Final Activity Report (II/2002-I/2003)

This is a final report covering all activities linked to my project from February 2002 to January 2003.
It follows the structure of Research Project and its contents:
Objectives - Timetable  -  Sources of  information, methodology - Results, conclusions

Several annexes (chronological table of meetings and interviews, list of screened institutions-think tanks, questionnaire for interviews) are enclosed.
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Objectives.

     Key objectives of the first, analytical phase of the project (to analyse existing networks in policy process,  to assess relevance and impact of these networks, to compare developments in this sphere in V-4 countries) were followed with the different success:

• it was easier to concentrate on formal institutions than informal processes
• within the scope of this project (i.e. without a team of researchers) it was impossible to provide a comprehensive comparative research
• due to the election cycle (general election in Czech Republic-June, Hungary-April, Slovakia-September) it was not feasible to measure impact of monitored institutions and demand for their activities and products among politicians. Therefore the supply side of policy enterpreneurship was more addressed than demand among policy makers
• during the research it appeared that legal and financial environment for policy research and policy enterpreneurship is one of the most important elements to be studied further

     The main accent of the second half of the project was to disseminate research results among potential stakeholders in Czech Republic and to create a network among them. The core of the outreach activities consisted of writing articles, presenting policy papers, participating in seminars and conferences. The key objective was to bring attention of other researchers and target groups (policy makers, journalists, interest group organizations, etc) and inspire future cooperation and networking of those concerned.
 

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Timetable.

     I started project in February 2002. Firstly, I searched  bibliographical resources and referrences on policy process and think tanks on Internet. Then, I conducted a series of preliminary consultations on planned project activities.

     In March, I participated in introductory seminar in Budapest and used resources available at CEU Library. Then, after due financial transfer necessary equipment was purchased in March.

     From April to July I met representatives of think-tanks  involved in policy research in Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia then also Czech Parliamentary Institute, two major German Foundations, some NGOs and independent experts. I also consulted different aspects of policy research with experts from academic, business and third sector in above mentioned countries. (see Annex 1 and 2)

     The logistics of arranging more than 50 interviews in Prague, Warsaw, Krakow, Bratislava and Budapest consumed a considerable part of time in the first phase of the project. In order to set all planned meetings within the intended travel schedule some flexible changes have been adopted in comparison to original plans (e.g. instead of two one-week stay in Bratislava,  several shorter trips proved to be more time efficient ). All the changes adhered to the framework of the original budget. Some additional interviews in Slovakia and Hungary were held even in the second phase of the project including representatives of 4 Czech and Slovak think-tanks, and dozens of experts from academic and non-profit sector.

     In September, on occasion of 2nd Foundations´ conference I approached Czech Donors Forum as a key roof organization in philantrophy for non-profit sector. In October I presented a paper on the  international conference „Regulating Lobbyism“ organized by Hungarian chapter of Transparency International.

     In November I presented a paper on the conference „Future of the Governance in the Czech Republic“ organized by Social Sciences Faculty, Charles University, Prague.

     In December I participated in round-discussion  on future of Visegrad cooperation in non-governmental sector organized in Budapest.
 Finally, I participated in all IPF seminars in Budapest (June, October 2002, March 2003).
 

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Sources of  information, methodology.

      For my study I selected think tanks which are financed mostly from non-governmental resources and active in major public policy areas. I did not include uni-sectoral TTs  e.g. environmental, urban policy, etc.). Preliminary research was based annual reports, internet web sites and further available sources. Then a series of  ca. 50 structured interviews were held covering major areas of interest (see questionnaire - Annex 3). Because of informal character of interviews particular statements and findings are not attributed to concrete persons.

     Interviews and data collection were not intended to substitute existing comprehensive databases of TTs: e.g. directories published by NIRA (National Institute For Research Advancement, Tokyo)- World Directory of Think Tanks (1999) and Freedom House - Think Tanks in Central and Eastern Europe (1999). These sources were obviously of a great help in the planning phase of the project.

     The web-page of the Public Policy Project (www.policy.hu/schneider) was used for presentation of the project, publication of policy papers, providing hyperlinks to TTs in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, and - most importantly - bibliography on TTs and public policy.  It proved to be useful introductory reference when asking for interviews. It has been visited by more than one thousand Internet users since March 2002.
 

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Results, conclusions.

     Contrary to original assumptions, I came to conclusion that a final printed version of research paper would be useful for dissemination of research findings. This intention was approved by mentors and project budget consequently amended (as a transfer within budget, not increasing originally approved total sum).

     Final research paper - “Think-tanks in Visegrad Countries” - presenting comprehensive results of the project - is to be published in Czech by the Masaryk University Press in Brno. An English summary is available on the project´s  web site; the Czech summary (10p) appeared in latest issue “Støední Evropa“(Central Europe).

     Two major policy papers  on policy process in Central European countries were presented to relevant target groups (academic conference, conference on lobbyism):
“Do we really need think-tanks ?“ - paper suggesting a policy research network to be established within non-profit sector;
„Czech Republic: No coherent desire to make interests transparent ?“ - discussion paper about attempts to make policy process more transparent and scrutinized through "watchdog" activities

     The original objective of the project - to establish a private think tank - appeared too ambitious  and beyond reach of one-year individual project. This would be rather long-term task for team. However, recent developments provide a justification for cautious optimism as for future of  policy analysis institutions and capacities:
a new public policy think-tank (Institute for Social and Economic Analysis - ISEA) has been established to fill the gap on the think-tanks´ market
Trust for Civil Society in Central Europe (TCSCE) has allocated funds to support (among others) policy think-tanks in Czech Republic.

     Thanks to my research became acquainted with existing think-tanks (including new ones). Hence, I was able to contribute to the public grant formulation of this element of  the Trust´s programme in the Czech Republic (administered by Via Foundation).
 

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J.Schneider, March 23, 2003

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