Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions on the Forum

What is a think tank?

A think tank is an independent organisation of experts that conducts research, analysis, and advocacy on political, economic, and social issues. The role of a think tank is to generate evidence-based ideas and constructively influence public discourse.

A “grassroots community” refers to a network composed primarily of volunteers and dedicated members who are active directly at the local or foundational level. At foraus, this means that our members are directly involved in creating content, organizing events, and disseminating foreign policy ideas.

No. foraus is independent and non-partisan. We do not support any political parties or electoral platforms. Our recommendations are based solely on well-founded, evidence-based analyses.

The independence of foraus relies on:
  1. A diversified funding model (foundations, public institutions, and private donors);
  2. The complete absence of any political affiliations;
  3. Rigorous internal processes that guarantee scientific neutrality and the quality of our publications.

foraus has a solid and diversified financial foundation. The association is supported by its members and other individuals, as well as by foundations, government agencies, and the private sector. In addition to membership fees, donations, and structural contributions, foraus generates approximately two-thirds of its revenue through tenders, projects, and other paid services.

Policy Fellows are emerging professionals in various fields of foreign policy and international relations. They author publications, analyse trends, and represent foraus within their respective areas of expertise. Topics: Migration, International Law & Multilateralism, International Cooperation & Development, Climate, Energy & Mobility, Global Health, Peace & Security, Gender & Diversity, Economic & Financial Policy, Technology and Research

Regions: MENA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Americas, Eurasia, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Polar Regions.
  1. Topic Selection: Policy Fellows identify a relevant topic and present a concept proposal to the Review Board.
  2. Drafting & Feedback: Once validated, the Fellows write an initial draft, which they submit to external experts (from academia or practice) for peer review.
  3. Quality Assurance: The second draft is submitted to the Review Board for evaluation. The Board reviews the argumentative rigor, linguistic quality, political relevance, and concrete policy recommendations.
  4. Finalisation: The final version is ultimately approved by the Board of Directors (Comité) before going to layout and print.

Blog posts are written by members or external authors. The blog team reviews the content and format in direct collaboration with the authors to ensure clarity and quality.

Anyone – whether a member or not – can pitch a blog post, provided the topic relates to foreign policy and the content meets our editorial standards.

Membership is open to anyone who is interested in foreign policy and wishes to get involved in the community. You can sign up directly via our website, which grants you access to exclusive resources, events, and networking opportunities.

Through publications, events, and recommendations, foraus achieves an impact across several levels:

  • We provide decision-makers with well-founded baselines for their policy decisions.
  • We foster public debate on international challenges.
  • We support the training and visibility of the next generation of foreign policy experts.

Could these FAQs not answer your question? Just drop us a line at: office@foraus.ch