ICAR

Think tank and professional bodies research

Introduction

There has long been interest in UK asylum and refugee issues from political think tanks and this has increased in recent years as public debate in this field has become more prominent. Growing interest has also prompted professional bodies, such as the British Medical Association and the Law Society, to carry out their own research in this area.

Think tanks tend to be founded by former or current politicians, political advisors, policy analysts, academics and others with an interest in shaping and influencing policy decisions. They are normally formed and function as charitable organisations. The majority of think tanks have core political values that inform their work on a wide range of subjects, yet some focus on a particular set of issues or influencing a particular policy.

Professional bodies act as a network for those with expertise in a number of fields and attempt to organise and advance the work of their members. They are a source of authority within their own industry and field of expertise and are often influential with policy makers.

Why do they conduct research?

There are two main reasons why think tanks conduct research on asylum and refugees. Firstly, think tanks exist primarily to influence the policy of governments, political parties and industry. As a result they carry out research on asylum policy, refugee integration, employment, health and a whole range of issues that affect asylum seekers and refugees. Secondly, think tanks play a role in co-ordinating stakeholders from the academic and political spheres as well as front-line practitioners and tying together these strands of thought. In this respect they can act as the centre of a diverse network, which can inform their work and build relationships that increase the influence of the research they conduct.

The research conducted by professional bodies is principally concerned with providing a resource to its members. This can be by researching employment conditions, working to improve professional processes or conducting research that presents new and progressive findings for the industry. Asylum and refugee research is carried out by professional bodies that are involved in providing services for refugees, such as legal or health services, or by professional bodies that have refugees amongst their members.

What issues are addressed?

The issues addressed by particular think tanks usually reflect their overall objective and values as an organisation. For example, if a think tank's focus is the economy and labour markets then it may conduct research on the employability of refugees; alternatively, a think tank with a more local focus and an interest in public involvement may conduct research on refugee communities and integration. The situation is similar for professional bodies: an organisation representing medical professionals is likely to carry out research on the specific issues concerning the health of refugees and asylum seekers.

Any issue that affects asylum and refugees could, therefore, potentially be covered by these organisations. As the policy context of, in particular, asylum and refugees has developed recently and become more high-profile, so the number of organisations conducting research in this area has increased. This is an understandable consequence of the relationship between think tanks and, to a lesser extent, professional bodies and policy makers.

What methods are used?

The work of think tanks and professional bodies utilises a wide range of research methods and involves extensive dissemination activities. Academic research is often used by think tanks including rigorous and sophisticated quantitative and qualitative techniques such as surveys, mapping exercises, interviews and focus groups. Professional bodies are also likely to conduct research in a similar way. However, think tanks often compliment these methods by writing 'think pieces' for periodicals and national newspapers to add to the debate or complement and publicise a recently completed research project. Dissemination is also important for these types of organisations and, consequently, they are involved in organising conferences, seminars and workshops and publish material in a variety of formats.

Both think tanks and professional bodies have increasingly used the internet to disseminate their findings and as a way of encouraging debate on the issues in which they have an interest. Many have websites containing useful resources, information on seminars, virtual debating forums and further links to other useful sites.

Who carries out the research?

Research can be conducted internally by members of the organisations themselves or contracted out to professional researchers or academics. Some think tanks are small organisations that are more about co-ordinating than conducting research, yet larger organisations have internal teams of expertise. When contracted out, the role of the think tank in the research is one of organisation, dissemination and co-ordination, particularly if there are number of stakeholders involved in the project to bridge the gap between research and policy. This is often the attraction for a consultant of conducting research for a think tank.

Some thinks tanks, notably the Institute for Public Policy Research (ippr), have specific teams that focus on migration. Professional bodies also conduct some research internally and have specific research arms to their organisations. However, it is also sometimes seen to be appropriate to employ external consultants to conduct research on the work practices of the member of professional bodies so that any claims of bias can be avoided.

Which think tanks currently conduct research on asylum and refugees issues?

The following think tanks currently have specific programmes of work that focus on or indirectly address asylum and refugee issues.

Migration, Equalities and Citizenship Team, IPPR

IPPR has been carrying out research in issues around migration, asylum and race equality for more than ten years. The work of this team is primarily concerned with the social and economic impacts of migration to the UK and the organisation as a whole is geared towards 'progressive policy that enables a fairer, more inclusive society'. A number of projects have been carried out by this team in recent years that relate specifically to asylum and refugee issues: As part of the Asylum and Migration Working Paper Series, Dr. Alice Bloch of City University produced a paper on making refugee employment work; and Roy Greenslade, Professor of Journalism at City University, produced a paper on the coverage of asylum in the UK press. More recently, ippr released the findings of extensive research on understanding public attitudes to asylum in the UK, which was authored by Miranda Lewis, a member of ippr's public involvement team. The migration team have also produced an Asylum factfile, which gives useful information on asylum in the UK. Many of these publications are available for purchase or download online.

Institute of Race Relations (IRR)

Asylum seekers and refugees are one of the main issues the IRR seeks to cover. Its 'reputation as a think tank was built on its investigations and analyses into pressing issues of contemporary British racism'. Specific research has not been carried out by the IRR on asylum and refugees, but its website offers resources on refugee statistics and a select bibliograohy on these issues for those teaching children at Key Stages 3 and 4 and those educating young people over the age of 16.

Civitas

A key issue for the work of Civitas is immigration. Civitas is 'a non-partisan think tank that works to improve understanding of the conditions that make democratic society possible'. Recent work by the organisation has focused on the economic aspects of migration and the effects of increasing net migration to the UK. This has included a publication by Professor Anthony Browne challenging economic benefits of migration.

Migration and Integration programme, The Foreign Policy Centre

The Foreign Policy Centre is a think tank 'based in Europe launched to develop a vision of a fair and rule-based world order'. One of its many programmes of work focuses on migration and integration in the UK. Core to this programme is 'understanding how states can manage diversity within their own societies, which is vital to the EU's prosperity, social cohesion and ability to act internationally as an exemplar for human rights'. There is little in this programme that directly addresses the asylum system in the UK or the EU, but extensive research focuses on challenges of integration and multiculturalism. This programme has recently released work on the Turkish communities in Europe, migrant inclusion and transnational diaspora communities.

Other think tanks without a specific programme of work focusing on asylum, refugees or migration have conducted one-off research projects and released stand-alone publications on these issues, for example:

• The New Policy Institute (NPI) published a report in 2002 on the feasibility and costs of the government's proposals for accommodation centres for asylum seekers. The NPI is 'a progressive think tank with the aim of promoting social justice in a market based economy'. Click here for more information.


• The Centre for Policy Studies (CPS) is 'a think tank that aims to promote coherent and practical public policy, to roll back the state, reform public services, support communities, and challenge threats to Britain's independence'. It recently commissioned Peter Lilley MP to write a report entitled Too much of a good thing? Towards a balanced approach to immigration.


• CentreForum recently released a report entitled Who Goes Where? Asylum- opportunity not crisis, by Simon Hughes MP. CentreForum offers a meeting point for 'people disillusioned with modern political institutions and a forum for independent progressive debate'.


• Demos is an influential think tank that has worked for over a decade 'to promote personal choice for common good'. It recently released a book, People Flow, which offers an alternative approach to mass migration and a publication on transit processing centres.


• John Bercow, Conservative MP for Buckingham, recently published a pamphlet in collaboration with the Social Market Foundation (SMF), entitled Incoming Assets: Why Tories should change their policy on immigration and asylum. The aim of SMF is to 'explore the links between the state and the market to create a society that is free, just and prosperous'.

Which professional bodies have conducted research on asylum and refugees?

A number of professional organisations have conducted research on refugee and asylum issues in recent years, a selection of which is detailed below:

British Medical Association (BMA)

The BMA has released a number of reports that directly address asylum and refugee issues. In December 2003 the organisation was involved in producing a dossier urging the government to review its current asylum policy as it considers it detrimental to the well-being of asylum seekers. The BMA also produces guidance notes for practitioners treating asylum seekers and offer resources for refugee doctors seeking employment in the UK.

National Union of Teachers (NUT)

The NUT is part of a consortium conducting research on the education of children from refugee and asylum seeking families. The report of this work, released in August 2005, reflects on how Local Education Authorities provide for these pupils and the underlying assumptions and approaches associated with these policies. In 2004 the NUT also co-hosted a conference on refugee and asylum seeking children.

British Dental Association (BDA)

The Refugee Dentist Steering Group is co-ordinated by the BDA to consider the substantial obstacles that face refugee dentists wishing to work in the UK. This involves co-ordinating projects nationally to provide an overarching resource on this subject. The organisation also maintains a refugee dentist database and organises study groups for refugee dentists seeking re-qualification for employment in the UK.

Council for Assisting Refugee Academics (CARA)

CARA is primarily a network for refugee academics and also a resource centre for assisting them into employment. As such, it does not conduct research, but has produced a handbook to assist refugees into higher education covering every step from choosing a course to finding employment at the end of one's studies.

Do these organisations work in collaboration?

Think tanks and professional bodies frequently conduct their research in collaboration with other organisations, and occasionally with other think tanks and professional bodies. Think tanks regularly contract out the research process to individual experts in the asylum and refugee sector or to academic researchers, to complement the expertise they have in-house. Examples of this can be seen in the sections above, particularly in ippr's working paper series and work by Civitas. Politicians and journalists also often use think tanks as a vehicle to publicise and disseminate their ideas to a wider and more diverse audience in the form of think pieces - John Bercow's publication for the SMF and Simon Hughes' for the CfR are examples of this.

Both kinds of organisation also collaborate with other organisations in different sectors but with similar research aims. This can take place at the level of funding, research or dissemination. For example the ippr work on understanding asylum attitudes was produced with funding assistance from a number of local authorities; the Foreign Policy Centre's work on transnationalism is in collaboration with the Migration Policy Unit at University College London.

These organisations can also act as the central co-ordinating partner for wide-ranging consortia that wish to conduct research on asylum and refugee issues. The involvement of the NUT in the research on refugee and asylum seeking children is a good example of this: the consortium behind this research includes the General Teaching Council, the Refugee Council and Cambridge University.

Who funds this research?

Think tanks receive the majority of their funding through charitable grants, though many projects receive statutory funding from a local and national level. The majority of projects listed above, which have a specific interest in migration, asylum or refugees, are funded in this way, often by a combination of sources. Think tanks also receive funding from business, yet this is rarely the case when researching asylum and refugees and more likely for a research project on employment, sustainability or transport for example. The type of funding received for a particular project often reflects the aims or subject matter of the research and the more general values of the organisation itself.

Professional bodies commission a lot of their own work, which is self-funding. These organisations are more likely to act as the funder rather than receive funding. Many of the projects listed above are part of the general programme of work that these professional bodies undertake for the benefits of their members. The money received from member subscriptions finances this. Professional bodies often act as a partner funder in research consortia offering professional expertise and stature as well as finance.

Where can I find out more about these organisations?

There are several online directories of think tanks and professional bodies. The think tank section on the Guardian Unlimited website offers a brief summary of each organisation under the headings contact details, what it does, key personnel, brief history, work in progress and recent publications. The policy library website offers a similar service. For more detailed and international information the National Institute for Research Advancement in the USA publishes a directory of think tanks on an annual basis - click here for ordering information.

Similarly, online directories of professional bodies are available to help find the relevant organisation. The most extensive of these is compiled by the Higher Education and Research Opportunities (HERO) in the UK website.

All the organisations that have been discussed above have their own organisational websites that are available by clicking on the name of the desired organisation.

There are also a number of resources that critically assess the role and efficacy of think tanks. A selection is given below:

R. Kent Weaver and James G. McGann (eds.) 2000 Think Tanks & Civil Societies. Catalysts for Ideas and Action. New Jersey: Transaction Publishers.

Last Updated: 25/02/09

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