Global Think Tank Rankings

Greetings from the Australian Institute of International Affairs (AIIA) in Canberra, where the 2013 Global Go-To Think Tank Report is being launched. This ranks think tanks on their reputation. There were 29 Australian think tanks considered for the report. The one which appared in the top list most often was the "Lowy Institute for International Policy".

During the launch the comment was made that the rankings are a bit like a children’s birthday party, where everyone wins. That said, Australian think tanks have done well. The Australian Strategic Policy Institute rated 2 on the index for "Think Tanks to Watch". The ANU Strategic & Defence Studies Centre (SDSC) ranked 13 on the "Top Think Tanks in South-east Asia and the Pacific" scale. It was commented that SDCS now has the largest concentration of strategic defence thinkers and historians in Australia.

Top Think Tanks Worldwide (Non-U.S.):

 45. Lowy Institute for International Policy (Australia)
101. Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) (Australia)

Top Think Tanks in Asia and the Pacific (Excluding China, India, Japan, and the Republic of Korea):

 3. Lowy Institute (Australia)
 4. Australian Institute for International Affairs (AIIA) (Australia)
 9. The Centre for Independent Studies (Australia)
13. Strategic and Defense Studies Centre (SDSC) (Australia)
17. Australian Strategic Policy Institute (APSI) (Australia)
56. Grattan Institute (Australia)

Top Environment Think Tanks

30. Australia Institute (TAI) (Australia)

Top Foreign Policy and International Affairs Think Tanks

28. Australian Strategic Policy Institute (APSI) (Australia)
80. Lowy Institute (Australia)

Top International Economic Policy Think Tanks

25. Australian Institute of International Affairs (AIIA) (Australia)
29. Center for Independent Studies (Australia)
44. Lowy Institute (Australia)

Top Social Policy Think Tanks

43. Grattan Institute (Australia)

Top Think Tanks by Special Achievement

Best Advocacy Campaign

58. Refugee Advocacy Network (Australia)

Best Institutional Collaboration Involving Two or More Think Tanks

26. Australian Strategic Policy Institute and the Brenthurst Foundation (South Africa)
79. Institute for Economics and Peace (Australia)

Best Transdisciplinary Research Program at a Think Tank

34. The Sustainable Economy Program, Centre for Policy Development (Australia)

Best University Affiliated Think Tanks

23. Strategic and Defence Studies Centre (SDSC), Australian National University (ANU) (Australia)
26. Centre for International Security Studies (CISS), The University of Sydney (Australia)
38. Globalisation and Development Centre (GDC), Bond University (Australia)

Best Use of Social Networks

26. Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) (Australia)
28. Lowy Institute for Internatioanl Policy (Australia)

Think Tank to Watch

2. Australian Strategic Policy Institute (Australia)
10. Beyond Zero Emissions (Australia)
54. The Centre for Independent Studies (Australia)
79. Institute for Economics and Peace (Australia)

Think Tanks with the Best External Relations/Public Engagement Program

33. Lowy Institute for International Policy (Australia)

Think Tanks with the Best Use of the Internet

28. Lowy Institute for International Policy (Australia)

Think Tanks with the Best Use of the Media (Print or Electronic)

26. Lowy Institute for International Policy (Australia)

Think Tanks with the Most Significant Impact on Public Policy

42. Lowy Institute for International Policy (Australia)

Think Tanks with Outstanding Policy-Oriented Public Programs

26. Lowy Institute for International Policy (Australia).

Top Think Tanks with Annual Operating Budgets of Less Than $5 Million USD

15. Institute for Economics and Peace (Australia)