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CIDOB

Vision

CIDOB promotes good global governance based on democratic practices at the local, national and supranational level in order to ensure people’s basic needs for freedom and a life without fear. We encourage a plural dialogue that embraces all differences.

Mission

CIDOB is a dynamic team of analysts and documentalists who aim to offer political players – from ordinary citizens to international organisations – information and ideas that help to shape policies that promote a safer, freer and more just world for all.

Strategic vision 2010-2013

CIDOB extended version

INSTITUTIONAL AIMS AND INSTRUMENTS	Institutional aims • An independent, non partisan centre that contributes to ongoing international debates from the perspective of a major Mediterranean metropolis. • A useful international reference point in Barcelona for individual, institutional and business actors operating in the international arena; a focus for the growing role of Barcelona, Catalonia and Spain on the world stage. • An influential player in foreign policy thinking from city to European Union level. This we aim to achieve through ongoing dialogue with citizens, other political stakeholders, business and the media. • A link between leading centres of international studies in Europe, its immediate neighbours, and beyond. . Instruments • Offering ideas, analysis and proposals which focus on specific policies and geographical areas. • Providing specialised information which enables strategic thinking and contributes to wider international debate. • Providing a clearing house for specialists in international relations and those in politics, business and the media. Institutional aims • An independent, non partisan centre that contributes to ongoing international debates from the perspective of a major Mediterranean metropolis. • A useful international reference point in Barcelona for individual, institutional and business actors operating in the international arena; a focus for the growing role of Barcelona, Catalonia and Spain on the world stage. • An influential player in foreign policy thinking from city to European Union level. This we aim to achieve through ongoing dialogue with citizens, other political stakeholders, business and the media. • A link between leading centres of international studies in Europe, its immediate neighbours, and beyond. . Instruments • Offering ideas, analysis and proposals which focus on specific policies and geographical areas. • Providing specialised information which enables strategic thinking and contributes to wider international debate. • Providing a clearing house for specialists in international relations and those in politics, business and the media.
THE CIDOB APPROACH	The CIDOB approach We define CIDOB’s point of view, our way of focusing and approaching world events, in five adjectives: humanist, prospective, interdisciplinary, direct and multi-tiered. . • Humanist: The conviction that international issues affect states and nations but also people, is the very raison d’être of CIDOB. This cosmopolitan way of reflecting on what is happening in the world allows CIDOB to position itself at the forefront of the study of international relations. . • Prospective: Located some distance from Spanish and European decision-making centres, CIDOB seeks to develop prospective analysis, construct scenarios and detect new trends in international affairs. This approach helps CIDOB address the growing complexity of many issues, taking advantage of being detached from the need to react immediately to topical issues as they unfold in the international agenda. . • Interdisciplinary: An interdisciplinary approach is crucial to our capacity to generate new ideas. Cross-fertilisation has to occur not only among academic disciplines but also between these and a variety of other points of view: those of politicians, diplomats, civil servants, businessmen and the media. . • Direct: Rather than simply processing the enormous quantity of indirect information produced by other international experts, CIDOB encourages first hand knowledge by promoting fieldwork and direct contact with the players involved in the issues analysed. . • Multi-tiered: Representatives of local and regional authorities, which are among the most active in Europe and the rest of the world, sit on the board of CIDOB. This offers a comparative advantage in studying international issues from the point of view of non-state governments and other agents in civil society. The CIDOB approach We define CIDOB’s point of view, our way of focusing and approaching world events, in five adjectives: humanist, prospective, interdisciplinary, direct and multi-tiered. . • Humanist: The conviction that international issues affect states and nations but also people, is the very raison d’être of CIDOB. This cosmopolitan way of reflecting on what is happening in the world allows CIDOB to position itself at the forefront of the study of international relations. . • Prospective: Located some distance from Spanish and European decision-making centres, CIDOB seeks to develop prospective analysis, construct scenarios and detect new trends in international affairs. This approach helps CIDOB address the growing complexity of many issues, taking advantage of being detached from the need to react immediately to topical issues as they unfold in the international agenda. . • Interdisciplinary: An interdisciplinary approach is crucial to our capacity to generate new ideas. Cross-fertilisation has to occur not only among academic disciplines but also between these and a variety of other points of view: those of politicians, diplomats, civil servants, businessmen and the media. . • Direct: Rather than simply processing the enormous quantity of indirect information produced by other international experts, CIDOB encourages first hand knowledge by promoting fieldwork and direct contact with the players involved in the issues analysed. . • Multi-tiered: Representatives of local and regional authorities, which are among the most active in Europe and the rest of the world, sit on the board of CIDOB. This offers a comparative advantage in studying international issues from the point of view of non-state governments and other agents in civil society.
CIDOB’S AREAS OF ACTIVITY	Research and presence in the field CIDOB carries out field research and studies: • To achieve nationally and internationally recognised expertise on specific issues. • To maintain its capacity for interaction with the academic world. • To acquire first-hand knowledge. • To provide original analysis to political and economic decision-makers. • To anticipate new trends before they reach the political agenda. . Targets for 2010-2013: • To consolidate CIDOB’s standing in Spain as one of the leading centres of international relations. • To become more widely recognised internationally. • To build up an active network of associated experts in order to increase its contribution international analysis. • To consolidate its home team of analysts and attract new talent. . Dialogue and debate CIDOB engages in debate with the following aims: • To promote brainstorming between players of different professional and geographical background (political, media, economic, academic, etc.). • To promote intercultural dialogue and “track-two” initiatives that encourages shared viewpoints and innovative solutions. • To enable its researchers to share their ideas through contacts with their peers in similar institutions. • To offer practical recommendations for professionals involved in international issues. . Targets for 2010-2013: • To reinforce the institute’s capacity to offer new points of view on the Catalan and Spanish political agenda. • To broaden the range of those who participate in CIDOB’s activities, particularly in matters relating to politics and business. • To focus more accurately on its key areas of specialisation, following action-research principles. . Dissemination of ideas To make CIDOB’s ideas more broadly known is a priority in order: • To offer analysis and outline scenarios that can shape opinions and points of view on international issues. • To insert priorities and proposals in the political and media agenda. • To give people who follow international issues access to political decision and opinion-makers, and vice-versa. . Targets for 2010-2013: • To provide opinion-makers and persons having responsibilities at all levels in international issues with informed analysis, views and proposals. • To provide people interested in international issues with easy web access to the documents, information and opinions generated by CIDOB. • To make CIDOB’s documents more speedily available to European think-tanks, and beyond. . Documentation CIDOB’s purpose in carrying out documentation work is: • To provide access to quality documentary resources in a number of languages. • To generate documentary resources that can be easily accessed online by specialists. • To fill gaps in documentation on subjects of special interest related to CIDOB’s priorities. . Targets for 2010-2013: • To position CIDOB as a benchmark online international documentation service in Spanish. • To make the CIDOB Yearbook and its supplementary products (chronologies, articles, etc.) a reference point for the study of Spain’s foreign relations. Research and presence in the field CIDOB carries out field research and studies: • To achieve nationally and internationally recognised expertise on specific issues. • To maintain its capacity for interaction with the academic world. • To acquire first-hand knowledge. • To provide original analysis to political and economic decision-makers. • To anticipate new trends before they reach the political agenda. . Targets for 2010-2013: • To consolidate CIDOB’s standing in Spain as one of the leading centres of international relations. • To become more widely recognised internationally. • To build up an active network of associated experts in order to increase its contribution international analysis. • To consolidate its home team of analysts and attract new talent. . Dialogue and debate CIDOB engages in debate with the following aims: • To promote brainstorming between players of different professional and geographical background (political, media, economic, academic, etc.). • To promote intercultural dialogue and “track-two” initiatives that encourages shared viewpoints and innovative solutions. • To enable its researchers to share their ideas through contacts with their peers in similar institutions. • To offer practical recommendations for professionals involved in international issues. . Targets for 2010-2013: • To reinforce the institute’s capacity to offer new points of view on the Catalan and Spanish political agenda. • To broaden the range of those who participate in CIDOB’s activities, particularly in matters relating to politics and business. • To focus more accurately on its key areas of specialisation, following action-research principles. . Dissemination of ideas To make CIDOB’s ideas more broadly known is a priority in order: • To offer analysis and outline scenarios that can shape opinions and points of view on international issues. • To insert priorities and proposals in the political and media agenda. • To give people who follow international issues access to political decision and opinion-makers, and vice-versa. . Targets for 2010-2013: • To provide opinion-makers and persons having responsibilities at all levels in international issues with informed analysis, views and proposals. • To provide people interested in international issues with easy web access to the documents, information and opinions generated by CIDOB. • To make CIDOB’s documents more speedily available to European think-tanks, and beyond. . Documentation CIDOB’s purpose in carrying out documentation work is: • To provide access to quality documentary resources in a number of languages. • To generate documentary resources that can be easily accessed online by specialists. • To fill gaps in documentation on subjects of special interest related to CIDOB’s priorities. . Targets for 2010-2013: • To position CIDOB as a benchmark online international documentation service in Spanish. • To make the CIDOB Yearbook and its supplementary products (chronologies, articles, etc.) a reference point for the study of Spain’s foreign relations.
PRIORITIES FOR THE PERIOD 2010-2013	Priorities for the period 2010-2013 . CIDOB programmes Over the next four years, CIDOB will shift from its current focus on four issue-based programmes and four geographically-based programmes to three comprehensive programmes addressing broadly defined themes: . People and Frontiers In the world of 2010, cultural and state borders will in no way disappear but remain a reality directly experienced by people in their everyday lives. The aim of this programme is to analyse this interrelationship and offer topics to debate that can help reduce the negative effects that frontiers of all kinds have on people’s lives. To do so, CIDOB works in the following fields: • Intercultural dynamics • Migrations • Conflicts . A more secure life An international system which focuses on state security risks neglecting individual rights and freedom. It is for this reason that the programme focuses on the causes of people’s insecurity, which may arise from the hostile actions of other persons and states, lack of basic resources, the impact of economic crisis or an increasingly degraded environment. It aims to formulate political proposals that offer people a more secure life. The four sections of this programme are: • Human Security • Development • Environment • Energy . Democratic governance The main challenges we face must be set in a global framework if wish to find real solutions today. Unfortunately, the architecture of global governance need serious reform if it is to be efficient: in particular it must better reflect the reality of political and economic power and influence in the world of today. State and local actors must be given their due. This programme seeks to encourage good governance which we believe is a major contributing factor to successfully confronting some of these issues. For this reason, the programme concentrates on: • Local government • State, democracy and foreign policy • Regionalism . CIDOB’s fields of specialisation CIDOB will have a particular focus on six fields of excellence: > European Foreign Policy and relations with its immediate neighbours > Security Sector Reform > Intercultural dynamics > Migration Policy in Europe > The international relations of cities and regions > EU enlargement . With respect to geographical specialisation, CIDOB focuses on four areas: Priorities for the period 2010-2013 • Europe • the Mediterranean • Latin America • Asia . Within these four areas, resources are concentrated on four countries: • Brazil • Russia • Turkey • China Priorities for the period 2010-2013 . CIDOB programmes Over the next four years, CIDOB will shift from its current focus on four issue-based programmes and four geographically-based programmes to three comprehensive programmes addressing broadly defined themes: . People and Frontiers In the world of 2010, cultural and state borders will in no way disappear but remain a reality directly experienced by people in their everyday lives. The aim of this programme is to analyse this interrelationship and offer topics to debate that can help reduce the negative effects that frontiers of all kinds have on people’s lives. To do so, CIDOB works in the following fields: • Intercultural dynamics • Migrations • Conflicts . A more secure life An international system which focuses on state security risks neglecting individual rights and freedom. It is for this reason that the programme focuses on the causes of people’s insecurity, which may arise from the hostile actions of other persons and states, lack of basic resources, the impact of economic crisis or an increasingly degraded environment. It aims to formulate political proposals that offer people a more secure life. The four sections of this programme are: • Human Security • Development • Environment • Energy . Democratic governance The main challenges we face must be set in a global framework if wish to find real solutions today. Unfortunately, the architecture of global governance need serious reform if it is to be efficient: in particular it must better reflect the reality of political and economic power and influence in the world of today. State and local actors must be given their due. This programme seeks to encourage good governance which we believe is a major contributing factor to successfully confronting some of these issues. For this reason, the programme concentrates on: • Local government • State, democracy and foreign policy • Regionalism . CIDOB’s fields of specialisation CIDOB will have a particular focus on six fields of excellence: > European Foreign Policy and relations with its immediate neighbours > Security Sector Reform > Intercultural dynamics > Migration Policy in Europe > The international relations of cities and regions > EU enlargement . With respect to geographical specialisation, CIDOB focuses on four areas: Priorities for the period 2010-2013 • Europe • the Mediterranean • Latin America • Asia . Within these four areas, resources are concentrated on four countries: • Brazil • Russia • Turkey • China