INTRODUCTION
The traditionally high quality of research conducted by the Razumkov Centre has been recognised at the international level in 2017.
This year, the Centre has improved in the reputable global think tank rating “2017 Global Go To Think Tank Index” annually published by Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program of the Lauder Institute, University of Pennsylvania (US). The Razumkov Centre placed 44th among top think tanks worldwide (including the US), 29th excluding the US, and 4th in Central and Eastern Europe.
The Razumkov Centre became a full member of the oldest European network of policy researchers — Trans-European Policy Studies Association (TEPSA). Right from the start of its membership, the Centre has been an active participant in network initiatives. Centre experts took part in two TEPSA pre-presidential conferences, which usually take place on the eve of a country’s presidency of the EU Council.
Despite Ukraine not being a part of the G20, the Razumkov Centre participated in the work of T20 (Think20), an international advisory group that prepares recommendations for the G20. Taking part in the work of the Т20 Berlin summit on 29–30 May 2017 for the first time, the Razumkov Centre’s representative (Centre’s Research Consultant and Associate Member of the NAS of Ukraine V. Sidenko) became part of a working group of this representative forum.
In addition, our analytical work has found immediate implementation in state policy: “Energy Strategy of Ukraine Until 2035”, developed with the active participation of the Razumkov Centre’s experts, was approved at the Cabinet of Ministers session.
We are also proud to have had our experts develop and present the Index of Current Economic Capacity. This is a new summary index that characterises different aspects of current purchasing power of society and its access to monetary resources and can serve as an assessment of the current state and trends in Ukraine’s socio-economic environment.
Last year’s publications included fundamental monographs dedicated to the themes of party system and constitutional process development in Ukraine, as well as a number of publications on security sector reform and introduction of modern administration and democratic civil control, issued as part of the completed joint project with DCAF (Geneva Centre for Democratic Control of Armed Forces).
Other studies performed by the Razumkov Centre covered the topics of crisis processes in economy and ways to handle them, comprehensive analysis of energy markets, means of regulating (minimising) the Russia — Ukraine conflict, constitutional, judicial, and pension reforms. These topics will further remain our focus of attention.
The dynamic processes in the world and in Ukraine that generate new and reinforce old challenges, prove that the need for quality analysis, as well as the degree of responsibility, will only grow. We are well-prepared to face tomorrow.
Anatoliy Rachok,
Director General of Razumkov Centre