Berggruen Institute

The Berggruen Institute is a Los Angeles-based think tank founded by Nicolas Berggruen.

History

In 2010, Nicolas Berggruen and Nathan Gardels sat down with a group of academics, business leaders, and political veterans in California to discuss the economic and political stresses caused by the global financial crisis, the widespread perception of failing political institutions and Western democracies, and how China's rise would affect the international landscape in the 21st century. The ideas that emerged from those original discussions became the foundation for the Berggruen Institute through the launch of local and global initiatives and the publication of '' Intelligent Governance for the 21st Century: A Middle Way Between West and East,'' a Financial Times "Best Book of the Year.”

In January 2014, the institute created The WorldPost, a not-for-profit, online global publication which began publishing through the Washington Post platform in 2018. Concurrently, the institute also formed a new partnership with the University of California Press to publish a new book series on the great transformations. In 2019, the Berggruen and Gardels co-authored their second book together, ''Renovating Democracy: Governing in the Age of Globalization and Digital Capitalism,'' as a continuance of the UC Press Great Transformations series.

In 2015, the institute expanded its mission with the creation of its Berggruen Fellowship Program, which sponsors thinkers working to develop new ideas for addressing the great transformations.

Berggruen Institute councils and committees

The Berggruen Institute is committed to proposing and implementing new ideas of effective governance through three of its projects: the 21st Century Council, the Council for the Future of Europe, and the Think Long Committee for California.

Through these projects, the institute worked closely with German and French labor ministers to develop a youth jobs plan for Europe; organized repeat delegations of government and industry leaders in a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang and other Chinese leadership to foster an open dialogue and better understanding between China and the West; and passed the California SB 1253 Ballot Initiative Transparency Act, strengthening the integrity of the state's initiative process.

21st Century Council

The 21st Century Council brings together former heads of state, global thinkers and entrepreneurs from across cultural and political boundaries to address the problems arising from power shifts from Western-dominated globalization to a multipolar world. The council is devoted to global governance reform with the aim to "build on a convergence of interests in order to create a community of interests."

The council aims to connect ideas to action to improve governance and institutional performance at the state, local, and national levels while working to ensure that global policy conversations fully incorporate Chinese and Western perspectives.

Initially formed as a shadow G-20, the council presented its recommendations to President Nicolas Sarkozy of France in 2011 prior to the G-20 Summit in Cannes, as well as to President Felipe Calderón of Mexico and his successor Enrique Peña Nieto in 2012 prior to the G-20 Summit in Mexico.

In 2013, the council met with Henry Kissinger in New York, and, later, Paramount leader Xi Jinping of China and other Chinese leaders at the council's first "Understanding China" conference in Beijing. The second conference was held in 2015; the third took place in 2018.

The council is chaired by former president of Mexico Ernesto Zedillo.

Council on the Future of Europe

The Council on the Future of Europe is a committee engaged in research, debate and advocacy to move forward the project of a united Europe. It advocates not only a fiscal and political union within Europe but also the engagement of European citizens. It supports "town hall" meetings and seminars to provide a forum for Council members and European leaders to bring their ideas to the public.

The council hosted an annual Town Hall (2012–2015) series to foster an ongoing dialogue on how to best address Europe's most pressing issues, including economic expansion, jobs and opportunities for youth, labor mobility and migration, and expanding democratic foundation of the union.

In May 2013, the council held a "town hall" meeting endorsed by the French President Francois Hollande, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, and Italian labor minister. The council and Germany's labor minister, Ursula von der Leyen, proposed an investment, training, and jobs program for Europe. The program eventually became a part of European policy in January 2015 when European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker proposed the 315 billion euro Investment Plan.

The Think Long Committee for California

The Think Long Committee for California promotes a comprehensive approach for improving California's government. It has involved a politically bi-partisan board from the outset. In November 2011, the Committee published its report, ''A Blueprint to Renew California''. The report recommended the devolution of power to local governments and school districts, reform of the democracy initiative process to ensure greater consideration of measures proposed by the public, establishment of a "rainy day" fund for economic downturns, a body of long-term oversight to balance the short-term, special-interest character of the elected legislature, and modernization of California's tax system.

In 2014, the committee helped promote SB 1253, "The Ballot Initiative Transparency Act," eventually approved on September 28, 2014. It increase the opportunities for public comment, and allows lawmakers and proponent