LSE IDEAS Ranked the Second Best University Affiliated Think Tank in the World

LSE IDEAS, the London School of Economics and Political Science’s foreign policy think tank, has been ranked the second best university affiliated think tank in the world.

This reflects the outstanding depth and breadth of LSE’s expertise and the way it brings these to bear on key international challenges.

Sir Richard Mottram, Chair of LSE IDEAS Advisory Board

In the 2018 Global Go To Think Tank Index released today, LSE IDEAS has been ranked the second best university affiliated think tank in the world. It also retains its position as Europe’s top university affiliated think tank. IDEAS is also now ranked 46th overall out of all 8100 think tanks worldwide.

LSE Director Dame Minouche Shafik said:

"Congratulations once more to everyone at LSE IDEAS on this fantastic achievement. This international recognition for work to influence policy taking place at the school is an important part of maintaining LSE's worldwide reputation for excellence and our mission to change the world by understanding the causes of things."

Sir Richard Mottram, Chair of LSE IDEAS Advisory Board said:

“I am delighted that LSE IDEAS has retained its ranking as the number one university affiliated think tank in Europe and the number two in the world. This reflects the outstanding depth and breadth of LSE’s expertise and the way it brings these to bear on key international challenges.”

Professor Michael Cox and Professor Christopher Coker, Directors of IDEAS, said:

“This is by any measure a terrific achievement by a dedicated staff who in the unique environment of LSE have made possible the high level contributions of academics, policy-makers, alumni and students from all over the world who together have made IDEAS one of the go-to places for serious foreign policy discussion about the key issues facing our troubled world.”

The Global Go To Think Tank Index is compiled by the Think Tank and Civil Societies Program (TTCSP) of the Lauder Institute at the University of Pennsylvania. It is the largest, most comprehensive database of think tanks, comprising over 8,100 institutions in 179 countries since its inception in 1989.

IDEAS was first recognised in the TTCSP rankings in 2011, and has sustained its position amongst the top four university affiliated think tanks worldwide since then.