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. 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. It mainly works on barometer surveys on democratic attitudes and behaviours in post-communist countries. 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)'.
The Centre for the Study of Public Policy was 'the first public policy centre within a European university. Its purpose is to relate social science research to major problems of contemporary societies. ... In the 1980s it conducted major comparative studies of the growth of government, concerning taxation and expenditure, organizational change, and laws. Since the fall of the Berlin Wall, the CSPP has developed an innovative repertoire of Barometer surveys to advance empirical understanding of mass response to transformation in post-Communist societies.
The CSPP has now conducted more than 100 nationwide Barometer surveys across Central and Eastern Europe, the Balkans and the former Soviet Union... CSPP websites have more than 1mn hits a year from more than 80 countries.
After 30 years at the University of Strathclyde, the CSPP has joined the School of Social Sciences at the University of Aberdeen, which is creating a major centre for the comparative analysis of survey research across Europe.' CSPP website 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
Funding
Source: http://www.psa.ac.uk/2005/pps/Pautz.pdf
External links
Hartwig Pautz 'Think-Tanks in Scotland' Paper for the 55th Political Studies Association Annual conference, 4-7 April 2005, University of Leeds, www.psa.ac.uk/2005/pps/Pautz.pdf
