Centre for Independent Studies
Encyclopedia
The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) is a libertarian
think tank
founded in April 1976 by Executive Director Greg Lindsay
. The CIS is one of six think tanks recognised by the National Institute for Research Advancement
(NIRA) in Tokyo
, Japan
. In 2005, it also opened offices in New Zealand.
economy and a free society
under limited government
where individuals can prosper and fully develop their talents". Many CIS scholars, such as Andrew Norton
, are self-described classical liberals. As classical liberalism is often critical of government intervention in the economy and personal life, the Centre does not accept government funding out of principle. Instead, the CIS is funded by private sector donations from individuals, companies and charitable trusts.
CIS scholars are often in conflict with other think tanks and welfare bodies, particularly those it considers centrist
and left-wing
, such as the Per Capita
, The Australia Institute
, the Social Policy Research Centre at the University of New South Wales
, the Society of St Vincent de Paul, The Smith Family
and the Australian Council of Social Service
.
Most policy research focuses upon the role of the free market
in an open society
, and how voluntary processes could be used to provide many of the goods and services normally supplied by the compulsory methods of government. Individual liberty
and choice, including freedom of association
, religion
, speech
and the right to property, are also common themes.
Libertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
think tank
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
founded in April 1976 by Executive Director Greg Lindsay
Greg Lindsay
Gregory John Lindsay AO is Executive Director of the prominent Australian think tank The Centre for Independent Studies which he founded in 1976 when a young mathematics teacher in the western suburbs of Sydney...
. The CIS is one of six think tanks recognised by the National Institute for Research Advancement
National Institute for Research Advancement
The National Institute for Research Advancement is a Japanese independent policy research think tank based in Tokyo founded in 1974 under the National Institute for Research Advancement Act...
(NIRA) in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. In 2005, it also opened offices in New Zealand.
Philosophy
The Centre favours a "free enterpriseFree enterprise
-Transport:* Free Enterprise I, a ferry in service with European Ferries between 1962 and 1980.* Free Enterprise II, a ferry in service with European Ferries between 1965 and 1982....
economy and a free society
Free society
In a theoretical free society, all individuals act voluntarily. Individuals in a free society find it safe to be unpopular. This can be elaborated in terms of freedom of speech - if people have a right to express their views without fear of arrest, imprisonment, or physical harm.In a free society,...
under limited government
Limited government
Limited government is a government which anything more than minimal governmental intervention in personal liberties and the economy is generally disallowed by law, usually in a written constitution. It is written in the United States Constitution in Article 1, Section 8...
where individuals can prosper and fully develop their talents". Many CIS scholars, such as Andrew Norton
Andrew Norton
Andrew Norton is an Australian author and researcher. He is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Independent Studies and Policy and Government Relations Adviser at the University of Melbourne...
, are self-described classical liberals. As classical liberalism is often critical of government intervention in the economy and personal life, the Centre does not accept government funding out of principle. Instead, the CIS is funded by private sector donations from individuals, companies and charitable trusts.
CIS scholars are often in conflict with other think tanks and welfare bodies, particularly those it considers centrist
Centrism
In politics, centrism is the ideal or the practice of promoting policies that lie different from the standard political left and political right. Most commonly, this is visualized as part of the one-dimensional political spectrum of left-right politics, with centrism landing in the middle between...
and left-wing
Left-wing politics
In politics, Left, left-wing and leftist generally refer to support for social change to create a more egalitarian society...
, such as the Per Capita
Per Capita
Per Capita is an independent progressive Australian think tank.-Philosophy:As a progressive, centre-left think tank, Per Capita's approach is to view the role of government as a market designer: setting parameters for a liberal economy to produce better social outcomes.Per Capita's thinking draws...
, The Australia Institute
The Australia Institute
The Australia Institute is a left wing Australian think tank conducting public policy research, funded by grants from philanthropic trusts, memberships and commissioned research....
, the Social Policy Research Centre at the University of New South Wales
University of New South Wales
The University of New South Wales , is a research-focused university based in Kensington, a suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
, the Society of St Vincent de Paul, The Smith Family
The Smith Family
The Smith Family is an Australian, independent non-profit children's charity committed to unlocking opportunities for disadvantaged children and their families to participate more fully in society, using education as the key.-The Smith Family history:...
and the Australian Council of Social Service
Australian Council of Social Service
The Australian Council of Social Service is an Australian advocacy group that represents the interests of organisations and individuals engaged in social welfare in Australia. It was formed in 1956....
.
Research programs
The CIS has research programmes on:- Social Policy (Welfare, Education)
- Economic Policy (Tax Policy)
- Foreign Policy (Foreign Aid, Asia-Pacific)
- Government and Politics (Federalism)
- Law (Property Rights, Civil Liberties)
- Ideas on Liberty
- New Zealand Policy Unit
Most policy research focuses upon the role of the free market
Free market
A free market is a competitive market where prices are determined by supply and demand. However, the term is also commonly used for markets in which economic intervention and regulation by the state is limited to tax collection, and enforcement of private ownership and contracts...
in an open society
Open society
The open society is a concept originally developed by philosopher Henri Bergson and then by Austrian and British philosopher Karl Popper. In open societies, government is purported to be responsive and tolerant, and political mechanisms are said to be transparent and flexible...
, and how voluntary processes could be used to provide many of the goods and services normally supplied by the compulsory methods of government. Individual liberty
Individualism
Individualism is the moral stance, political philosophy, ideology, or social outlook that stresses "the moral worth of the individual". Individualists promote the exercise of one's goals and desires and so value independence and self-reliance while opposing most external interference upon one's own...
and choice, including freedom of association
Freedom of association
Freedom of association is the individual right to come together with other individuals and collectively express, promote, pursue and defend common interests....
, religion
Freedom of religion
Freedom of religion is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or community, in public or private, to manifest religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance; the concept is generally recognized also to include the freedom to change religion or not to follow any...
, speech
Freedom of speech
Freedom of speech is the freedom to speak freely without censorship. The term freedom of expression is sometimes used synonymously, but includes any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used...
and the right to property, are also common themes.
Lecture series and seminars
- John Bonython (annual)
- Acton Lecture on Religion and Freedom (annual)
- CIS Lectures
- Bert Kelly
- Consilium annual conference for leading policy makers and thinkers
- Liberty and Society annual conference for students and recent graduates
CIS Policy Monographs
- Conspicuous Compassion: Why Sometimes it Really is Cruel to be Kind, Patrick West
- Australia's Welfare Habit: and how to kick it, Peter Saunders (Director of Social Research)
Occasional Papers (OPs)
- Issue Analysis series (recent)
- No. 57: The $85 Billion Tax/Welfare Churn, Peter Saunders
- No. 56: Universities In A State: The Federal Case Against Commonwealth Control Of Universities, Andrew Norton
- No. 54: A New Deal For Aborigines And Torres Strait Islanders In Remote Communities, Helen Hughes And Jenness Warin
- No. 51: Only 18% Why ACOSS Is Wrong To Be Complacent About Welfare Dependency, Peter Saunders
External links
- The Centre for Independent Studies
- Policy (quarterly journal) published by CIS
- Liberty and Society Conference