Asian think tanks

Bangladesh

In the People's Republic of Bangladesh a number of think tanks are working on foreign
policy and security issues. Most of these are based in Dhaka. The Centre for International
Affairs is one of them. It was established by Dr. Ataur Rahman Khan, Professor of
International Relations in Jahagirnagar University. It is now incorporated with the
Department of International Relations, Jahangirnagar University.

1. Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD)

2. Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies
3. Bangladesh Institute of Law and International Affairs
4. Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS)

China

In the People's Republic of China a number of think tanks are sponsored by governmental
agencies but still retain sufficient non-official status to be able to propose and debate
ideas more freely. Indeed, most of the actual diplomacy between China and the United
States has taken the form of academic exchanges between members of think tanks.

Hong Kong

In Hong Kong, those early think tanks established in the late 1980s and early 1990s
focused on the political development including first direct Legislative Council members
election in 1991 and the political framework of "One Country, Two Systems" manifested
in the Sino-British Joint Declaration. After the return of sovereignty to the Mainland
China in 1997, more and more think tanks were established by various groups of
intellectuals and professionals. They have various missions and objectives including
promoting civic education; undertaking research on economic social and political
policies; promoting "public understanding of and participation in the political, economic,
and social development of the Hong Kong SAR".

1. Civic Exchange
2. Hong Kong Policy Research Institute
3. SynergyNet
4. Savantas Policy Institute
5. The Professional Commons
6. Hong Kong Ideas Centre

Georgia

First think-tanks in Georgia appeared after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Number of
organizations in 2009 is 13. New Economic School - Georgia is the libertarian one which
is included in the Global Think-Tank Survey of 2008.
1. New Economic School - Georgia

India

India has a number of think tanks working on foreign policy and security issues. Many of
these are based in New Delhi, the capital and a few are government sponsored. Others are
independent and are free to voice views that may be at tangent with current Indian
policies. These include the Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA), Centre for
Land Warfare Studies that are associated with the Defence Ministry of the Indian
government. There are also a few economics related think tanks such as ICRIER.
Strategic Foresight Group, a think tank that works on global issues is based in Mumbai.
Centre for Civil Society (CCS) is another famous independent organisation promoting
public policy for change by their program with youth in India. Another think tank in India
is Apeejay Stya Education Research Foundation (ASERF) inspired by the educationist
Dr. Stya Paul, whose objective is to study all aspect of "quality education".

2. Centre for Land Warfare Studies [1](CLAWS)

3. Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE)
4. Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER)
5. Indira Gandhi Institute for Development Research (IGIDR)
6. Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA)
7. [International Institute for Non-Aligned Studies] (IINS)
8. National Council for Applied Economic Research (NCAER)
9. Business Consulting Group, Major & Minor (BCG)
10. Centre for Civil Society (CCS)
11. Observer Research Foundation
12. Liberty Institute
13. Centre for Asian Strategic Studies-India , CASSINDIA
14. Strategic Foresight Group
15. Institute of Economic Growth, New Delhi
16. National Institute of Public Finance & Policy, New Delhi
17. Apeejay Stya Education Research Foundation (ASERF), New Delhi

Pakistan

Pakistan has a number of think tanks which mainly revolve around Internal Politics,
Foreign Security Issues, and Regional Geo-Politics. Most of these are centered around the
capital, Islamabad, and have been founded by former Military and Intelligence Personnel.

Other think tanks concern religion and how its influence could grow in an otherwise
unreligious country. These are centred throughout the country and work under the
umbrella of the mammoth Jamaat-e-Islami with headquarters in Lahore and has immense
global influence, reach and regard among Muslims.

There are several other think tanks as well, such as those concerning the state of
education in the country which hold many former or present educationists. There are also
think tanks concerning human rights, women rights, labour rights, justice, city
development, heritage protection and environmental protection, all headed by the
country's urban dwelling, educated elite living, most of whom have studied and/or
worked abroad.

Most are known to the general public through seminars and newspaper articles, or
conducting workshops and lectures at colleges and universities. BrassTacks, a security
and geopolitical think tank based in Islamabad however has broken the trend and now has
a TV show with its head now a TV personality. Islamic think tanks and their heads were
already famous throughout the world.

1. Applied Economics Research Center (AERC)

2. Institute of Policy Studies (IPS)
3. Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE)
4. Social Policy and Development Center (SPDC)
5. Collective for Social Science Research (CSSR)
6. Alternative Solutions Institute (ASI)
7. GrandeStrategy Institute (GSI)
8. Institute for Development Studies and Practices (IDSP)
9. Institute of Leadership in Media (ILIM)
10. Pakistan Institute of International Affairs (PIIA)
11. Pakistan Institute of National Affairs (PINA)
12. Sustainable Development Policy Institute
13. Institute of Regional Studies(IRS)
14. Institute of Strategic Studies (ISS)
15. Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI)
16. Strategic Institute for Maritime Affairs
17. Pakistan Academy of Sciences
18. Spearhead Research
19. Good Governance Forum

Islamic Republic of Iran

Several organizations were established in IR Iran since late 90’s which offer a unique
blend of interdisciplinary research. Their focuses have been to provide social managers
and make policies. Nanohealth Think Tank, ASEF Think tank and Sharif Think tank are
some famous Think tanks in this rigion.

1. Ravand Institute
2. Sepehr Educational Strategic Studies (MORSACO)
3. Seywan Institute
4. Nano Health Think Tank

Philippines

1. Resources, Environment and Economics Center for Studies (REECS)

Sri Lanka
1. Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies