Centre for International Governance Innovation
Encyclopedia
The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI, pronounced "see-jee") is an independent, non-partisan think tank on global governance
. Led by experienced practitioners and academics, CIGI supports research, forms networks, advances policy debate and generates ideas for multilateral governance improvements. Conducting an active agenda of research, events and publications, CIGI’s interdisciplinary work includes collaboration with policy, business and academic communities around the world. CIGI’s research programs focus on four themes: the global economy, environment and energy, global development, and global security.
CIGI’s stated vision is to strive to be the world’s leading think tank on international governance, with recognized impact on significant global problems. Its core belief is that better international governance can improve the lives of people everywhere, by increasing prosperity, ensuring global sustainability, addressing inequality and promoting a more secure world.
CIGI is headquartered in the former Seagram Museum
in the uptown district of Waterloo, Ontario
. It is situated on the northeast corner of the CIGI Campus
, which also houses the CIGI Auditorium and the Balsillie School of International Affairs
(BSIA). The establishment of CIGI has been recognized as a major contributor to the growth of a local knowledge economy in the surrounding Waterloo Region
, and in 2007, the city of Waterloo was named the world's "Top Intelligent Community."
(RIM) co-CEO Jim Balsillie
, following his vision to lay the framework for an institution tasked with helping solve the world’s most pressing challenges. Balsillie made an initial donation of $20 million to establish the New Economy Institute (renamed CIGI in 2003), with Mike Lazaridis
, his co-CEO at RIM, contributing an additional $10 million. The combined $30 million in funds was matched by the Government of Canada in 2003.
Among CIGI’s first staff was its initial executive director John English, director of public affairs John Milloy and distinguished fellows Andrew F. Cooper
and Paul Heinbecker
. The first CIGI International Board of Governors (IBG) meeting was held in October 2003, with early members including Jagdish Bhagwati
, Joe Clark
, Angel Gurria, and Anne-Marie Slaughter
.
In 2005, CIGI published its first working paper and experienced rapid growth in its research agenda, publications and public events programming. In 2007, CIGI partnered with the University of Waterloo
and Wilfrid Laurier University
to launch the BSIA. In 2009, CIGI announced plans to house the BSIA within a “CIGI Campus” that would be built alongside its headquarters in Waterloo. The resulting $68 million complex received federal and provincial funding totalling $50 million through the Knowledge Infrastructure Program and Ontario’s 2009 budget. The City of Waterloo donated the land for the campus through a 99-year lease.
In late 2009, English was succeeded as CIGI executive director by Thomas A. Bernes, who previously held high-level positions at the International Monetary Fund
, the World Bank
and the Government of Canada. CIGI has also recently added former Toronto Star
editor-in-chief J. Fred Kuntz as vice president of public affairs, and David B. Dewitt, former associate vice-president of research, social sciences and humanities at York University
, who now serves as CIGI’s vice president of programs.
In 2011, CIGI celebrated its tenth anniversary with the opening of the CIGI Campus, and published CIGI at 10, a retrospective book celebrating its history.
and the international economy
, the centre’s programs now examine four themes: the global economy, environment and energy, global development and global security. CIGI's global economy program includes analysis on macroeconomic regulation
, financial regulation
and trade policy. This program is a central area of the think tank's expertise, especially in the wake of the global financial crisis
. The global development program seeks to identify innovations and adjustments that support sustainable development
and poverty reduction
, and facilitate the shift to more effective, efficient and equitable delivery of global public goods. The centre's global security program examines a range of issues in peace, conflict and security, including nuclear energy governance
. CIGI’s environment and energy program focuses on developing innovative policy responses to ensure global sustainability.
, Stephen Clarkson
, Thomas Homer-Dixon
, Paul Heinbecker
, Louise Fréchette
, Paul Jenkins
, and Simon Zadek
.
Notable past guest speakers at CIGI-sponsored events include Paul Martin
, Ernesto Zedillo
, Dr. James Orbinski
, Jeff Rubin
, Dambisa Moyo
, Paul Krugman
and Jeffrey Sachs
.
, to bring about ideas that will lead to lasting solutions to the world's various economic challenges. Other current and past partners include Chatham House
, The Brookings Institution, C.D. Howe Institute, Inter-American Dialogue
, the Academic Council of the United Nations, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
, and the Stanley Foundation
.
, the Governor General Medal–winning building houses CIGI’s main offices for staff and fellows, and provides a number of unique spaces for public events and workshops. Since 2010, the building also contains the CIGI Broadcast Studio, available to news organizations for television and radio interviews of CIGI experts. The studio is connected worldwide via fibre optic connection and is equipped for live double-enders.
CIGI also hosts the John Holmes Library, which began as the library of the Canadian Institute of International Affairs (CIIA) in 1928. The library’s namesake was instrumental in developing it into an unmatched specialized collection on Canadian foreign policy. The library moved to CIGI in 2007, where it is now available for use by staff and visitors at CIGI.
Global governance
Global governance or world governance is the political interaction of transnational actors aimed at solving problems that affect more than one state or region when there is no power of enforcing compliance. The modern question of world governance exists in the context of globalization...
. Led by experienced practitioners and academics, CIGI supports research, forms networks, advances policy debate and generates ideas for multilateral governance improvements. Conducting an active agenda of research, events and publications, CIGI’s interdisciplinary work includes collaboration with policy, business and academic communities around the world. CIGI’s research programs focus on four themes: the global economy, environment and energy, global development, and global security.
CIGI’s stated vision is to strive to be the world’s leading think tank on international governance, with recognized impact on significant global problems. Its core belief is that better international governance can improve the lives of people everywhere, by increasing prosperity, ensuring global sustainability, addressing inequality and promoting a more secure world.
CIGI is headquartered in the former Seagram Museum
Seagram Museum
The Seagram Museum in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada was the city's final operational remnant of the world-renowned distillery founded by Waterloo entrepreneur Joseph E. Seagram in the mid-19th century.The museum operated from May 1984 to March 1997...
in the uptown district of Waterloo, Ontario
Waterloo, Ontario
Waterloo is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It is the smallest of the three cities in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, and is adjacent to the city of Kitchener....
. It is situated on the northeast corner of the CIGI Campus
CIGI Campus
The CIGI Campus, located in Waterloo, Ontario, is a hub of academic study and policy-based research in global governance and international affairs...
, which also houses the CIGI Auditorium and the Balsillie School of International Affairs
Balsillie School of International Affairs
The Balsillie School of International Affairs is a centre for advanced research and teaching on global governance and international public policy, located in Waterloo, Ontario. The school is a collaborative partnership among Wilfrid Laurier University , the University of Waterloo and the Centre...
(BSIA). The establishment of CIGI has been recognized as a major contributor to the growth of a local knowledge economy in the surrounding Waterloo Region
Regional Municipality of Waterloo
The Regional Municipality of Waterloo is a regional municipality located in Southern Ontario, Canada. It consists of the cities of Kitchener, Cambridge, and Waterloo, and the townships of Wellesley, Woolwich, Wilmot, and North Dumfries. It is often referred to as the Region of Waterloo or just...
, and in 2007, the city of Waterloo was named the world's "Top Intelligent Community."
History
CIGI was founded in 2001 by Research In MotionResearch In Motion
Research In Motion Limited or RIM is a Canadian multinational telecommunications company headquartered in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada that designs, manufactures and markets wireless solutions for the worldwide mobile communications market...
(RIM) co-CEO Jim Balsillie
Jim Balsillie
James Laurence "Jim" Balsillie is a Canadian businessman and co-CEO of the Canadian company Research In Motion. He is a member of the Trilateral Commission, a private political organization...
, following his vision to lay the framework for an institution tasked with helping solve the world’s most pressing challenges. Balsillie made an initial donation of $20 million to establish the New Economy Institute (renamed CIGI in 2003), with Mike Lazaridis
Mike Lazaridis
Mihalis "Mike" Lazaridis , OC, O.Ont is a Greek Canadian businessman. He is the founder and co-CEO of Research In Motion , which created and manufactures the BlackBerry wireless handheld device. He is also a former chancellor of the University of Waterloo, and an Officer of the Order of Canada...
, his co-CEO at RIM, contributing an additional $10 million. The combined $30 million in funds was matched by the Government of Canada in 2003.
Among CIGI’s first staff was its initial executive director John English, director of public affairs John Milloy and distinguished fellows Andrew F. Cooper
Andrew F. Cooper
Andrew Fenton Cooper, D.Phil. is Professor of Political Science at the University of Waterloo, and a Distinguished Fellow at The Centre for International Governance Innovation , Canada....
and Paul Heinbecker
Paul Heinbecker
Paul Heinbecker is a retired Canadian career diplomat and a former Canadian ambassador to Germany and permanent representative of Canada to the United Nations in New York....
. The first CIGI International Board of Governors (IBG) meeting was held in October 2003, with early members including Jagdish Bhagwati
Jagdish Bhagwati
Jagdish Natwarlal Bhagwati is an Indian-American economist and professor of economics and law at Columbia University. He is well known for his research in international trade and for his advocacy of free trade....
, Joe Clark
Joe Clark
Charles Joseph "Joe" Clark, is a Canadian statesman, businessman, and university professor, and former journalist and politician...
, Angel Gurria, and Anne-Marie Slaughter
Anne-Marie Slaughter
Anne-Marie Slaughter was the Director of Policy Planning for the U.S. State Department from January 2009 until February 2011. She is the Bert G...
.
In 2005, CIGI published its first working paper and experienced rapid growth in its research agenda, publications and public events programming. In 2007, CIGI partnered with the University of Waterloo
University of Waterloo
The University of Waterloo is a comprehensive public university in the city of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The school was founded in 1957 by Drs. Gerry Hagey and Ira G. Needles, and has since grown to an institution of more than 30,000 students, faculty, and staff...
and Wilfrid Laurier University
Wilfrid Laurier University
Wilfrid Laurier University is a university located in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. It also has campuses in Brantford, Ontario, Kitchener, Ontario and Toronto, Ontario and a future proposed campus in Milton, Ontario. It is named in honour of Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the seventh Prime Minister of Canada....
to launch the BSIA. In 2009, CIGI announced plans to house the BSIA within a “CIGI Campus” that would be built alongside its headquarters in Waterloo. The resulting $68 million complex received federal and provincial funding totalling $50 million through the Knowledge Infrastructure Program and Ontario’s 2009 budget. The City of Waterloo donated the land for the campus through a 99-year lease.
In late 2009, English was succeeded as CIGI executive director by Thomas A. Bernes, who previously held high-level positions at the International Monetary Fund
International Monetary Fund
The International Monetary Fund is an organization of 187 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world...
, the World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
and the Government of Canada. CIGI has also recently added former Toronto Star
Toronto Star
The Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
editor-in-chief J. Fred Kuntz as vice president of public affairs, and David B. Dewitt, former associate vice-president of research, social sciences and humanities at York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
, who now serves as CIGI’s vice president of programs.
In 2011, CIGI celebrated its tenth anniversary with the opening of the CIGI Campus, and published CIGI at 10, a retrospective book celebrating its history.
Research Programs
While CIGI’s early research focused solely on international relationsInternational relations
International relations is the study of relationships between countries, including the roles of states, inter-governmental organizations , international nongovernmental organizations , non-governmental organizations and multinational corporations...
and the international economy
World economy
The world economy, or global economy, generally refers to the economy, which is based on economies of all of the world's countries, national economies. Also global economy can be seen as the economy of global society and national economies – as economies of local societies, making the global one....
, the centre’s programs now examine four themes: the global economy, environment and energy, global development and global security. CIGI's global economy program includes analysis on macroeconomic regulation
Macroeconomic policy instruments
Macroeconomic policy instruments refer to macroeconomic quantities that can be directly controlled by an economic policy maker. Instruments can be divided into two subsets: a) Monetary policy instruments and b) Fiscal policy instruments. Monetary policy is conducted by the Federal Reserve or the...
, financial regulation
Financial regulation
Financial regulation is a form of regulation or supervision, which subjects financial institutions to certain requirements, restrictions and guidelines, aiming to maintain the integrity of the financial system...
and trade policy. This program is a central area of the think tank's expertise, especially in the wake of the global financial crisis
Late-2000s financial crisis
The late-2000s financial crisis is considered by many economists to be the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s...
. The global development program seeks to identify innovations and adjustments that support sustainable development
Sustainable development
Sustainable development is a pattern of resource use, that aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for generations to come...
and poverty reduction
Poverty reduction
Poverty is the state of human beings who are poor. That is, they have little or no material means of surviving—little or no food, shelter, clothes, healthcare, education, and other physical means of living and improving one's life....
, and facilitate the shift to more effective, efficient and equitable delivery of global public goods. The centre's global security program examines a range of issues in peace, conflict and security, including nuclear energy governance
Nuclear energy policy
Nuclear energy policy is a national and international policy concerning some or all aspects of nuclear energy, such as mining for nuclear fuel, extraction and processing of nuclear fuel from the ore, generating electricity by nuclear power, enriching and storing spent nuclear fuel and nuclear fuel...
. CIGI’s environment and energy program focuses on developing innovative policy responses to ensure global sustainability.
Experts
Distinguished practitioners, researchers and academics produce CIGI research outputs, exploring and contributing to CIGI's four research programs. CIGI experts are also available for comment and interviews to journalists worldwide, whether in print, digital or broadcast media. They also regularly contribute opinion pieces to local, national and international newspapers. Notable CIGI experts include Andrew F. CooperAndrew F. Cooper
Andrew Fenton Cooper, D.Phil. is Professor of Political Science at the University of Waterloo, and a Distinguished Fellow at The Centre for International Governance Innovation , Canada....
, Stephen Clarkson
Stephen Clarkson
Stephen Clarkson, is one of Canada’s preeminent political scientists and a professor of political economy at the University of Toronto....
, Thomas Homer-Dixon
Thomas Homer-Dixon
Thomas Homer-Dixon holds the Centre for International Governance Innovation Chair of Global Systems at the Balsillie School of International Affairs in Waterloo, Ontario, and is a Professor in the Centre for Environment and Business in the Faculty of Environment, University of Waterloo...
, Paul Heinbecker
Paul Heinbecker
Paul Heinbecker is a retired Canadian career diplomat and a former Canadian ambassador to Germany and permanent representative of Canada to the United Nations in New York....
, Louise Fréchette
Louise Fréchette
Louise Fréchette, OC was United Nations Deputy Secretary-General for eight years, and a long-time Canadian diplomat and public servant...
, Paul Jenkins
Paul Jenkins (economist)
Paul Jenkins is a Canadian economist and Distinguished Fellow at The Centre for International Governance Innovation. He was most recently the Senior Deputy Governor and Chief Operating Officer of the Bank of Canada, the number two position in that institution....
, and Simon Zadek
Simon Zadek
Simon Zadek works on sustainability issues worldwide and is an independent advisor and author. He is Senior Visiting Fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation and Senior Fellow at the Global Green Growth Institute. From 2006-2011 he was non-resident Senior Fellow at the Centre...
.
Publications
CIGI publications include policy memos, policy briefs, CIGI papers, special reports, CIGI commentaries, conference reports, books and ebooks. Publications are available online, generally under a creative commons license, with some editions available in print. Notable publications include the special reports, papers, commentaries and series that have focused on improving the G20 process, the global financial crisis, Caribbean economic governance, and conflict in Afghanistan. Books by CIGI experts include Fixing Haiti, Internet Gambling Offshore, The Dark Side of Globalization and Redesigning the World Trade Organization for the Twenty-first Century. CIGI’s first ebook, The Future of Security Sector Reform, is available for sale through Amazon and Kobo.Events
Public and private events are held regularly at CIGI. In addition to policy workshops and public lectures, CIGI holds annual seasonal conferences that gather experts and policy makers from around the world to discuss possible solutions to the issues raised by CIGI’s research.Notable past guest speakers at CIGI-sponsored events include Paul Martin
Paul Martin
Paul Edgar Philippe Martin, PC , also known as Paul Martin, Jr. is a Canadian politician who was the 21st Prime Minister of Canada, as well as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada....
, Ernesto Zedillo
Ernesto Zedillo
Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de León is a Mexican economist and politician. He served as President of Mexico from December 1, 1994 to November 30, 2000, as the last of the uninterrupted seventy year line of Mexican presidents from the Institutional Revolutionary Party...
, Dr. James Orbinski
James Orbinski
James Jude Orbinski, OC, OOnt, MSC is a Canadian physician, writer, and humanitarian activist. He is an associate professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto and a Fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs. In January 2011, he also assumed the Chair of Global Health at the Dalla Lana...
, Jeff Rubin
Jeff Rubin
Jeff Rubin is a Canadian economist and author. He is a former chief economist at CIBC World Markets.Rubin graduated from McGill University with a Masters in Economics after completing his Economics B.A. at University of Toronto...
, Dambisa Moyo
Dambisa Moyo
Dr. Dambisa Moyo is an international economist and New York Times best-selling author of both Dead Aid: Why Aid is Not Working and How There is a Better Way For Africa, published in 2009, and How the West Was Lost: Fifty Years of Economic Folly - And the Stark Choices that Lie Ahead, published in...
, Paul Krugman
Paul Krugman
Paul Robin Krugman is an American economist, professor of Economics and International Affairs at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University, Centenary Professor at the London School of Economics, and an op-ed columnist for The New York Times...
and Jeffrey Sachs
Jeffrey Sachs
Jeffrey David Sachs is an American economist and Director of The Earth Institute at Columbia University. One of the youngest economics professors in the history of Harvard University, Sachs became known for his role as an adviser to Eastern European and developing country governments in the...
.
Partners
Since its inception, CIGI has partnered with other think tanks and organizations from around the world. A $25 million partnership is currently underway with the Institute for New Economic Thinking, an organization founded by George SorosGeorge Soros
George Soros is a Hungarian-American business magnate, investor, philosopher, and philanthropist. He is the chairman of Soros Fund Management. Soros supports progressive-liberal causes...
, to bring about ideas that will lead to lasting solutions to the world's various economic challenges. Other current and past partners include Chatham House
Chatham House
Chatham House, formally known as The Royal Institute of International Affairs, is a non-profit, non-governmental organization based in London whose mission is to analyse and promote the understanding of major international issues and current affairs. It is regarded as one of the world's leading...
, The Brookings Institution, C.D. Howe Institute, Inter-American Dialogue
Inter-American Dialogue
The Inter-American Dialogue is a U.S. based think tank for policy analysis, exchange, and communication on issues in Western Hemisphere affairs...
, the Academic Council of the United Nations, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is a humanitarian institution that is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement along with the ICRC and 186 distinct National Societies...
, and the Stanley Foundation
Stanley Foundation
The Stanley Foundation is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, private operating foundation started in 1956 by engineer and entrepreneur, C. Maxwell Stanley, with headquarters in Muscatine, Iowa in the United States....
.
Facilities
After purchasing the former Seagram Museum from the City of Waterloo, CIGI moved into the facility in 2003. Designed by Barton Myers Associates, Inc.Barton Myers
Barton Myers, FAIA is an American and Canadian architect and president of Barton Myers Associates, Inc. in Los Angeles, California....
, the Governor General Medal–winning building houses CIGI’s main offices for staff and fellows, and provides a number of unique spaces for public events and workshops. Since 2010, the building also contains the CIGI Broadcast Studio, available to news organizations for television and radio interviews of CIGI experts. The studio is connected worldwide via fibre optic connection and is equipped for live double-enders.
CIGI also hosts the John Holmes Library, which began as the library of the Canadian Institute of International Affairs (CIIA) in 1928. The library’s namesake was instrumental in developing it into an unmatched specialized collection on Canadian foreign policy. The library moved to CIGI in 2007, where it is now available for use by staff and visitors at CIGI.