry and Dip Kapoor (2013)

http://www.zedbooks.co.uk/paperback/ngoization

Other readings will be posted on the google drive and you will find them under the course documents.

1.     Do Think Tanks Matter? Opportunities, Constraints and Incentives for Think Tanks in Canada and the United States, Global Society. Donald E. Abelson. (2000) 14:2, 213-236.

2.     Behind Closed Doors: Elite Politics, Think-Tanks and US Foreign Policy. Tugrul Keskin and Patrick Halpern. Insight Turkey April-June 2005 Volume 7 Number 2. 

3.     The Role of the Think Tanks in the US Foreign Policy. U.S. Foreign Policy Agenda Volume 7 An Electronic Journal of the U.S. Department of State Number 3.

4.     Demanding Information: Think Tanks and the US Congress. Anthony M. Bertelli and Jeffrey B. Wenger. British Journal of Political Science / Volume 39 / Issue 02 / April 2009, pp 225 – 242.

5.     US Think Tanks and the Politics of Expertise: Role, Value and Impact Mahmood Ahmad. The Political Quarterly, Vol. 79, No. 4, October-December 2008.

6.     A Challenge to Washington Think Tanks Murray Weidenbaum. Challenge, vol. 52, no. 1, January/February 2009, pp. 87–96.

7.     Why don’t the French do Think Tanks?: France faces up to the Anglo-Saxon superpowers, 1918–1921 Andrew Williams. Review of International Studies / Volume 34 / Issue 01 / January 2008, pp 53 – 68.

8.     The Think Tanks behind ‘Cameronism’ Hartwig Pautz. BJPIR: 2013 VOL 15, 362–377.

9.     British think tanks: advancing the intellectual debate? Philippa Sherrington. British Journal of Politics and International Relations, Vol. 2, No. 2, June 2000, pp. 256–263.

10.  Players Beyond Borders? German Think Tanks as Catalysts of Internationalisation. Martin Thunert (2000) Global Society, 14:2, 191-211.

11.  Think Tanks and Their Impact. Robert O'neill (2008) Asia-Pacific Review, 15:2, 9-12.

12.  Think Tanks in Transitional China. Xufeng Zhu and Lan Xue. public administration and development Public Admin. Dev. 27, 452–464 (2007).

13.  China’s Foreign Policy Think Tanks: Changing Roles and Structural Conditions. Pascal Abb. GIGA Research Unit: Institute of Asian Studies No 213 January.

14.  Chinese Think Tanks, Policy Advice and Global Governance. James G. McGann. Research Center for Chinese Politics and Business-Indiana University, Bloomington. Working Paper #21 March 2012.

15.  China's International Relations Think Tanks: Evolving Structure and Process. David Shambaugh. The China Quarterly, No. 171 (Sep., 2002), pp. 575-596.

16.  The Role of China’s Think Tanks in Policymaking. Chinabusinessreview.com July–August 2009.

17.  Does Israel Need Think Tanks? by Hannah Elka Meyers Middle East Quarterly Winter 2009, pp. 37-46.

18.  The Israel Lobby John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt. London Review of Books Vol. 28 No. 6 · 23 March 2006 pages 3-12.

19.  Latin America’s Think Tanks: The Roots of Non-Profit Privatization. Daniel C. Levy. Studies in Comparative International Development. Summer 1995, Vol. 30, No. 2, 3-25.  

20.  Think Tanks. Peter T. Leeson, Matt E. Ryan, Claudia R. Williamson. Journal of Comparative Economics 40 (2012) 62–77.

21.  Think Tanks in the U.S. Media Andrew Rich, R. Kent Weaver. The Harvard International Journal of Press/Politics, Volume 5, Number 4, Fall 2000, pp. 81-103.

22.  The Ties That Used to Bind The Decay of American Political Institutions. Francis Fukuyama. The American Interests - December 8, 2013.

23.  Where Have All the Lobbyists Gone? Lee Fang. The Nation. February 19, 2014.

Recommended Readings:

Power Structure:

1.     Who Rules America? Power, Politics and Social Change By G. William Domhoff.

http://www2.ucsc.edu/whorulesamerica/

2.     International Organizations: Politics, Law, Practice By Ian Hurd (2010). http://www.cambridge.org/us/academic/subjects/politics-international-relations/international-relations-and-international-organisations/international-organizations-politics-law-practice

3.     Power Elite By C. Wright Mills. Oxford University Press, 2000.

4.     Who Governs?: Democracy and Power in an American City By Robert A. Dahl.

5.     The Power Elite and the State: How Policy is Made in America By G. William Domhoff. (1990).

http://ouleft.org/wp-content/uploads/Domhoff_The_Power_Elite_and_the_State.pdf

6.     Big Bets & Black Swans: A Presidential Briefing Book” By Brookings Institute. (2013)

http://www.brookings.edu/research/interactives/2014/big-bets-2014

7.     China’s Political Institutions and Leaders in Charts By Susan V. Lawrence. Congressional Research Service, 2013. http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R43303.pdf

8.     The Lobby: Jewish political power and American foreign policy By Edward Tivnan. (1987).

9.     The Power of Israel in the United States by James Petras (Sep 26, 2006).

10.  Affluence and Influence: Economic Inequality and Political Power in America By Martin Gilens. Princeton University Press, 2014. http://press.princeton.edu/titles/9836.html

11.  Unequal Democracy: The Political Economy of the New Gilded Age By Larry M. Bartels. Princeton University Press, 2010. http://press.princeton.edu/titles/8664.html   

Think Tanks:

1.     Do Think Tanks Matter? Assessing the Impact of Public Policy Institutes by Donald E. Abelson (2009) http://www.mqup.ca/do-think-tanks-matter--first-edition-products-9780773523173.php

2.     A Capitol Idea: Think Tanks And US Foreign Policy by Donald E. Abelson 2006.

3.     NGOs in International Politics by Shamima Ahmed and David Potter (2006). https://www.rienner.com/title/NGOs_in_International_Politics

4.     Think Tanks, Public Policy, and the Politics of Expertise by Andrew Rich (2005).

5.     Think Tanks in America by Thomas Medvetz (2012 and 2014) http://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/T/bo13181062.html

6.     The Competition of Ideas: The World of the Washington Think Tanks by Murray L. Weidenbaum (2011).

7.     The Two U.S. Think Tanks on Turkey: The Brookings Institution and The Council on Foreign Relations' Perceptions on JDP's Foreign Policy (2002-2010). Berkay Gulen. Lambert Publishing, 2011.

8.     Think Tanks and Power in Foreign Policy: A Comparative Study of the Role and Influence of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Royal Institure of International Affairs, 1939-1945. Inderjeet Parmar. Palgrave 2004. http://www.palgraveconnect.com/pc/doifinder/10.1057/9780230000780

9.     What Should Think Tanks Do? A Strategic Guide to Policy Impact by Andrew Selee (2013). http://sup.org/book.cgi?id=23457

10.  Global Think Tanks: Policy Networks and Governance by James McGann and Richard Sabatini (2011) http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fac/iatl/reinvention/issues/volume4issue1/book_dobsonhaigh/

11.  Think Tank Traditions: Policy Analysis Across Nations by Diane Stone and Andrew Denham (2004).

12.  Capturing the Political Imagination: Think Tanks and the Policy Process by Diane Stone (1996)

13.  The Idea Brokers: Think Tanks And The Rise Of The New Policy Elite by James A. Smith (1993)

14.  How Institutions Think By Mary Douglas (Syracuse University Press, 1986)

Non-Governmental Organizations:

1.     The Third Force: The Rise of Transnational Civil Society Ann M. Florini (2000).

2.     Non-State Actors in World Politics Paperback By (Eds) William Wallace and Daphne Josselin (2002).

3.     The Marketing of Rebellion: Insurgents, Media, and International Activism By Clifford Bob (2005).

4.     Non-Governmental Organizations in World Politics: The Construction of Global Governance By Peter Willetts (2010).

5.     Civil Society: The Critical History of an Idea By John R. Ehrenberg (1999).

6.     Civil Society By Michael Edwards (2009).

7.     The Nature of the Nonprofit Sector By J. Steven Ott (Editor) and Lisa A. Dicke (2011).

International Organizations:

1.     United Nations at a Glance By United Nations (2012). https://unp.un.org/Details.aspx?pid=22050

2.     An Insider's Guide to the UN By Linda Fasulo (2009). http://yalepress.yale.edu/yupbooks/book.asp?isbn=9780300141979

3.     Basic Facts about the United Nations 2014 By United Nations (2014). https://unp.un.org/Details.aspx?pid=23480

4.     International Organizations: The Politics and Processes of Global Governance By Margaret P. Karns and Karen A. Mingst (2009). https://www.rienner.com/title/International_Organizations_The_Politics_and_Processes_of_Global_Governance_2nd_edition

5.     Rules for the World: International Organizations in Global Politics By Michael Barnett and Martha Finnemore (2004). http://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/?GCOI=80140100673790

6.     International Organizations By Kelly-Kate S. Pease (2011). http://www.pearsonhighered.com/educator/product/International-Organizations/9780205075874.page

7.     Unholy Trinity: The IMF, World Bank and WTO By Richard Peet (2009). http://us.macmillan.com/unholytrinity-1/RichardPeet

Internet Websites:

·      http://www.un.org/en/

·      http://www.imf.org/external/index.htm

·      http://www.worldbank.org/

·      http://www.brookings.edu/

·      http://www.wilsoncenter.org/

·      http://csis.org/

·      https://www.rusi.org/

·      http://www.who.int/en/

·      http://europa.eu/index_en.htm

·      http://www.amnesty.org/

·      http://www.hrw.org/

·      http://www.ilo.org/global/lang--en/index.htm

·      http://gotothinktank.com/

·      http://www.thenation.com/article/174437/secret-donors-behind-center-american-progress-and-other-think-tanks-updated-524

·      http://onthinktanks.org/

·      http://www.aipac.org/

·      http://www.politicalindex.com/sect30.htm

·      http://www.chathamhouse.org/

·      http://www.transparency.org/country

·      http://www.crisisgroup.org/

·      http://www.theworldofchinese.com/2013/11/charting-chinese-politics/  

Some Newspaper Articles:

·      http://www.cgdev.org/blog/cato-tops-new-cgd-index-think-tank-profile

·      http://www.economist.com/node/12923343

·      http://www.forbes.com/sites/alejandrochafuen/2013/12/18/its-snowing-in-mexico-think-tanks-promoting-a-free-economy/ 

·      http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/14/us/politics/think-tank-with-ties-to-obama-discloses-corporate-sponsors.html?_r=0

·      http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/12/05/elizabeth-warren-wants-banks-to-disclose-think-tank-donations-shouldnt-everybody/

·      http://www.usatoday.com/story/nation/2013/12/04/office-net-assessment-policy-change/3871487/

Documentaries and Movies: 

1.     Careers in Public Policy and the Think Tank World https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ca8F5nFF5WA 

2.     2016 Global Go To Launch: Why Are Think Tanks More Important Than Ever Before? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_Ok5HNprAA 

3.     Martin Wight Memorial Lecture: The Future of Think-Tanks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-W269NC3ICg

4.     Thinking About Think Tanks: What Are They and What Do They Do? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOWc_p-VmK4

5.     Think Tanks: What Are They Good For?, a Conversation with Rohinton Medhora. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KthteXzerfc

6.     The U.N. Deception https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIw4V6WIkyU

7.     League of Nations http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pPmZm-zs-k

8.     Treaty Of Versailles Documentary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74-HkCRozls

9.     What Do Think Tanks Do? Session 1, 2, 3 and 4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouopGgAJWZ4

10.  "Think Tanks" Shaping US Policy - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONuoUJJ698k

11.  US Research 'Think Tanks' Have Notable Policy Role http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFQBgH7uCRY

12.  FUND Panel II The Role of Political Foundations and Think Tanks http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkg0Oke773k

Course Philosophy:

The goal of this course is to become familiar with think tanks, international organizations and non-governmental organizations from a comparative perspective and in the context of International Studies. The success of this course depends on your continued and sustained reading and participation. The course will be based on a four-dimensional method of learning comprised of the following: inquiry and critical thinking; communication; drawing on the diversity of human experience; and ethics and social responsibility. First, I would like you to critically analyze what you learn in this class or have learned so far through the media and your education, because in today’s world truth is a relative concept. Throughout human history, critical thinking has been one of the most important factors contributing to human development.  In order to become active, self-motivated, and empowered learners and future leaders, you will need to have the ability to think critically, and therefore your criticism, feedback and suggestions are necessary. Second, I would like for you to enhance your writing and oral communication skills in this course. Therefore, it is important to clearly elaborate your arguments in class discussion as well as in the written assignments.

Third, we are each part of the human mosaic, and all have different experiences based on our unique social, political and economic differences. We can all learn from and respect each other and benefit from our diversity. Please try to learn from and understand those with different perspectives from your own. Lastly, we need to learn that we are all part of this intellectual community and part of a larger society, and all have social and ethical responsibilities to our family, community, classmates, and humanity. We live in a globalized world and therefore we need to be aware of current events both in our community and the greater world. In order to enhance our knowledge, we must critically examine our social, political and economic environment and then apply that analysis to our experience.

Course Requirements

To prevent confusion later, please read the following information carefully:

Grades: Your grade for this course will be based on your performance in the following categories, shown below with their dates and respective weights.

Item                                                                   Date                                        Weight (%)

Quizzes                                                                                                             40.0

Final Paper                                                                                                       30.0

Attendance/ Class Participation                                                                           10.0                 

Weekly Online Presentations                                                                               10.0

Newspaper Articles                                                                                            10.0                 

Quizzes: You will have 4 quizzes. The quizzes will have 20 questions from each week’s class readings and discussions. Each Quiz is worth 10 points and each question is worth 0.5 point. You will find the schedule of quizzes below. Please carefully review the quiz schedule. If you have schedule conflict, drop the class. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me directly.      

Weekly Online Presentations: Each week, two or three students will be assigned a weekly topic from the readings. These students will summarize the readings and prepare a content outline and 4-6 questions for the class, in order to come prepared to lead the class discussion for 15 to 30 minutes. Each student must always read the course materials before they attend class, and I expect you to participate actively in the class discussion. I strongly recommend that you present in earlier weeks rather than later in the semester, because you may not find the right time available to present, and will lose presentation points. Presentation dates are available on a first-come first-served basis. The timeline for weekly presentations will be provided in the first week of class. After we have filled in student names and finalized the weekly presentation schedule.

Final Paper: You will select a think tank, or a non-governmental organization, and will write a critical and analytical paper. I must approve your final paper proposal first. Each student must select a different international organization, think tank or NGO, so it is important to clear your topic with me as soon as possible. For your final paper, I created a sample format, which you will receive it by email. Follow the sample format, and answer the questions clearly!

The final paper must be at least 3000 words. The last day to submit your final paper is Sunday June 8, 2020.

CRITERIA:        If you select an organization after April 26^th you will lose 3 points!

                            If your paper is late, you will lose another 4 points!

                            If your final paper is less then 4000 words, you will lose 5 points!  

Participation/Attendance: Each student must read the course materials before they attend class, and I expect them to participate in class discussion. Regular class attendance is one of the most important parameters to successful completion of the course requirements. If you find interesting articles, books, videos, or other sources that pertain to the class topics and discussion, please share them with me and with your classmates. This can count towards your class participation score.

Newspaper Articles: During the semester, you email (tugrulk@vt.edu) 10 newspaper articles related with our class subjects. In your email, please send me the link of an article and summarize it with a few sentences. You cannot send more than one article in the same week. You will find weekly article topic in the course schedule below.

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY! - Electronic Devices & Other Classroom Policies

Coming late to class and leaving early: Latecomers will not be accepted in the class, so be on time. If you are late for a class, please do not disturb your classmates and me and do not come at all. Please also do not send an email or call me regarding your class attendance. If there is a medical need, bring a letter from a doctor. Whatever the reason is, if you cannot come to class, this is your responsibility. If you miss more than 3 classes, you will not receive an attendance/participation grade. PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE EARLY EITHER! This is a class, not a coffee shop!

Laptop and cell phone policy: No electronic devices (including but not limited to laptops, cell phones, blackberries, etc) are to be used in the classroom. This includes talking on the phone, texting, playing games, surfing the web, or any other inappropriate usage. Those caught using restricted devices will be asked to leave class. Lectures may not be recorded with audio or multi-media devices. Please turn your cell phone off before you come to class.

Responsibility: You and/or your parents pay tuition for this class; therefore, you have responsibility to yourself and/or your parents. Passing or failing the class is not the main objective, rather that you learn and improve your knowledge. Please read and try to understand the main concepts of this class. If you are having difficulty, please do not hesitate to see me and discuss your concerns!

Grades: Your grade for this course will be based on your performance on the following components, shown with their dates and respective weights:

No Laptops and cell phones will be allowed in this class.

If you have any questions regarding class related subjects, please do not hesitate to ask me.

Course Timeline

First Week	·      Introduction to Course and overview syllabus ·      Behind Closed Doors: Elite Politics, Think-Tanks and US Foreign Policy By Tugrul Keskin and Patrick Halpern  ·      Methodological Approach: Typologies of Think Tanks (Kubilay Yado Arin) ·      Policy Communities, Advocacy Coalitions and Epistemic Communities (Kubilay Yado Arin) Newspaper Topic for this week: Think-Tanks and Global Politics Documentary: ·      What Are Think Tanks And Can They Be Trusted? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_4cf8jKHWU ·      Thinking About Think Tanks: What Are They and What Do They Do? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOWc_p-VmK4
Second Week	·      Do Think Tanks Matter? Opportunities, Constraints and Incentives for Think Tanks in Canada and the United States By Donald E. Abelson ·      Demanding Information: Think Tanks and the US Congress. Anthony M. Bertelli and Jeffrey B. Wenger. ·      The Role of the Think Tanks in the US Foreign Policy. U.S. Foreign Policy Agenda Volume 7 An Electronic Journal of the U.S. Department of State Number 3. http://photos.state.gov/libraries/vietnam/8621/translations/ej112002.pdf ·      Theoretical Explanations for the Political Influence of Think Tanks (Kubilay Yado Arin)   ·      Fragmentation of the Political System and Veto Players (Kubilay Yado Arin) Newspaper Topic for this week: Think-Tanks and US Foreign Policy Documentary: ·      Bilderberg Group_ The Secret Rulers of the World https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1vz5f6 ·      Arthur Brooks on the American Enterprise Institute and Think Tanks Today https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkngnVPNXSc
Third Week	·      US Think Tanks and the Politics of Expertise: Role, Value and Impact Mahmood Ahmad. ·      A Challenge to Washington Think Tanks Murray Weidenbaum. ·      CFR, Brookings and the Neoconservative Advocacy Think Tanks (Kubilay Yado Arin) ·      Elite Theory (Kubilay Yado Arin) Newspaper Topic for this week: Think-Tanks and Elite Theory Documentary: ·      US Research 'Think Tanks' Have Notable Policy Role https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFQBgH7uCRY   ·      "Think Tanks" Shaping US Policy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONuoUJJ698k
Fourth Week	·      British think tanks: advancing the intellectual debate? Philippa Sherrington. ·      Players Beyond Borders? German Think Tanks as Catalysts of Internationalisation. Martin Thunert.  ·      Think Tanks and Their Impact. Robert O'neill. ·      Government Contractors - Frontrunners of the Military-Industrial Complex (Kubilay Yado Arin) ·      Foundations, Corporate Philanthropy and Political Advocacy  (Kubilay Yado Arin) Newspaper Topic for this week: Think-Tanks and German or British Foreign Policy Documentary: ·      Do Think Tanks Matter? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RC-yCcQbRyA ·      Thinking Inside the Tank https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAUBYybu9Qs Quiz – 1
Fifth Week	·      CHINA POLICY JOURNAL Vol. 1, No. 2, Fall 2019 • © 2019 Policy Studies Organization Theme Issue on Think Tanks and Policy Analysis in China: New Rules and New Roles ·      Think Tanks in Transitional China. Xufeng Zhu and Lan Xue. ·      China's International Relations Think Tanks: Evolving Structure and Process. David Shambaugh. ·      China’s Foreign Policy Think Tanks: Changing Roles and Structural Conditions. Pascal Abb. GIGA Research Unit: Institute of Asian Studies No 213 January. http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2350136 ·      The Role of China’s Think Tanks in Policymaking. Chinabusinessreview.com ·      Advocacy Tanks Acting like Policy Entrepreneurs (Kubilay Yado Arin) ·      The Role of Neoconservative Think Tanks in US Foreign Policy (Kubilay Yado Arin) Newspaper Topic for this week: Think-Tanks and Chinese Foreign Policy Documentary: ·      Closer to China: The Inside Story of China’s Think Tanks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1Wjvc-t8ZE ·      Webinar: On rating Chinese think tanks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aXGX81zHQQ
Sixth Week	·      Does Israel Need Think Tanks? by Hannah Elka Meyers. http://www.meforum.org/2061/does-israel-need-think-tanks ·      The Israel Lobby John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt. http://www.lrb.co.uk/v28/n06/john-mearsheimer/the-israel-lobby ·      The Clinton Administration (Kubilay Yado Arin) ·      The Bush Administration (Kubilay Yado Arin) ·      Introduction - NGOization: Complicity, Contradictions and Prospects - Aziz Choudry and Dip Kapoor ·      Saving Biodiversity, for Whom and for What? Conservation NGOs, Complicity, Colonialism and Conquest in an Era of Capitalist Globalization - Aziz Choudry (Aziz Choudry and Dip Kapoor) Newspaper Topic for this week: Think-Tanks and Israeli Foreign Policy Documentary: ·      AIPAC: Inside America's Israel lobby ·      The Lobby - USA, episode 1 https://electronicintifada.net/content/watch-film-israel-lobby-didnt-want-you-see/25876 ·      How JISS is shaking-up the think tank world in Israel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1S-bFptDorE Quiz – 2
Seventh Week	·      The Ties That Used to Bind The Decay of American Political Institutions. Francis Fukuyama. http://www.the-american-interest.com/articles/2013/12/08/the-decay-of-american-political-institutions/ ·      Where Have All the Lobbyists Gone? Lee Fang. http://www.thenation.com/article/178460/shadow-lobbying-complex ·      The Bush Doctrine, the Neoconservative Concept for Primacy? (Kubilay Yado Arin) ·      The Neoconservative Think Tanks, an Advocacy Coalition (Kubilay Yado Arin) ·      Social Action and NGOization in Contexts of Development Dispossession in Rural India: Explorations into the Un-civility of Civil Society - Dip Kapoor (Aziz Choudry and Dip Kapoor) ·      NGOs, Indigenous Peoples and the United Nations - Sharon H. Venne (Aziz Choudry and Dip Kapoor) Newspaper Topic for this week: Think-Tanks and Lobbying Documentary: ·      The realities of lobbying -- a look beyond the smoke and mirrors | Maria Laptev | TED https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8bbzYjLEvE ·      This Is How To Hire Your Own D.C. Lobbyist https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfZB3BrjI74 ·      Jack Abramoff: The lobbyist's playbook https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zwhk3UjAAkQ
Eighth Week	·      Conclusion: American Politics and the War of Ideas (Kubilay Yado Arin) ·      From Radical Movement to Conservative NGO and Back Again? A Case Study of the Democratic Left (Aziz Choudry and Dip Kapoor) Front in South Africa - Luke Sinwell (Aziz Choudry and Dip Kapoor) ·      Philippine NGOs: Defusing Dissent, Spurring Change - Sonny Africa (Aziz Choudry and Dip Kapoor) Newspaper Topic for this week: NGOs and “Humanitarianism Documentary: ·      The Business of Lobbying https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ge_K89yWLqk ·      39 Cents - SNL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEb_epsuLqA ·      Let's save Africa! - Gone wrong https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbqA6o8_WC0 ·      Who Wants To Be A Volunteer? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymcflrj_rRc ·      The danger of a single story | Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9Ihs241zeg
Ninth Week	·      Disaster Relief, NGO-led Humanitarianism and the Reconfiguration of Spatial Relations in Tamil Nadu - Raja Swamy (Aziz Choudry and Dip Kapoor) ·      Seven Theses on Neobalkanism and NGOization in Transitional Serbia - Tamara Vukov (Aziz Choudry and Dip Kapoor) Newspaper Topic for this week: The Role of NGOs and “Colorful Revolutions” Documentary: ·      Voluntourism: When You Take More Than You Leave Behind | Madara Žgutė | TEDxISM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNch2WwBnh8 ·      Africa For Norway - New charity single out now! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJLqyuxm96k ·      USA for Africa - We are the World https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9BNoNFKCBI Quiz – 3
Tenth Week	·      Emergence, development and future trajectories of Civil Society and NGOs By Tugrul Keskin ·      Peace-building and Violence against Women: Tracking the Ruling Relations of Aid in a Women's ·      Development NGO in Kyrgyzstan - Elena Kim and Marie Campbell (Aziz Choudry and Dip Kapoor) ·      Alignment and Autonomy: Food Systems in Canada - Brewster Kneen (Aziz Choudry and Dip Kapoor) Newspaper Topic for this week: Relations between NGOs and State/Power Elite Documentary: ·      Africa Corp. Radi-Aid 2.0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpjbkQr0JAE ·      Humanitarian intervention or imperialism? https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/headtohead/2014/11/humanitarian-intervention-imperialism-2014111093042592427.html Quiz – 4
	FINAL PAPER By Monday June 8, 2020 Midnight of Sunday