Center for Strategic Research (Russia)

The Center for Strategic Research (Russian: Центр стратегических разработок), or CSR (Russian: ЦСР), is a Russian public policy think tank based in Moscow, Russia. It was established in 1999. CSR has research programs in six areas: Economic Development, Foreign and Security Policy, Human Capital, Institutes and Society, Spatial Development, Technology^[3]. Since April 2016 CSR has been headed by Alexei Kudrin. In the end of 2016, CSR was ranked first in the ranking of Russian analytical and political studies centers^[4][5].

History

The Center for Strategic Research was registered as the foundation on 18 November 1999 and was one of the main organizations involved in drafting program for Vladimir Putin in the run-up to the 2000 presidential elections in Russia^[6]. CSR was founded by the Higher School of Economics, the Institute of Economic Forecasting of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Legislation and Comparative Law under the Government of the Russian Federation, Working Center for Economic Reforms under the Government of the Russian Federation, and the Institute for Economic Analysis. CSR leadership included German Gref as Chairman of the Board, Dmitry Mezentsev as President, and Dmitry Kozak as head of the board of trustees^[7].

In May 2000, CSR completed the program for long-term social and economic development of Russia, Strategy 2010^[8].

In 2003, Elvira Nabiullina became President of CSR.

In 2005–2014, Mikhail Dmitriev was President of the organization.

In 2014, Vladimir Knyaginin, who had previously headed a related organization in Saint Petersburg, CSR North West (Russian: ЦСР "Северо-Запад), became President of CSR^[9].

In 2015–2017, CSR under the agreement with Russia's Ministry of Education and Science^[10] drafted the Scientific and Technological Development Strategy of the Russian Federation^[11].

On 26 April 2016, Alexei Kudrin became Chairman of the Board of CSR and Pavel Kadochnikov became President of the organization^[12]. In 2016–2018, CSR worked on proposals for Russia's development strategy until 2024 and further until 2035. In late May 2017, Kudrin presented CSR's proposed strategy to President Vladimir Putin^[13], its outlines were revealed later, in September 2017^[14]. In April 2018, CSR released a short version of its strategy focusing on seven strategic priorities^[15][16][17]. In May 2018, speaking at St. Petersburg International Economic Forum Kudrin said that some, albeit not all, CSR proposals were included in President's recent May orders (Executive Order On National Goals and Strategic Objectives of the Russian Federation through to 2024^[18]): "Maybe about 50 main goals and objectives were included, it's not bad, but the President promised to continue to look at what steps or reforms can be taken into account in the future."^[19]

Structure

The Board is the highest collective entity of the Center for Strategic Research. As of 31 July 2018 it comprises:

• Oleg Vyugin, Chairman of the Board of Directors of MDM Bank;
• Evgeny Gavrilenkov, Professor at the National Research University – Higher School of Economics;
• Viktor Ivanter, full member (academician) of the Russian Academy of Sciences;
• Yaroslav Kuzminov, Rector of the National Research University – Higher School of Economics;
• Vladimir Mau, Rector of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration;
• Dmitry Mezentsev, Deputy Chairman of the Board of CSR, member of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of Russia;
• Marat Uzyakov, Deputy Director of the Institute of Economic Forecasting of the Russian Academy of Sciences;
• Taliya Habrieva, member of the Russian President's Council for Countering Corruption;
• Yevgeny Yasin, Academic Supervisor of the National Research University – Higher School of Economics.

CSR and Presidential Economic Council

In accordance with an order of the President of Russia^[20] a working group on "Structural Reforms Priorities and Sustainable Development" was established under the Presidential Economic Council. Alexei Kudrin, who had earlier been appointed as Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Economic Council^[21], was named the head of the working group. CSR became the platform for the Working Group^[22][23]

References