Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit
Encyclopedia
The Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit (CPSU) is a think-tank for the Commonwealth
of fifty-three nations and nearly two billion citizens. The head office is located in Russell Square
at the University of London
's Institute of Commonwealth Studies
and is part of the School of Advanced Study
.
(ICS), at the end of 1998 after a feasibility study funded by the British
and Canadian governments. The only think-tank in the world that is dedicated to Commonwealth affairs, the Unit works on issues of globalisation, democracy
, civil society
, and human rights
with persons and agencies around the Commonwealth
. The CPSU celebrates its tenth anniversary in 2009. Through the years, CPSU has become a respected and valued part of the Commonwealth family, working closely with Commonwealth governments, the Commonwealth Secretariat
and the Commonwealth Foundation
. In addition to a range of projects, the Unit produces a Commonwealth Ministerial Policy Brief ahead of every Commonwealth Ministerial Meeting, as well as for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
s.
. The CPSU stimulates debate, enquiry, and the sharing of ideas and information across the Commonwealth
. CPSU fulfils its mission primarily through ongoing programmes for externally funded research projects, a series of events, and an extensive body of briefings and publications. CPSU projects are changing the way people think, for instance: about youth engagement, legal reform, international aid architecture, food security and assisting developing and small island states to maximise the opportunities of globalisation. CPSU conducts a wide range of first class policy studies on issues of wide concern. In addition, CPSU raises the quality of policy-making by governments, intergovernmental organisations, business and civil society
, and local communities.
.
The CPSU runs conferences, dialogues, workshops and seminars which are typically held at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies. Most events are by invitation only but many are open to the public. In addition, the Unit also run events outside the United Kingdom in conjunction with other bodies.
Water & Environment Programme
Communities & Civil Society Programme
Youth & Education Programme
Economic Development programme
Governance Programme
Associations and Organisations
Commonwealth
Commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has sometimes been synonymous with "republic."More recently it has been used for fraternal associations of some sovereign nations...
of fifty-three nations and nearly two billion citizens. The head office is located in Russell Square
Russell Square
Russell Square is a large garden square in Bloomsbury, in the London Borough of Camden. It is near the University of London's main buildings and the British Museum. To the north is Woburn Place and to the south-east is Southampton Row...
at the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
's Institute of Commonwealth Studies
Institute of Commonwealth Studies
The Institute of Commonwealth Studies, abbreviated to ICS, was founded by the University of London in 1949 to promote academic study of the Commonwealth of Nations and its constituent countries. It became part of the School of Advanced Study in 1994...
and is part of the School of Advanced Study
School of Advanced Study
The School of Advanced Study, a postgraduate institution of the University of London, is the UK's national centre for the promotion and facilitation of research in the humanities and social sciences...
.
History
The Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit is regarded as 'a widely respected authority on the Commonwealth'. The CPSU received its go-ahead from the Institute of Commonwealth StudiesInstitute of Commonwealth Studies
The Institute of Commonwealth Studies, abbreviated to ICS, was founded by the University of London in 1949 to promote academic study of the Commonwealth of Nations and its constituent countries. It became part of the School of Advanced Study in 1994...
(ICS), at the end of 1998 after a feasibility study funded by the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Canadian governments. The only think-tank in the world that is dedicated to Commonwealth affairs, the Unit works on issues of globalisation, democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
, civil society
Civil society
Civil society is composed of the totality of many voluntary social relationships, civic and social organizations, and institutions that form the basis of a functioning society, as distinct from the force-backed structures of a state , the commercial institutions of the market, and private criminal...
, and human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
with persons and agencies around the Commonwealth
Commonwealth
Commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has sometimes been synonymous with "republic."More recently it has been used for fraternal associations of some sovereign nations...
. The CPSU celebrates its tenth anniversary in 2009. Through the years, CPSU has become a respected and valued part of the Commonwealth family, working closely with Commonwealth governments, the Commonwealth Secretariat
Commonwealth Secretariat
The Commonwealth Secretariat is the main intergovernmental agency and central institution of the Commonwealth of Nations. It is responsible for facilitating cooperation between members; organising meetings, including the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings ; assisting and advising on policy...
and the Commonwealth Foundation
Commonwealth Foundation
The Commonwealth Foundation is an intergovernmental organisation that was established by the Commonwealth Heads of Government in 1965, the same year as its sister organisation, the Commonwealth Secretariat...
. In addition to a range of projects, the Unit produces a Commonwealth Ministerial Policy Brief ahead of every Commonwealth Ministerial Meeting, as well as for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, , is a biennial summit meeting of the heads of government from all Commonwealth nations. Every two years the meeting is held in a different member state, and is chaired by that nation's respective Prime Minister or President, who becomes the...
s.
The Mission
The mission of CPSU is to act as a think-tank for the entire CommonwealthCommonwealth
Commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has sometimes been synonymous with "republic."More recently it has been used for fraternal associations of some sovereign nations...
. The CPSU stimulates debate, enquiry, and the sharing of ideas and information across the Commonwealth
Commonwealth
Commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has sometimes been synonymous with "republic."More recently it has been used for fraternal associations of some sovereign nations...
. CPSU fulfils its mission primarily through ongoing programmes for externally funded research projects, a series of events, and an extensive body of briefings and publications. CPSU projects are changing the way people think, for instance: about youth engagement, legal reform, international aid architecture, food security and assisting developing and small island states to maximise the opportunities of globalisation. CPSU conducts a wide range of first class policy studies on issues of wide concern. In addition, CPSU raises the quality of policy-making by governments, intergovernmental organisations, business and civil society
Civil society
Civil society is composed of the totality of many voluntary social relationships, civic and social organizations, and institutions that form the basis of a functioning society, as distinct from the force-backed structures of a state , the commercial institutions of the market, and private criminal...
, and local communities.
Governance
The CPSU, starting small on the basis of project funding, has kept its governance arrangements simple. As of June 2008 the unit had a staff of ten people, including two interns. CPSU has an international advisory board chaired by Lord Chidgey, which for specified purposes may be regarded as a subcommittee of the Advisory Council of the Institute of Commonwealth StudiesInstitute of Commonwealth Studies
The Institute of Commonwealth Studies, abbreviated to ICS, was founded by the University of London in 1949 to promote academic study of the Commonwealth of Nations and its constituent countries. It became part of the School of Advanced Study in 1994...
.
Current projects
CPSU conducts research studies to inform and influence policy makers in over a quarter of the world’s countries. Currently the CPSU have projects running on Gun Culture in Commonwealth urban areas, Commonwealth Membership, UN Reform, Corporate Social Responsibility, Fisheries, Youth Engagement, and Water-related Conflict and Security. With projects such as these, CPSU puts the policy choices before the Commonwealth into sharper focus, exploring options and suggesting new directions.The CPSU runs conferences, dialogues, workshops and seminars which are typically held at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies. Most events are by invitation only but many are open to the public. In addition, the Unit also run events outside the United Kingdom in conjunction with other bodies.
Programmes
The CPSU works across five programme area on pioneering work for the modern Commonwealth. Within each of these programmes there are a number of projects at various stages of development:Water & Environment Programme
- Marine Fisheries Management and Coastal Zone Communities in the Commonwealth
- Forestry & Sustainable Development: comparative case studies in the Commonwealth
- Water Security in the Commonwealth: best practise and lesson learning
Communities & Civil Society Programme
- Gun culture in Commonwealth urban areas
- Interfaith dialogue in the Commonwealth
- Digital education in Commonwealth Universities
- Think tanks in South Asia
Youth & Education Programme
- Youth engagement and CSO
- Summer Conference 2008
- Commonwealth e-Pals
Economic Development programme
- Zimbabwe economic revival
- Policy making against corruption in SE Asia
- Odius Debt in Commonwealth countries
- IFI Reform: a Commonwealth approach
- CSR: a case study of Belize and Botswana
Governance Programme
- Governance Network Coordinator (for ACU)
- Commonwealth membership (Rwanda & Madagascar)
- The State of Democracy in the Commonwealth
- High Level Expert Group on Policing
- CMAG policy brief
Funders and Partners
The CPSU is a NGO which receives funding from other associations and organizations around the Commonwealth. The CPSU's funders and partners include:- Allan and Nesta Ferguson Charitable Trust
- Association of Commonwealth UniversitiesAssociation of Commonwealth UniversitiesThe Association of Commonwealth Universities represents over 480 universities from Commonwealth countries.- History :In 1912, the University of London took the initiative to assemble 53 representatives of universities in London to hold a Congress of Universities of the Empire...
- Australian Government's AusAid
- Commonwealth FoundationCommonwealth FoundationThe Commonwealth Foundation is an intergovernmental organisation that was established by the Commonwealth Heads of Government in 1965, the same year as its sister organisation, the Commonwealth Secretariat...
- Commonwealth Political Affairs Division (CPAD), Commonwealth SecretariatCommonwealth SecretariatThe Commonwealth Secretariat is the main intergovernmental agency and central institution of the Commonwealth of Nations. It is responsible for facilitating cooperation between members; organising meetings, including the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings ; assisting and advising on policy...
- Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan
- Commonwealth SecretariatCommonwealth SecretariatThe Commonwealth Secretariat is the main intergovernmental agency and central institution of the Commonwealth of Nations. It is responsible for facilitating cooperation between members; organising meetings, including the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings ; assisting and advising on policy...
, Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation - Commonwealth-UN Co-operation for Development Department for International Development
- Department for Education and Skills, UK
- Department for Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Canada
- Department for International DevelopmentDepartment for International DevelopmentThe Department For International Development is a United Kingdom government department with a Cabinet Minister in charge. It was separated from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1997. The goal of the department is "to promote sustainable development and eliminate world poverty". The current...
, UK - Economic and Social Research CouncilEconomic and Social Research CouncilThe Economic and Social Research Council is one of the seven Research Councils in the United Kingdom. It receives most of its funding from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, and provides funding and support for research and training work in social and economic issues, such as...
- Ford FoundationFord FoundationThe Ford Foundation is a private foundation incorporated in Michigan and based in New York City created to fund programs that were chartered in 1936 by Edsel Ford and Henry Ford....
, New York; Commonwealth Parliamentary AssociationCommonwealth Parliamentary AssociationThe Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, previously known as the Empire Parliamentary Association, is an organisation, of British origin, which works to support good governance, democracy and human rights... - Foreign and Commonwealth OfficeForeign and Commonwealth OfficeThe Foreign and Commonwealth Office, commonly called the Foreign Office or the FCO is a British government department responsible for promoting the interests of the United Kingdom overseas, created in 1968 by merging the Foreign Office and the Commonwealth Office.The head of the FCO is the...
through its Commonwealth Coordination Department - Foreign and Commonwealth OfficeForeign and Commonwealth OfficeThe Foreign and Commonwealth Office, commonly called the Foreign Office or the FCO is a British government department responsible for promoting the interests of the United Kingdom overseas, created in 1968 by merging the Foreign Office and the Commonwealth Office.The head of the FCO is the...
, Rwanda - Foreign and Commonwealth OfficeForeign and Commonwealth OfficeThe Foreign and Commonwealth Office, commonly called the Foreign Office or the FCO is a British government department responsible for promoting the interests of the United Kingdom overseas, created in 1968 by merging the Foreign Office and the Commonwealth Office.The head of the FCO is the...
, UK - Governance and Institutional Development Division (GIDD), Commonwealth SecretariatCommonwealth SecretariatThe Commonwealth Secretariat is the main intergovernmental agency and central institution of the Commonwealth of Nations. It is responsible for facilitating cooperation between members; organising meetings, including the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings ; assisting and advising on policy...
- Nexus Strategic Partnerships
- RoutledgeRoutledgeRoutledge is a British publishing house which has operated under a succession of company names and latterly as an academic imprint. Its origins may be traced back to the 19th-century London bookseller George Routledge...
(Taylor & Francis) - Trinidad and Tobago High Commission, London
- UK Constitution Department for Constitutional Affairs
- Universities and Development Association of Commonwealth Universities; British CouncilBritish CouncilThe British Council is a United Kingdom-based organisation specialising in international educational and cultural opportunities. It is registered as a charity both in England and Wales, and in Scotland...
- University of LondonUniversity of London-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
Vice-Chancellor's Development Fund
External links
Associations and Organisations
- Association of Commonwealth Universities
- British Empire and Commonwealth Museum
- Commonwealth Broadcasting Association
- Commonwealth Education Trust
- Commonwealth Centre for Electronic Governance
- Commonwealth Foundation
- Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative
- Commonwealth Journalist Association
- Commonwealth of Learning
- Commonwealth Local Government Forum
- Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
- Commonwealth Press Union
- Commonwealth Secretariat
- Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisations, UK
- Foreign and Commonwealth Office
- Institute of Commonwealth Studies
- The Round Table
- The Royal Commonwealth Society