Who we are
The Caucasus Institute (CI) is a policy think-tank based in Yerevan, Armenia. Founded in 2002 as the Caucasus Media Institute, it was renamed to Caucasus Institute in 2008 to reflect its expanding scope of activity. While we primarily focus on Armenia, we place our work in a regional context, researching and advocating avenues to peace and democratic change across the Caucasus.
What we do
Our thematic range has included conflict settlement and transformation; foreign policy and international relations; nation- and institution-building; domestic and regional security; media freedom and development; migrations and refugees; political orientations and European integration; economic trends and political economy; gender equality and mainstreaming; political parties, ideologies and populism. The CI constantly expands its areas of focus and learns to use state-of-the-art methodology of research, advocacy and engagement. Alongside classical think tanking activities – research and advocacy – the CI conducts discussions in various formats, from closed expert meetings and international conferences to informal tea parties and debate competitions for youth. CI events are valued for pluralism of opinion voiced in a neutral setting. CI educational activities have included online and offline courses, trainings and simulation games. We combine long-term educational projects with one-off events for various target groups – researchers, journalists, civil society actors and civil servants. The CI publishes books, research papers and policy documents in English, Armenian and Russian,
online or hardcopy, depending on the topic and the target audience. Our trademark event is the annual Caucasus Conference, at which the most advanced experts from the region and beyond sum up the previous year in the Caucasus. Based on the conference, we produce the trademark CI publication, the Caucasus Yearbook. The CI maintains strong ties with the media, counting many of Armenia’s leading journalists amongst its alumni. CI researchers regularly comment on current affairs in the media and are hosted in discussion programs.
Why we do it
The mission of the CI is to foster inclusive policy-making and a pluralistic and informed public policy
discourse. We help the societies of the South Caucasus to understand and discuss issues that concern their future, and to engage with policy-making. We believe that a peaceful and democratic future is one which is freely discussed and consciously chosen.