Background

The first ever think tank in Myanmar, the Myanmar Institute of Strategic and International Studies (Myanmar-ISIS) was formed in July 1992 with the then Foreign Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar as its Chairman.

Initially, MISIS served as a think tank for foreign policy research and providing recommendations to the Ministry. The Institute had an Executive Board with four years tenure, headed by a Chair assisted by 11 executive Board members, two of whom were assigned as Secretary and Joint Secretary.

The Institute had been working closely as an observer affiliated since 1992 with the ASEAN Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ASEAN-ISIS), and the strategic Institutes of the Member States in the region. With the change of Chairman and members of the Institute including retired Myanmar Ambassador U Nyunt Maung Shein and service personnel from foreign affairs and other departments concerned, it became a full-fledged non-partisan member of ASEAN-ISIS in 2013.

Its main purpose as a think tank organization is to get involved in and take an active role in the various networks of Track-Two Policy Think Tanks such as:

• The Network of East Asia Think Tank (NEAT)
• The Network of ASEAN China Think Tank (NACT)
• The Network of ASEAN India Think Tank (NAITT)
• The Network of ASEAN Russia Think Tanks (NARTT)
• The ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation (AIPR)
• The Global Centre for Mekong Study (GCMS)
• BIMSTEC Network of Policy Think Tanks (BNPTT)
• Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific (CSCAP)
• Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS)
• Institute for Peace and Democracy (IPD)
• Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA)
• Kumming University
• BIMSTEC Network of Policy Think Tanks (BNPTT)
• Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific (CSCAP)
• Korea National Diplomatic Academy (KNDA)
• International Studies Center (ISC), Thailand
• China Institute of International Studies (CIIS)
• China Institute for Reform and Development (CIRD)
• Moscow State Institute for International Relations (MGIMO University)
• Pathfinder Foundation, Sri Lanka
• Institute of China and Contemporary Asia, Russia Academy of Sciences

It has further networked locally with the following Institutes:

• The Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
• The Thayninga Institute for Strategic Studies (TISS)

• Involvement in research and joint research programs to promote national and regional peace, prosperity and stability.
• Cooperation and exchange among think tanks and establishment of foundations for better understanding and relations among the states in both multilateral and bilateral fields.
• Assistance to the activities of People to People relationships among nations.
• Participation and assistance in research and development of National Strategy and Policy formulations.
• Production of timely reports, articles and papers towards providing a better understanding of state policy and activities to the public and international community.

The reconstituted Institute’s chief purpose is to carry out research work into the current issues of internal and international affairs. Its task will also be to expand and develop relationships with other academic Institutes at home and abroad. As the Myanmar-ISIS moves forward, its research activities will become its primary task.

Research papers, reports and recommendations prepared by MISIS are presented to the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation as inputs for policy and strategy formulations.

The responsibilities of MISIS can only be successfully performed with the cooperation and joint efforts of local and International partner think tanks, academics and officials. Collaboration among scholars, practitioners and ex-diplomats so as to generate best policy recommendations will only be enriched by extensive exchange and sharing with regional and international counterparts.

Thus, the goal of the reconstituted Myanmar ISIS is to encourage well-informed regional and international cooperation in facing the numerous challenges that beset our region today.

Myanmar Institute of Strategic and International Studies (MISIS)