The FRIDE (Fundación para las Relaciones Internacionales y el Diálogo Exterior, Spanish for "Foundation for International Relations and Foreign Dialogue") was an independent European think tank headquartered in Madrid and Brussels.[1] As of 2012, it was one of 55 think tanks in the country.[2] It focused on the improvement of European views and ideas on various topics related to international development. It ceased its activities on 31 December 2015 due to lack of funding.[3]
| Formation | 1999 |
|---|---|
| Dissolved | 31 December 2015 |
| Type | International Development Think Tank |
| Location | |
President | Pedro Solbes |
| Website | Official website |
History
editThe think tank was founded by Diego Hidalgo in 1999.[4] Hidalgo is also the founder of another think tank, Club of Rome, and other similar organizations.[5] FRIDE later became part of the European Think Tanks Group which also includes the German Development Institute, European Center for Development Policy Management and the Overseas Development Institute.[6]
In 2012, FRIDE was the 77th organization among top 100 non-US think tanks and the 75th among top 150 worldwide think tanks according to the global go to think tanks ranking developed by the international relations program of the University of Pennsylvania.[2] In the same ranking, it was the 23rd Western Europe think tank among 75 institutions.[2]
FRIDE closed in December 2015.[3]
Objectives and fields of study
editThe stated objective of the FRIDE was to expand the ideas on Europe's role in the international arena with special reference to multilateralism, democratic values, security and sustainable development.[4][7] It was an international development think tank.[2] Its major study fields includes democracy, emerging powers, development cooperation, global governance, fragile states and energy security.[5] In addition, it focused on peace and security, human rights, democracy promotion, and development and humanitarian aid.[8] The specialization of FRIDE was on crisis and EU foreign policy, Europe and the reshaped global order, changing approaches to security and the new Middle East.[1]
Organizational structure
editThe organization had a president, a director a deputy director,[9] a board of trustees,[10] and an advisory committee.[11] Pedro Solbes was the president and Giovanni Grevi the director of the organization.[5]
Activities
editFRIDE generally realized its activities through publications, research programs and events.[1] The FRIDE publications were policy briefs, opinion articles in the newspapers and working papers developed by its research team[12] and also, publishes books.[1][4] In addition, FRIDE organized projects, studies and analyses.[13]
In 2010, the Club of Madrid and FRIDE functioned as the advisor bodies for the G20 summit held in Seoul.[8] Its studies in the period of 2011-2012 were the 26th best policy report according to the global go to think tanks ranking.[2]
Funders
editFRIDE's major financial source was private donors and projects.[1] In 2010, EU funding was just 0.68% of its revenues of €2.47 million.[1] The Madrid regional government contributed to FRIDE from 2008.[13]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f "European think tanks and the EU" (PDF). Berlaymont Paper (2). September 2012.
- ^ a b c d e "2012 Global Go To Think Tanks Rankings" (PDF). University of Pennsylvania. 28 January 2013. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
- ^ a b "FRIDE ceased its think tank activities on 31st December 2015 for economic reasons". FRIDE. Archived from the original on 30 June 2016.
- ^ a b c "FRIDE". ISN. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
- ^ a b c "Fundación para las Relaciones Internacionales y el Diálogo Exterior - FRIDE". EuroMesco. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
- ^ "European Think-Tanks Group publish new study on blending". EDCSP. 1 February 2011. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
- ^ "FRIDE Founder Diego Hidalgo Wins the 2009 Commitment to Development Award". Center for Global Development. 22 December 2009. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
- ^ a b "The Club of Madrid and FRIDE will act as advisers of the G20 Summit". The Club of Madrid. 11 August 2010. Archived from the original on 25 September 2013. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
- ^ "Organizational chart". FRIDE. Archived from the original on 8 September 2013. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
- ^ "Board of trustees". FRIDE. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
- ^ "Advisory Committee". FRIDE. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
- ^ "Publications". FRIDE. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
- ^ a b "FRIDE, Club of Madrid and Madrid regional government collaborate". MaximsNews Network. Madrid. 6 July 2008. Archived from the original on 25 September 2013. Retrieved 17 September 2013.