The Carnegie Middle East Center partnered with the University of Pennsylvania’s Think Tanks and Civil Society Program, STRATIM, and the Gulf Research Center to organize the region’s first MENA think tank summit in Istanbul. The overarching theme of the conference was dedicated to increasing the effectiveness of think tanks in the region by identifying key opportunities for institutional growth. Over three days, participants discussed topics such as the role of think tanks in shaping public policy, the nature of their relationships with governments, and mutual avenues for cooperation by more than 30 leading regional think tanks. Carnegie representatives participated as co-organizers and speakers. Carnegie also funded directors and scholars from its think tank partner network in Egypt, Yemen, and Libya to attend the summit as well.
