The Role of Think Tanks and Technical Experts In Foreign and Security Policy

Joint conference between Italy's preeminent think-tank Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI), LSE IDEAS, the LUISS School of Government, and Centre de la Méditerranée Moderne et Contemporaine in Nice in cooperation with Institut Francais and Knorad Adenauer Stiftung as part of IAI's 50th anniversary celebrations. 

This one day conference, held on 22 April 2016 at LUISS, explored the think tank model and their role in the policymaking process.  

Programme

Welcome speech and opening remarks

• Sergio Fabbrini (LUISS)
• Ferdinando Nelli Feroci (TBC, IAI)
• Jean Pierre Darnis (IAI)

Think tanks shaping the international agenda?

Chair: Jim MacGann, (Upenn) (TBC)

• Gregory Alegi (LUISS): “The Moral Hazard Of Think Tanks”
• David Cadier (Finnish Institute of International Affairs): “From Epistemic Communities To Advocacy  Coalitions: The Role Of Think Tanks In Shaping National And European Discourses On Russia”
• Carolina De Stefano and Serena Giusti (SSSA): “Forging Policies Towards Russia: Is The Carnegie Moscow  Center An Effective Prototype”
• Silvia Menegazzi (LUISS): “The global business of ideas: a comparative assessment of the think tanks model  in China, US and the EU”

A Specific Role For Think Tanks In Europe?

Chair: Michael Cox (LSE IDEAS)

• Maria Giulia Amadio Viceré (LUISS/King’s College), Erin Montague (King’s College) and Benedict
• Wilkinson (King’s College): “Bridging The Gap Between Academic Excellence And Actionable Policy: An Evidence-Based Approach On Britain’s Defence Industry”
• Matthieu Chillaud (Université de Montpellier): “The French ‘Method’ By Trial And Error To Promote And  Support Think Tanks. Why Does France Shilly-shally?”
• Kristina Eichhorst (Konrad Adenauer Stiftung): “The role of the political foundations in Germany and their  impact on Germany's Foreign Policy”
• Olivier Schmitt (University of Southern Denmark): “Institutional Context And Policy Influence: The Think  Tank Circuits In France And Denmark”
• Antonio Calcara (LUISS): “The Role Of National Network Of Experts In The European Defence Agency: An  Empirical Analysis”

The case of IAI and Italy

Chair: Sergio Fabbrini (LUISS)

• Marzia Maccaferri (Goldsmith University of London): “From Intellectual Project To Think-Tank: The Origins  Of The Istituto Affari Internazionali, Its Continuity And Discontinuity”
• Frédéric Attal (Université de Lille): “The Italian Institute Of International Affairs First Years: The Spinelli’s  Directorship”
• Federico Niglia (LUISS): “The Intellectual Debate On Italian Foreign And Defence Policy 1965-2015”
• Jean Pierre Darnis (UNS) and Alessandro Marrone (UniRoma1): “A Think Tank As A Foreign And Security  Policy Actor, The IAI Case”

Closing remarks