To mark the 25th anniversary of the CPS in 1999, Matthew d’Ancona – then on the CPS board – compiled a catalogue of CPS reports, published as ‘The First Modernisers: The Centre for Policy Studies, Past & Future’. It contained a list of 298 CPS publications published up until that point, organised thematically and each accompanied by a short blurb. It was a superb insight into the way the CPS had shaped the political climate in the 1970s, 80 and 90s.
This booklet, marking the 50th anniversary of the CPS, takes inspiration from d’Ancona’s example – though on a more limited scale. Rather than summarising every single one of 688 printed papers (not to mention a scores of briefings published solely in digital format), Research Director Karl Williams has select 50 papers which reflect 50 years.
Difficult choices have been made. Inevitably, some brilliant papers and brilliant names have been left out. ‘Shaping the Debate: The Centre for Policy Studies in 50 Papers’ provides a brief description of the argument, something of the political and intellectual context in which it was written, and a sense of why it is important – including in relation to the work the CPS still does today.
CPS - Thursday, 7th March, 2024
Karl Williams is Research Director at the Centre for Policy Studies. A data specialist with a background in energy and seaborne trade research in the City, his work at the CPS has focused on political economy, energy and immigration.
