Think-tank Roundup w/e 8th August 2008...

http://www.cassilis.co.uk/2008/08/think-tank-roundup-we-8th-august-2008.html

A weekly roundup of publications, reports, events & articles from the leading UK think tanks.


Welcome to this week’s Think-tank Roundup – everything from ‘new money’ and supply-side oil crunches to the call for better teachers and yes, Michael Gove’s ‘Nuts’ (there was more to his speech than that storm suggested). Things seem to be quiet on the events front but I guess that’s a function of both parliamentary recess and the impending party conference season (of which more soon). I haven’t highlighted the resignations of Lord Haskel & Wilf Stevenson at the Smith Institute as reported by Guido because as yet there’s nothing on the website to that effect. Must read piece this week is probably Gove's speech if only because it deserves a better airing than it got because of that unfortunate quote about lads mags - details below.

As ever please use the comments for anything I've missed...

Reports & Publications…
In a report for Chatham House Paul Stevens argues that “unless there is a collapse in oil demand within the next five to ten years, there will be serious oil 'supply crunch' - not because of below-ground resource constraints but because of inadequate investment by national & international oil companies”. Read the full report here.
The European Council on Foreign Relations published “Re-energising Europe's Security and Defence Policy” – a report on “the state of European defence, arguing that "inertia and resistance in the defence machinery" are thwarting the European Union's declared aim to make a real contribution to global security.”
Two reports worth highlighting from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation – “The Bradford community guide: a guide to community and development projects” is an online resource, listing community and development projects in the city and featuring ten in-depth case studies and a wide range of projects, from youth development, training and housing, to faith, regeneration and film and media.
Also from JRF’s Women’s Budget Group a report entitled “Women and poverty: experiences, empowerment and engagement” – ‘While the Government has developed strategies to combat poverty, especially for children and pensioners, there is no strategy to challenge women’s poverty specifically. This project set out to support women living in poverty so that they could go beyond being ‘witnesses’ to poverty to become actively involved in policy development’.
The Oxford Research Group have a report on the regional role for stabilisation in Iraq – based on a meeting held in Riyadh in April between senior influential US and European observers and senior Saudi officials it looks at “five different scenarios for the future of Iraq and then examines competing images of Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United States, the issues of national identity, sectarianism and federalism, and concludes by exploring a number of possible future paths and processes”.
Policy Exchange carry a report by Sam Freedman, Briar Lipson and Professor David Hargreaves on the need for “More Good Teachers”.
Articles & Briefings...
The Chatham House monthly magazine ‘The World Today’ carries an interesting article by Robert Singh on the US Presidential elections – “US Presidential Election: Choice or Echo?”. Singh contends that the oft-quoted contrast offered between McCain and Obama is actually focused on character and personality traits and may not actually reflect substantial policy differences.
In the latest Fabian Review Danny Dorling argues that where ‘class’ was once about breeding and perhaps latterly occupation, those easy distinctions are no longer possible – nowadays class is all about money. Read the full article here.
Pavel Miller has a good article for the Foreign Policy Centre – “The need to be open-minded about Russia's approaches”. Pavel argues that “In order to overcome the disagreements, negotiation must prevail through comprehension of Russia's perspective, as opposed to the confrontational rhetoric and calls for punitive measures endorsed by Senator John McCain”.
As you probably know the Institute of Public Policy Research hosted a speech by Michael Gove, Shadow Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families this week on “Liberty, Equality, Family?”. There was significantly more to Michael’s speech than the small media storm around his remarks about ‘lads mags’ – he argues “that strengthening relationships is the key to building a better, happier and fairer society and [should be] the cornerstone of any effective anti-poverty strategy.” If you haven’t read the full speech it’s worth doing and there’s an audio version available too….
Also at IPPR Andrew Pendleton has an article on the Global Politics of Climate change post-G8.
The Policy Network has an article by David Coates on ‘Reclaiming Moderate America’ – “Recapturing the dominant narrative in US politics is the key task facing contemporary American liberals. That dominant narrative has to recapture the potential of the New Deal from its conservative detractors. It lies not in the nonsense of trickle-down economics, but in policies designed to enhance the strength, skills and security of a vibrant middle class—a middle class expanded at the bottom by policy to raise the poor and at the top by policy to curb the rich.”
The RSA have 5mins of video of Matthew Taylor in conversation with political ‘man of the moment’ and author of Nudge Richard Thaler.
Corine Wood-Donnelly has an article for the Henry Jackson Society on “British influence in a changing world” – ‘The decline in Britain’s relative economic weight can be compensated by its economic experience and expertise in order to retain a leading place in the globalised market. Britain’s existing strong global integration provides a head start in this regard, and its relationship with the European Union, USA and increasingly the Commonwealth will help extend British influence.’