Abstract
This article summarizes findings on the status of Azeri Policy Research Organizations (PROs), both the demand by policymakers for their analyses and on their structure and capacity for conducting policy research. The findings are based primarily on a series of semi-structured interviews conducted during the November 2005 – February 2006 period. The broad picture that emerges on the sources of policy analysis used by government officials and members of Parliament is one where those interviewed turn most often to their own ministries and other government organizations, followed by international organizations and search the internet. There is little overt hostility to PROs and NGOs; indeed there appears to be significant informal interaction between decision makers and these organizations. However, the PROs are seen more as presenting policy views and not as sources of hard information or analysis. Four PROs were identified, and they exhibit a wide variance in the volume of analytic work they undertake, the extent of their involvement in the policy process, and the “policy clients.”
