Riyadh Newspaper | “Riyadh Studies” is an Arab scientific beacon that diagnoses crises and provides decision-makers with ideas and solutions
Scientific research or strategic studies are among the most important activities practiced by the human mind. The progress and renaissance of nations depend on interest in research, its applications, institutions and tools, such as universities and research and study centers, because of their essential role in the decision-making process and the preparation of public policies for countries.
These centers are a source for the production of ideas and not a repository for gathering information. Before being a knowledge production, they are a cultural achievement that reflects countries' interest in science, anticipating future prospects, and preserving heritage and achievements.
These centers have also become key players in decision-making, public policies, intellectual production, and scientific research, especially in the West.
Therefore, this study seeks to demonstrate the importance of these centers and their role in the march of nations and drawing up the policies of states, and to provide an accurate analysis of the most important obstacles and challenges they face, and how we can make the Riyadh Center for Political and Strategic Studies a factory of ideas, a source of information, and a supporter of policies, and not just Title without content, and effort without fruits.
The importance of the study:
The importance of this study is evident in providing those interested and decision-makers with scientific material by highlighting the role of research and study centers historically, their origin, what they are, and how they influence the process of formulating policies and decision-making at the global level, and achieving the goals that Arab countries seek to achieve with less costs, and as many successful results as possible, then develop plans and possible alternatives to achieve the desired goals without error.
Research centers also help Arab countries understand history, how to deal with the present, and develop plans in anticipation of the future, especially since Arab countries have realized the importance of the role that research centers play in spreading awareness among members of society, as well as drawing up general policies for countries, as well as Introducing Arab countries to their role in upgrading research and studies centers.
Limitations of the study:
a. Time frame:
The countries of the world have increased their spending on research centers throughout history, particularly since the Abbasid era, and great interest in them began since the beginning of the twentieth century.
Recently, as a result of the goals that are achieved quickly and successfully through the work of research and studies, countries have begun to spend money on building research centers with the aim of achieving the desired goals of each country easily and successfully.
This study shows the great and urgent importance of research centers in our current time, in which the countries of the world, including the Arab countries, take decisive and quick decisions as a result of their cooperation with research centers.
This study focuses on the period between the beginning of the twentieth century until the present day, to study the importance of research centers to support decision-making and the latest developments in cooperation with them.
b. spatial frame:
This study is based on clarifying the importance of the role played by research and studies centers in the world in general, and in the Arab world in particular, including the Riyadh Center for Political and Strategic Studies, and how the centers develop strategies that control the foreign policy of countries.
c. Thematic framework:
The study deals with the role played by research centers in shaping the foreign policy of countries, and determines the country's priorities and directions at a certain stage, and thus develops appropriate plans and strategies.
Therefore, in this study, we will address the importance of strategic planning as a major condition in achieving the desired goals, as well as the role of states in upgrading and developing research centers, and allowing them to exercise the role of advisor to the state in its relations with other countries.
We also learn about the history of research centers and their role in strategic planning processes to achieve the objectives of countries, no matter how difficult their implementation may be.
First: The concept of study centers
The definition of research and study centers is still controversial and surrounded by ambiguity, especially since many of these centers belonging to the field of research do not consider themselves to be of the “Tink Tank” category in self-identification documents, but rather declare themselves as a non-governmental organization or foundation Nonprofit. Therefore, this concept remains loose, and may have more than one definition. Because of the many details that surround it.
Despite this problem, there are definitions that we try to present some of them. Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia, defines it as “any organization or institution that claims to be a center for research and studies, or a center for analyzes on general and important issues.” The Rand Corporation for Research defines them as “those groups or institutes organized with the aim of conducting focused and intensive research, and they provide solutions and proposals for problems in general, especially in the technological, social, political and strategic fields, or related to armaments.” (1) (2)
As defined by Howard G. Wiarda, Professor of International Relations at the University of Georgia, and Research Professor at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington, they are “centers for research and education, and are not similar to universities or colleges, nor do they offer courses of study, but are Non-profit institutions, even if they have a product, which is research. Their main objective is to research the general policies of the state, and they have an effective influence in discussing those policies. They also focus their attention on economic and social development, public policy, defense, security and foreign affairs, and they do not try to provide superficial knowledge of these. Issues, to the extent that they are discussed and researched in depth, and drawn to the public’s attention.” (3)
And Howard ends by saying: “These centers are research institutions whose primary objective is to provide research and studies related to society and public policies, and to influence hot issues of concern to people.” (4)
Although there is no consensus on defining the concept of research and studies centers, these centers use the term “research and study centers” as a synonym for the term “think tanks”. And studies in various fields, in order to serve the general policies of the state, and to provide future visions of interest to the individual, society and decision makers. (6)
We find that all the above definitions share that research and studies centers are dedicated to carrying out research and studies in specific fields or in a variety of fields, whether presenting proposals and solutions to specific problems, through the scientific activities that they carry out, such as conferences they hold, research and periodical publications. And the books issued by it, in addition to providing advice to decision makers with proposing alternatives.
Second: The establishment and development of study centers
The study is interested in tracing the historical establishment of research and studies centers, and knowing their functions and characteristics, in order to get to know their situation in the Arab world, not for comparison purposes, but to stand on the importance of their role for societies and decision-makers.
The roots of the research centers go back to the first scientific center in the first Abbasid era, namely (House of Wisdom), which was built by order of the Abbasid caliph Harun al-Rashid, as the nucleus of a research center that was in its time and place a qualitative leap in science and thought, and the work of scientific, medical and philosophical research As well as translating and transferring the sciences, ideas and cultures of past and contemporary civilizations into the Arabic language.
Then the post-Rasheed period witnessed a greater development in the House of Wisdom, as the history books show. (7)
However, the modern emergence of research and studies centers dates back to the beginning of the emergence of European universities in the twelfth century, when scientific chairs appeared, which were the basis and nucleus for the emergence of research centers.
The purpose of the emergence of these centers was to produce ideas for decision-makers, and to deal with scientific topics, but the role of the centers developed during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries AD, as research centers independent of universities were established to serve politics, and the first of this trend was the establishment of the Royal Institute for Defense Studies In Britain in 1831 AD, the Forest Society in 1884 AD, in the United States the Carnegie Institute for International Peace in 1910 AD, the Brookings Institution in 1916 AD, the Hoover Institution in 1919 AD, the Century Foundation in 1919 AD, the Council on Foreign Relations in 1921 AD, the National Bureau for Economic Research in 1920 AD, and other centers research, and in Britain the Royal Institute of International Affairs in 1920 AD, in France the French Institute for International Relations, and in Germany the German Academy of Peace in 1931 AD. (8)
Private research centers concerned with opinion polls have also emerged, such as the Gallup Institute, which was established in the United States in 1920.
We notice in this era that most centers could not directly influence public policy makers, and they were seen as theoretical institutions far from influencing national or international policies, although their influence was indirect through the formulation of public opinion positions (9). )
In the post-World War II era, the reality of study centers has evolved dramatically, both in terms of the large increase in their number, or in terms of their spread in the countries of the world.. The most famous of these centers, which was founded in this era, is the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London in 1958 AD, and in the United States the Institute for Middle East Studies in 1948 AD, and the Enterprise Institute in 1943 AD, and the RAND Corporation in 1948 AD, and the Conflict Resolution Research Center in 1959 AD at the University of Michigan, and in Norway the Institute for International Peace Research was founded in 1959 AD, and in Sweden the Stockholm Institute for Peace Research in 1966 AD , and other research centers in European countries. (10)
In the post-Cold War era, its research interests developed, and research and study centers and opinion poll centers became influential and clear in democratic countries in influencing decision-makers and formulating public policies, both at the national level and the foreign policies of countries15.
As for the seventies and until the end of the twenty-first century, the presence of these research centers spread in all regions of the world and their influence increased, and the nature of their specializations and fields of research varied, so we find that most of the American policy theories were crystallized by strategic research centers.
The number of research and studies centers in the world until the end of the twentieth century reached 6480 research centers specialized in the field of public policies.
Table (1), prepared by Dr. Sami El-Khazendar, Dr. Tariq Al-Asaad, The role of think tanks and studies in scientific research and public policy-making, The Hashemite University, Jordan.
The number of research and study centers in the world until the end of 2020 AD reached 11,175 specialized research centers in the field of public policies, so that some of them are called intellectual observatories, and they are now guiding the world.
table(2)
table(3)
Studies and research centers entered the focus of Arab attention at the beginning of 1952, when the League of Arab States established the Institute for Arab Research and Studies, which later shifted to focusing on teaching performance and university qualification at the expense of research work.
In Egypt, the National Research Center was founded in 1956 AD, in addition to the Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies in 1968 AD, and they are linked to governmental bodies, and at the level of private research centers, the Center for Arab Unity Studies was established in Beirut in 1975 AD as a non-profit academic research institution.
Since the eighties until today, the phenomenon of research centers has spread in all Arab countries, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, like other Arab countries, previously suffered from a lack of research and study centers for many reasons, but the “Saudi Vision 2030” that aims for comprehensive development is based on At all levels, it contributed to finding a new government approach to facilitate the issuance of licenses for the establishment of private study centers.
The vision also sees that study centers are among the vital and important national issues that reflect countries' interest in knowledge, progress and foreseeing the future, as well as shed light on the necessities of the current Arab scene, its prospects and its daunting challenges, which will not be possible without serious studies and research whose tools are these centers.
In this regard, we find that the value of the studies and research produced by the Riyadh Center for Political and Strategic Studies lies in their impartiality, independence and professionalism, and takes into account scientific, accuracy and objectivity, in order to link them to the strategic directions and plans of the Kingdom, in addition to embracing and attracting scientific research competencies, and building bridges of communication with similar centers National and Arab International.
There is no doubt that the role of study centers in the Arab world in general intersects in parts with some of the well-known roles of research centers in the Western world, and differs entirely in other roles. However, private research centers in the Arab world do not generally have the influence and role The same that Western private research centers play in preparing public policies or serving scientific research.. while their role is experiencing a state of development and growth, whether in terms of proliferation or in terms of influence, but the matter is still in an unadvanced stage.
This development is expressed by the reality of a former president of one of the Arab republics: “When he was still president, he did not give any consideration to study centers or researchers. While the researcher is only good at “theorizing”, your love for sentences and the complexity of ideas…. But after he became out of power, he became aware of the importance of having research centers, so he began to promote this conviction among his acquaintances who are still in decision-making positions in the Arab world.” (11)
Through this example, it is clear to us that research and study centers may sometimes be formed as a result of important events in the history of a country, or because of urgent issues that led to the search for better solutions.
Therefore, at the beginning of the twenty-first century, these centers are considered repositories of thought and strategic planning, and there is no real renaissance for any country without giving these centers their value of attention and providing the minimum conditions necessary for their success.
Also, they are not just centers for collecting information, but they are centers for producing ideas, and for this reason they were found, to function, produce, and find solutions, not to be merely decorative or carry honorary titles without having an effective impact on the ground. (12)
It is clear that the Arab countries have realized that research centers are no longer a decoration with which societies adorn themselves, but rather have become one of the most important weapons of the age.
table(4)
In general, Arab Studies Centers have imposed their presence in the present time with the expansion of their spread, the diversity of their activities, the development of their relations with decision-makers, and the provision of them and the media with analyzes and studies related to all important issues, and the identification of priorities facing the state, and the paths that the state must take in its dealings with these issues.(13)
Third: The tasks of the research centers
After listing the most important stages of the historical development of research and studies centers until they reached what they have reached, it is necessary to stand on their most important tasks, which can be summarized as follows:
a. Clarity of the goal and mission of the research centers, so that they are specialized in a specific field, or they carry out all disciplines.
b. Research centers provide a select group of researchers, academics and strategic thinkers who combine scientific and practical experience.
c. Research and studies centers perform early warning functions, by discovering problems before they occur, and preparing to confront them.
Dr. Provides conscious and aware leadership of the mission entrusted to the center, and can benefit from all efforts and minds.
e. Establishing broad relations with international research centers to exchange experiences.
and. Conducting current and future research and studies on analyzing problems facing public policies, and providing advice to decision-makers on specific issues, in terms of diagnosing and analyzing crises, proposing appropriate policies and solutions to deal with them, limiting potential risks, and providing scientific and creative ideas.
g. Carrying out the task of sending immediate political messages by order of decision-makers, as proactive and indirect diplomatic signals, to a specific party about political crises or controversial issues.
h. Presenting public initiatives and policies to various media outlets, and facilitating the public's understanding of them.
i. Holding seminars, conferences and workshops, and inviting important personalities from home and abroad to attend them.
j. Translating important studies and literature issued by research centers, in multiple languages, so that the message reaches others and benefits spread.
Fourth: The role of study centers and their impact on policy making
The interest in Western research and studies centers has grown, and the circle of its activities has expanded in terms of the quantity and quality of the contributions it provides, until it has become part of the cultural foundations in its countries, and it has researched various local and international affairs. However, the role of Arab research centers has not risen to what it is. It is the same in the West, due to the obstacles and challenges they face, and the role of some of them seemed dull and ineffective due to their distance from the institutional work in force in the West.
It is clear that research and studies centers gain their importance from the need for them, in the political, economic, media, developmental and other requirements, through the scientific publications they provide and the holding of specialized seminars that contribute to raising the level of awareness of the decision-maker.
The centers also play a pioneering role in the production of many vital projects related to the state, society and the individual, and study everything related to it according to a scientific and cognitive approach, and reflect the interest of peoples in science, knowledge, civilizational progress and prospects for the future, and shed light on the necessities of the current scene, which imposes Its countries should think deeply about its peculiarities, prospects and daunting challenges.
The evaluation of the role of research centers in the country should not be based on the number of research centers, which may be an indication of interest in the outputs of scientific research, but the evaluation should be based on achieving the goals for which these centers were established and their role in achieving the interests of the state and society. (14)
In fact, the reason for focusing on the quality of research is to strengthen the link between research centers and production centers. Developed countries have made great strides in transferring technology from research centers to the industrial sector and have placed this at the top of their priorities, although Arab countries have realized the importance of this connection. However, the successes achieved are insignificant compared to the remarkable cooperation between these centers and social and economic development institutions (15).
In spite of the differences between researchers about the concepts of research and study centers, this will not affect their importance, as they are described as reservoirs of ideas or factories for brains. Also, many small countries have emerged and taken their place economically on the global map because of their adoption of research centers and their influence on their products (16).
Accordingly, the work of research centers is not limited to preparing studies only, but must go beyond that to addressing problems, providing advice and proposing alternatives.
Linked to this important role of research centers is the role of universities that include these centers within their scientific structure. To include God in resolving many of the problems of society that live in its midst and keep pace with its hopes and aspirations, and to provide advice and opinion to state agencies in a manner that enables them to perform their work (17).
Many researchers unanimously agreed that the main role of these centers is in the process of creating knowledge, which includes major roles as follows:
a. Analyzing reality, and presenting future visions in order to advance reality according to academic and strategic references, and away from improvisation.
b. Generating new ideas and visions and striving to achieve them, and unleashing imagination in possible images of situations, risks, policies and solutions to stave off risks and exploit opportunities.
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