Running a think tank in a changing Europe: Foreign policy, fragmentation, and the future of think tanks in Spain
What happens when a think tank operates at the intersection of European, Mediterranean, and global affairs, while based in a city far from the capital? In this episode, we speak with Pol Morillas, Director of CIDOB (Barcelona Centre for International Affairs), one of Spain’s leading foreign policy think tanks.Drawing on his experience in EU institutions and the Spanish foreign policy landscape, Pol reflects on the challenges and opportunities of leading a think tank in a politically fragmented context. We discuss the evolution of the Spanish think tank scene, the dynamics of funding beyond Madrid, and the importance of building trust and independence in a polarised environment.Pol also shares his views on the growing role of civil society in shaping public policy. He highlights how think tanks have evolved from acting solely as bridges between academia and politics to becoming conveners of broader coalitions, including civil society actors and the private sector, to foster meaningful policy dialogue.Join us as we delve into the evolving role of think tanks in Spain and beyond, exploring how they navigate political change, engage with civil society, adapt to new funding realities, and strive to remain relevant in an increasingly complex world.This episode is part of a series, Think tanks in a changing Europe, supported by the Open Society Foundations. To listen to the whole series, visit: https://onthinktanks.org/podcast/podcast-series-think-tanks-in-a-changing-europe/To learn more about CIDOB (Barcelona Centre for International Affairs), please visit: https://www.cidob.org/en------OTT Talks is a platform to share learning among think tanks, funders and other policy actors on a range of topics from think tank governance to communicating research. Learn more: https://onthinktanks.org/podcast/ ----About On Think Tanks: On Think Tanks focuses on a range of issues of relevance and interest to think tanks as well as their staff and supporters. We hope that our initiatives and the articles and resources we publish will support think tanks to be more strategic in the ways they make short and long-term decisions; and that this will result in better policy advice and policy outcomes for all. Read more: https://onthinktanks.org/initiative/evidence-generation-and-communication/on-think-tanks-programme/ Support us: https://onthinktanks.org/support/