The Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit (CPSU) was a think-tank covering matters pertaining to the
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, simply referred to as the Commonwealth, is a political association of 56 member states, the vast majority of which are former territories of the British Empire. The chief institutions of the organisation are the ...
. It formed part of the
University of London
The University of London (UoL; abbreviated as Lond or more rarely Londin in post-nominals) is a federal public research university located in London, England, United Kingdom. The university was established by royal charter in 1836 as a degree ...
's
Institute of Commonwealth Studies
The Institute of Commonwealth Studies, founded in 1949, is the sole postgraduate academic institution in the United Kingdom devoted to the study of the Commonwealth. It is also home to the longest-running interdisciplinary and practice-oriented ...
, itself part of the
School of Advanced Study
The School of Advanced Study (SAS), 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. It was established in 1994 and is ba ...
.
In 2011 the CPSU rebranded as the Commonwealth Advisory Bureau (CA/B). In April 2013 the activity of the Commonwealth Advisory Bureau was incorporated into the wider work of the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, and the separate identity of the CA/B ceased.
Structure and governance
History
The Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit was regarded as 'a widely respected authority on the Commonwealth'.Dickie J, 2004, The New Mandarins: How British Foreign Policy Works pp185-186. The CPSU received its go-ahead from the
Institute of Commonwealth Studies
The Institute of Commonwealth Studies, founded in 1949, is the sole postgraduate academic institution in the United Kingdom devoted to the study of the Commonwealth. It is also home to the longest-running interdisciplinary and practice-oriented ...
(ICWS), at the end of 1998 after a feasibility study funded by the British and Canadian governments. The only
think-tank
A think tank, or policy institute, is a research institute that performs research and advocacy concerning topics such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, technology, and culture. Most think tanks are non-governmental ...
in the world dedicated to Commonwealth affairs, the Unit worked on issues of globalisation, democracy,
civil society
Civil society can be understood as the "third sector" of society, distinct from government and business, and including the family and the private sphere.Commonwealth. Through the years, the CPSU has become a respected and valued part of the Commonwealth family, working closely with Commonwealth governments, the
Commonwealth Secretariat
The Commonwealth Secretariat is the main intergovernmental agency and central institution of the Commonwealth of Nations. It is responsible for facilitating co-operation between members; organising meetings, including the Commonwealth Heads o ...
and the
Commonwealth Foundation
The Commonwealth Foundation (CF) is an intergovernmental organisation that was established by the Commonwealth Heads of Government in 1966, a year after its sister organisation, the Commonwealth Secretariat. The Foundation is located at Mar ...
. In addition to a range of projects, the Unit produced a Commonwealth Ministerial Policy Brief ahead of every Commonwealth Ministerial Meeting, as well as for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings.
Mission
The mission of CPSU was to act as a
think-tank
A think tank, or policy institute, is a research institute that performs research and advocacy concerning topics such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, technology, and culture. Most think tanks are non-governmental ...
for the entire Commonwealth. The CPSU stimulated debate, enquiry, and the sharing of ideas and information across the Commonwealth. CPSU fulfilled 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 aimed to change the way people thought, 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 raised the quality of policy-making by governments,
intergovernmental organisations
An international organization or international organisation (see spelling differences), also known as an intergovernmental organization or an international institution, is a stable set of norms and rules meant to govern the behavior of states a ...
, business and
civil society
Civil society can be understood as the "third sector" of society, distinct from government and business, and including the family and the private sphere.Lord Chidgey, which for specified purposes may be regarded as a subcommittee of the Advisory Council of the
Institute of Commonwealth Studies
The Institute of Commonwealth Studies, founded in 1949, is the sole postgraduate academic institution in the United Kingdom devoted to the study of the Commonwealth. It is also home to the longest-running interdisciplinary and practice-oriented ...
.
Former projects
CPSU conducted research to inform and influence policy makers in over a quarter of the world's countries. Previous projects include work 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 put the policy choices before the Commonwealth into sharper focus, exploring options and suggesting new directions.
The CPSU ran conferences, dialogues, workshops and seminars which are typically held at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies. Most events were by invitation only but many were open to the public. In addition, the Unit also ran events outside the United Kingdom in conjunction with other bodies.
Programmes
The CPSU worked across five programme area on pioneering work for the modern Commonwealth. Within each of these programmes there were 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 received funding from other associations and organisations around the Commonwealth. The CPSU's funders and partners include:
* Allan and Nesta Ferguson Charitable Trust
* Association of Commonwealth Universities
* Australian Government's
AusAid
Australian Aid is the brand name used to identify projects in developing countries supported by the Australian Government. As of 2014 the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has been responsible for Australia's official development ...
*
Commonwealth Foundation
The Commonwealth Foundation (CF) is an intergovernmental organisation that was established by the Commonwealth Heads of Government in 1966, a year after its sister organisation, the Commonwealth Secretariat. The Foundation is located at Mar ...
* Commonwealth Political Affairs Division (CPAD),
Commonwealth Secretariat
The Commonwealth Secretariat is the main intergovernmental agency and central institution of the Commonwealth of Nations. It is responsible for facilitating co-operation between members; organising meetings, including the Commonwealth Heads o ...
* Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan
*
Commonwealth Secretariat
The Commonwealth Secretariat is the main intergovernmental agency and central institution of the Commonwealth of Nations. It is responsible for facilitating co-operation between members; organising meetings, including the Commonwealth Heads o ...
Ford Foundation
The Ford Foundation is an American private foundation with the stated goal of advancing human welfare. Created in 1936 by Edsel Ford and his father Henry Ford, it was originally funded by a US$25,000 gift from Edsel Ford. By 1947, after the death ...
, New York;
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), previously known as the Empire Parliamentary Association, is an organisation which works to support good governance, democracy and human rights.
In 1989 the patron of the CPA was the Head ...
Commonwealth Secretariat
The Commonwealth Secretariat is the main intergovernmental agency and central institution of the Commonwealth of Nations. It is responsible for facilitating co-operation between members; organising meetings, including the Commonwealth Heads o ...
* Nexus Strategic Partnerships
*
Routledge
Routledge () is a British multinational publisher. It was founded in 1836 by George Routledge, and specialises in providing academic books, journals and online resources in the fields of the humanities, behavioural science, education, law ...
(Taylor & Francis)
* Trinidad and Tobago High Commission, London
* UK Constitution Department for Constitutional Affairs
* Universities and Development Association of Commonwealth Universities;
British Council
The British Council is a British organisation specialising in international cultural and educational opportunities. It works in over 100 countries: promoting a wider knowledge of the United Kingdom and the English language (and the Welsh lan ...
*
University of London
The University of London (UoL; abbreviated as Lond or more rarely Londin in post-nominals) is a federal public research university located in London, England, United Kingdom. The university was established by royal charter in 1836 as a degree ...
Vice-Chancellor's Development Fund
See also
*
Commonwealth Foundation
The Commonwealth Foundation (CF) is an intergovernmental organisation that was established by the Commonwealth Heads of Government in 1966, a year after its sister organisation, the Commonwealth Secretariat. The Foundation is located at Mar ...
*
Commonwealth Secretariat
The Commonwealth Secretariat is the main intergovernmental agency and central institution of the Commonwealth of Nations. It is responsible for facilitating co-operation between members; organising meetings, including the Commonwealth Heads o ...