Why Are Success Stories Not Copied? Emulating Advocacy Strategies Amongst Eastern Partnership Think-Tanks

Abstract

The article investigates why Georgian and Moldovan think-tanks have not emulated effective forms of advocacy in relations with the EU that their Ukrainian counterparts have established, namely a liaison office in Brussels. The reason is not the cost but rather the presence of alternative communication channels, high-level personal contacts and think-tanks’ focus on organizational survival. Better connectivity and new means of communication make the presence of a Brussels hub less crucial for regional think-tanks. Our research shows that there is often limited collaboration amongst think-tanks at the national level, which negatively affects opportunities for transnational advocacy of Eastern Partnership (EaP) think-tanks in relations with EU institutions. Eastern Partnership, European Union, think-tanks, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, transnational advocacy