Centre for the Study of Public Policy
The Centre for the Study of Public Policy (CSPP)was founded by by Professor Richard Rose in 1976 at Strathclyde University, Glasgow. Since 1 October 2005 it is part of the Department of Politics and International Relations of the University of Aberdeen, which is "creating a major centre for the comparative analysis of survey research across Europe" CSPP website. Labelling itself a "specialist independent research unit of the university"(http://www.strath.ac.uk/cspp/research.html Accessed 23 June 2004), it has consulted the World Bank, the OECD and UN agencies on 'problems of post-Communist countries' (http://www.cspp.strath.ac.uk Accessed 29 June 2004).It mainly works on barometer surveys on democratic attitudes and behaviours in post-communist countries. Using Kent Weaver's typology (2000; 1989) the CSPP is a hybrid between a consultancy, a university research institute and a contract research think-tank. Most of its work is openly accessible through publication in academic journals, books or the in-house series "Studies in Public Policy".
Funding
It is sponsored by scientific and private foundations, governmental and intergovernmental organizations in Austria, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States and intergovernmental agencies such as the European Commission, the Council of Europe and the World Bank. During the 1990s, Barometer surveys were conducted jointly with the Paul Lazarsfeld Society, Vienna, which was supported by the Austrian Ministry of Science and Research and the Austrian National Bank.
Contact
The CENTRE FOR THE STUDY OF PUBLIC POLICY, UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN, Aberdeen AB24 3QY, UK
Literature
Weaver, Kent R and McGann, James G. (eds) 2000. Think-tanks & Civil Societies. Catalysts for Ideas and Action. New Jersey : Transaction Publishers Weaver, Kent R. (1989) The Changing World of Think-tanks. PS: Political Science and Politics. Vol. 22/3, pp. 563-578
