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A think tank, or policy institute, is a research institute that performs research and advocacy concerning topics such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, technology, and culture. Most think tanks are non-governmental organizations, but some are semi-autonomous agencies within government or are associated with particular political parties, businesses or the military. Think-tank funding often includes a combination of donations from very wealthy people and those not so wealthy, with many also accepting government grants. Think tanks publish articles and studies, and even draft legislation on particular matters of policy or society. This information is then used by governments, businesses, media organizations, social movements or other interest groups. Think tanks range from those associated with highly academic or scholarly activities to those that are overtly ideological and pushing for particular policies, with a wide range among them in terms of the quality of their research. Later generations of think tanks have tended to be more ideologically oriented. Modern think tanks began as a phenomenon in the United Kingdom in the 19th and early 20th centuries, with most of the rest being established in other English-speaking countries. Prior to 1945, they tended to focus on the economic issues associated with industrialization and urbanization. During the
Cold War The Cold War is a term commonly used to refer to a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies, the Western Bloc and the Eastern Bloc. The term '' cold war'' is used because t ...
, many more American and other Western think tanks were established, which often guided government Cold War policy. Since 1991, more think tanks have been established in non-Western parts of the world. More than half of all think tanks that exist today were established after 1980. This article lists global policy institutes according to continental categories and then sub-categories by country within those areas. These listings are not comprehensive; there are at least 11,175 think tanks around the world.


History

According to historian Jacob Soll, while the term "think tank" is modern, its concept "can be traced to the humanist academies and scholarly networks of the 16th and 17th centuries." Soll writes that "in Europe, the origins of think tanks go back to the 800s when emperors and kings began arguing with the Catholic Church about taxes. A tradition of hiring teams of independent lawyers to advise monarchs about their financial and political prerogatives against the church spans from Charlemagne all the way to the 17th century, when the kings of France were still arguing about whether they had the right to appoint bishops and receive a cut of their income." Soll cites as an early example the , created in Paris around 1620 by the brothers Pierre and and also known after 1635 as the . The Club de l'Entresol, active in Paris between 1723 and 1731, was another prominent example of an early independent think tank focusing on public policy and current affairs, especially economics and foreign affairs. Several major current think tanks were founded in the 19th century. The
Royal United Services Institute The Royal United Services Institute (RUSI, Rusi), registered as Royal United Service Institute for Defence and Security Studies and formerly the Royal United Services Institute for Defence Studies, is a British defence and security think tank ...
was founded in 1831 in
London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...
, and the Fabian Society in 1884. The oldest American think tank, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, was founded in Washington, D.C., in 1910 by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. Carnegie charged trustees to use the fund to "hasten the abolition of international war, the foulest blot upon our civilization." The Brookings Institution was founded shortly thereafter in 1916 by Robert S. Brookings and was conceived as a bipartisan "research center modeled on academic institutions and focused on addressing the questions of the federal government." After 1945, the number of policy institutes increased, with many small new ones forming to express various issues and policy agendas. Until the 1940s, most think tanks were known only by the name of the institution. During the Second World War, think tanks were often referred to as "brain boxes". Before the 1950s, the phrase "think tank" did not refer to organizations. From its first appearances in the 1890s up to the 1950s, the phrase was most commonly used in American English to colloquially and pejoratively refer to the human brain itself when commenting on an individual's failings (in the sense that something was wrong with that person's "think tank"). Around 1958, the first organization to be regularly described in published writings as "the Think Tank" (note the capitalization and the use of the definite article) was the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences. However, the Center does not count itself as and is not perceived to be a think tank in the contemporary sense. During the 1960s, the phrase "think tank" was attached more broadly to meetings of experts,
electronic computers A computer is a machine that can be programmed to carry out sequences of arithmetic or logical operations (computation) automatically. Modern digital electronic computers can perform generic sets of operations known as programs. These progra ...
, and independent military planning organizations. The prototype and most prominent example of the third category was the RAND Corporation, which was founded in 1946 as an offshoot of Douglas Aircraft and became an independent corporation in 1948. In the 1970s, the phrase became more specifically defined in terms of RAND and its ilk. During the 1980s and 1990s, the phrase evolved again to arrive at its broader contemporary meaning of an independent public policy research institute. For most of the 20th century, such institutes were found primarily in the United States, along with much smaller numbers in Canada, the UK, and Western Europe. Although think tanks had also existed in Japan for some time, they generally lacked independence, having close associations with government ministries or corporations. There has been a veritable proliferation of "think tanks" around the world that began during the 1980s as a result of globalization, the end of the
Cold War The Cold War is a term commonly used to refer to a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies, the Western Bloc and the Eastern Bloc. The term '' cold war'' is used because t ...
, and the emergence of transnational problems. Two-thirds of all the think tanks that exist today were established after 1970 and more than half were established since 1980. The effect of globalisation on the proliferation of think tanks is most evident in regions such as Africa, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and parts of Southeast Asia, where there was a concerted effort by other countries to assist in the creation of independent public policy research organizations. A survey performed by the Foreign Policy Research Institute's Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program underscores the significance of this effort and documents the fact that most of the think tanks in these regions have been established since 1992. , there were more than 4,500 of these institutions worldwide. Many of the more established think tanks, having been created during the Cold War, are focused on international affairs, security studies, and foreign policy.


Types

Think tanks vary by ideological perspectives, sources of funding, topical emphasis and prospective consumers. Funding may also represent who or what the institution wants to influence; in the United States, for example, "Some donors want to influence votes in Congress or shape public opinion, others want to position themselves or the experts they fund for future government jobs, while others want to push specific areas of research or education." A new trend, resulting from globalization, is collaboration between policy institutes in different countries. For instance, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace operates offices in Washington, D.C., Beijing, Beirut, Brussels and Moscow. The Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program (TTCSP) at the University of Pennsylvania, led by
James McGann James G. McGann (1955–2021) was an American academic who was a Senior Lecturer in International Studies, Founder and Director of the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program at the Lauder Institute, University of Pennsylvania and a Senior Fell ...
, annually rates policy institutes worldwide in a number of categories and presents its findings in the Global Go-To Think Tanks rating index. However, this method of the study and assessment of policy institutes has been criticized by researchers such as Enrique Mendizabal and Goran Buldioski, Director of the Think Tank Fund, assisted by the Open Society Institute.


Advocacy

In some cases, corporate interests, military interests and political groups have found it useful to create policy institutes, advocacy organizations, and think tanks. For example, The Advancement of Sound Science Coalition was formed in the mid-1990s to dispute research finding an association between second-hand smoke and cancer. Military contractors may spend a portion of their tender on funding pro-war think tanks. According to an internal memorandum from
Philip Morris Companies Altria Group, Inc. (previously known as Philip Morris Companies, Inc.) is an American corporation and one of the world's largest producers and marketers of tobacco, cigarettes and related products. It operates worldwide and is headquartered in ...
referring to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), "The credibility of the EPA is defeatable, but not on the basis of ETS /nowiki>[ /nowiki>environmental_tobacco_smoke">environmental_tobacco_smoke.html"_;"title="/nowiki>environmental_tobacco_smoke">/nowiki>environmental_tobacco_smoke/nowiki>_alone,..._It_must_be_part_of_a_larger_mosaic_that_concentrates_all_the_EPA's_enemies_against_it_at_one_time." According_to_the_progressive_media_watchdog_Fairness_and_Accuracy_in_Reporting.html" ;"title="nvironmental_tobacco_smoke.html" ;"title="environmental_tobacco_smoke.html" ;"title="/nowiki>environmental tobacco smoke">/nowiki>environmental tobacco smoke">environmental_tobacco_smoke.html" ;"title="/nowiki>environmental tobacco smoke">/nowiki>environmental tobacco smoke/nowiki> alone,... It must be part of a larger mosaic that concentrates all the EPA's enemies against it at one time." According to the progressive media watchdog Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting">Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting, both left-wing and right-wing policy institutes are often quoted and rarely identified as such. The result is that think tank "experts" are sometimes depicted as neutral sources without any ideological predispositions when, in fact, they represent a particular perspective. In the United States, think tank publications on education are subjected to expert review by the National Education Policy Center's "Think Twice" think tank review project. A 2014 ''New York Times'' report asserted that foreign governments buy influence at many United States think tanks. According to the article: "More than a dozen prominent Washington research groups have received tens of millions of dollars from foreign governments in recent years while pushing United States government officials to adopt policies that often reflect the donors' priorities."


Global think tanks


African think tanks


Ghana

Ghana's first president, Kwame Nkrumah, set up various state-supported think tanks in the 1960s. By the 1990s, a variety of policy research centers sprang up in Africa set up by academics who sought to influence public policy in Ghana. One such think tank was
The Institute of Economic Affairs, Ghana The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), Ghana, is a public policy think tank based in Accra, Ghana. It was founded by a Ghanaian economist, Dr. Charles Mensa in 1989 at a time when the country was governed by a military regime (Ghana was governe ...
, which was founded in 1989 when the country was ruled by the Provisional National Defence Council. The IEA undertakes and publishes research on a range of economic and governance issues confronting Ghana and Sub-Saharan Africa. It has also been involved in bringing political parties together to engage in dialogue. In particular it has organised Presidential debates every election year since the
Ghanaian presidential election, 1996 General elections were held in Ghana on 7 December 1996. In the presidential election, incumbent Jerry Rawlings of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was reelected in a single round, defeating John Kufuor of the Great Alliance (led by Kufuor ...
. Notable think tanks in Ghana include: * IMANI Centre for Policy and Education *
The Institute of Economic Affairs, Ghana The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), Ghana, is a public policy think tank based in Accra, Ghana. It was founded by a Ghanaian economist, Dr. Charles Mensa in 1989 at a time when the country was governed by a military regime (Ghana was governe ...
(IEA)


Morocco

* AMAQUEN, founded in 2003, is a think tank in the field of education through its publications (rapports), international scientific journal ''The Journal of'' ''Quality in Education,'' and international events (CIMQUSEF).


Somalia

*
Heritage Institute for Policy Studies The Heritage Institute for Policy Studies (HIPS) is a think tank based in Mogadishu, Somalia. Overview The Heritage Institute for Policy Studies is an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan research center which aims to inform and influence public ...
* Puntland Development Research Center


South Africa

*
Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa The Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (former Electoral Institute of Southern Africa), or EISA, is an organization founded in 1996 in Johannesburg to "promote credible elections, participatory democracy, human rights culture an ...
*
Free Market Foundation The Free Market Foundation (FMF) is a classical liberal think tank located in Bryanston, Johannesburg, South Africa. Founded in 1975, the FMF was established to further human rights and democracy through the principles of an open society, the rul ...
* FW de Klerk Foundation * Helen Suzman Foundation * Institute for Democratic Alternatives in South Africa (IDASA) *
Institute for Justice and Reconciliation The Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR) is a non-governmental organisation and think tank based in Cape Town, South Africa. It was forged out of the country's Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2000. The aim was to ensure that less ...
* Institute for Security Studies *
South African Institute of International Affairs South is one of the cardinal directions or compass points. The direction is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to both east and west. Etymology The word ''south'' comes from Old English ''sūþ'', from earlier Proto-Germanic ''*sunþaz ...
(SAIIA) *
South African Institute of Race Relations Established in 1929,http://www.sairr.org.za/profile/ the South African Institute of Race Relations (SAIRR) is a research and policy organisation in South Africa. The institute is "one of the oldest liberal institutions in the country". The i ...


Asian think tanks


Afghanistan

Afghanistan has a number of think tanks that are in the form of governmental, non-governmental, and corporate organizations. *
Afghanistan Analysts Network The Afghanistan Analysts Network (AAN) is an independent non-profit policy research and analysis organization. Founded in 2009, it is registered as an association in Germany and Afghanistan, funded in large part by Scandinavian countries, and has ...
* Afghanistan Public Policy Research Organization * Centre for Conflict and Peace Studies


Bangladesh

Bangladesh has a number of think tanks that are in the form of governmental, non-governmental, and corporate organizations. * Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) *
Bangladesh Institute of Law and International Affairs The Bangladesh Institute of Law and International Affairs (BILIA) was established in Bangladesh as a government-funded think tank on various affairs of law and foreign policy. A future president of Bangladesh, Abdus Sattar ʻAbd al-Sattār (ALA-L ...
(BILIA) * Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies (BIPSS) * Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) * International Growth Centre (IGC) *
Making Our Economy Right Making Our Economy Right (MOER) is a free market think tank in Bangladesh. Headquartered in Dhaka, the institute was established in 1991 by Nizam Ahmad. MOER is sponsored by the Atlas Foundation in the United States. Deroy Murdock, an America ...
(MOER) *
Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies The Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS) is a think tank for trade union activity and other labour matters in Bangladesh. It was founded in 1995 to support the building of trade unions and their activities and to promote trade union caus ...
(BILS)


China

In the People's Republic of China a number of think tanks are sponsored by governmental agencies such as Development Research Center of the State Council, but still retain sufficient non-official status to be able to propose and debate ideas more freely. In January 2012, the first non-official think tank in China, South Non-Governmental Think-Tank, was established in the Guangdong province. In 2009 the
China Center for International Economic Exchanges The China Center for International Economic Exchanges (CCIEE) is a think tank based in Beijing, China. The CCIEE is an international economic research, exchange, and consulting service organization approved by the government of the People's Republ ...
was founded.


Hong Kong

In Hong Kong, early think tanks established in the late 1980s and early 1990s focused on political development, including the first direct Legislative Council members election in 1991 and the political framework of " One Country, Two Systems", manifested in the Sino-British Joint Declaration. After the transfer of sovereignty to China in 1997, more think tanks were established by various groups of intellectuals and professionals. They have various missions and objectives including promoting civic education; undertaking research on economic, social and political policies; and promoting "public understanding of and participation in the political, economic, and social development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region". Think tanks in Hong Kong include: * Bauhinia Foundation Research Centre * Business and Professionals Federation of Hong Kong * Central Policy Unit * Civic Exchange * The Global Institute for Tomorrow *
HKGolden50 HKGolden50 () is a small policy research organisation in Hong Kong. It claims to be "non-political, non-profit, independent" although its prime mover is Franklin Lam. a former member of the Executive Council of Hong Kong. The group publishe ...
*
Hong Kong Christian Industrial Committee The Hong Kong Christian Industrial Committee ( Chinese: 香港基督教工業委員會, also called as HKCIC) is a non-governmental pressure group that focuses on labor welfare policy and industrial safety. The group was founded in 1966, origin ...
* Hong Kong Democratic Foundation *
Hong Kong People's Council on Housing Policy The Hong Kong People's Council on Public Housing Policy (; HKPCHP), formerly called the Hong Kong People's Council on Public Housing Policy (), was a Hong Kong pressure group established in 1978 and was prominent in the 1970s and 80s. It was set ...
* The Lion Rock Institute * New Century Forum * Our Hong Kong Foundation *
One Country Two Systems Research Institute The One Country Two Systems Research Institute (OCTS; Chinese:一國兩制研究中心) is a Hong Kong think tank founded in 1990 by a group of pro-Beijing politicians. It is registered in Hong Kong as private non-profit company with limited ...
* Path of Democracy *
Policy Innovation and Co-ordination Unit The Policy Innovation and Co-ordination Office (PICO) was a creation in Carrie Lam's Policy Address in 2017 to revamp the Central Policy Unit. It has commenced operation since 1 April 2018, and ceased operation from 1 July 2022. The Policy In ...
* Professional Commons


India

India has the world's second-largest number of think tanks. Most are based in New Delhi, and a few are government-sponsored. There are few think tanks that promote environmentally responsible and climate resilient ideas like Centre for Science and Environment,
Centre for Policy Research The Centre for Policy Research (CPR) is an Indian think tank focusing on public policy. Established in 1973 and located in New Delhi, it is one of the national social science research institutes recognized by the Indian Council of Social S ...
and World Resources Institute. There are other prominent think tanks like Observer Research Foundation, Tillotoma Foundation and Centre for Civil Society. In Mumbai,
Strategic Foresight Group Strategic Foresight Group (SFG) is a think tank based in India that works on global issues. It was established in 2002. SFG has worked with governments and national institutions of 60 countries from around the world. It produces scenarios and ...
is a global think tank that works on issues such as Water Diplomacy, Peace and Conflict and Foresight (futures studies). Think tanks with a development focus include those like the
National Centre for Cold-chain Development The National Centre for Cold-chain Development (NCCD) is an autonomous think tank body established by the Government of India with an agenda to positively impact and promote the development of the cold-chain sector in the country. NCCD was regis ...
('NCCD'), which serve to bring an inclusive policy change by supporting the Planning Commission and related government bodies with industry-specific inputs – in this case, set up at the behest of the government to direct cold chain development. Some think tanks have a fixed set of focus areas and they work towards finding out policy solutions to social problems in the respective areas. Initiatives such as
National e-Governance Plan The National e-Governance Plan (NeGP) is an initiative of the Government of India to make all government services available to the citizens of India via electronic media. NeGP was formulated by the Department of Electronics and Information Techno ...
(to automate administrative processes) and National Knowledge Network (NKN) (for data and resource sharing amongst education and research institutions), if implemented properly, should help improve the quality of work done by think tanks. Think tanks in India are growing across the length and breadth of the country as they are no longer limited to metro cities. Think tanks for the young, like RisingIndia ThinkTank, have emerged from one of the smallest city in Rajasthan state of India.


Indonesia

* Centre for Strategic and International Studies *
Setara Institute SETARA Institute for Democracy and Peace is an Indonesia-based (NGO) that conducts research and advocacy on democracy, Freedom (political), political freedom and human rights. SETARA Institute is a young research organization with core research ...


Iraq

Over 50 think tanks have emerged in Iraq, particularly in the Kurdistan Region. Iraq's leading think tank is the Middle East Research Institute (MERI), based in Erbil. MERI is an independent non-governmental policy research organization, established in 2014 and publishes in English, Kurdish, and Arabic. It was listed in the global ranking by the United States's Lauder Institute of the University of Pennsylvania as 46th in the Middle East.


Israel

There are many think tank teams in Israel, including: * Shaharit - Creating Common Cause * Jerusalem Institute for Market Studies (JIMS) * Reut Institute *
Israel Council on Foreign Relations The Israel Council on Foreign Relations (ICFR) is an independent, non-partisan forum for the study and debate of foreign policy issues, especially those relating to the State of Israel and the Jewish people. The ICFR publishes a triannual policy a ...
* The Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs *
Adva Center Adva Center is a non-partisan Israeli policy analysis center based in Tel Aviv. History Adva (lit. "ripple") was founded in 1991 by activists from three social movements: the movement for equality for Mizrahi Jews, the feminist movement, and the m ...
* Israel Democracy Institute *
Jerusalem Institute for Policy Research __NOTOC__ Jerusalem Institute for Policy Research (JIPR), formerly the Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies, is an independent policy think tank located in Jerusalem. The institute conducts policy studies on Jerusalem, innovation policy (R&D), ...
*
Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute The Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute (MJB) is a Jerusalem-based applied research institute on social policy and human services, serving Israel, the Jewish world, and the international community. The Institute's mission is to identify and study key so ...
*
Floersheimer Studies Stephen Helmuth Floersheimer (21 March 1925 - 6 April 2011) was a Swiss investment banker, philanthropist and art collector, who founded the Floersheimer Center for Constitutional Democracy. Biography The son of Walter and Charlotte Floersheime ...
at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem * Harry S. Truman Research Institute for the Advancement of Peace, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem * International Institute for Counter-Terrorism – IDC Herziliya * Israel Center for Third Sector Research,
Ben Gurion University Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) ( he, אוניברסיטת בן-גוריון בנגב, ''Universitat Ben-Guriyon baNegev'') is a public research university in Beersheba, Israel. Ben-Gurion University of the Negev has five campuses: the ...
of the Negev * IPCRI – Israel/Palestine Center for Research and Information *
The Milken Institute The Milken Institute is an independent economic think tank based in Santa Monica, California with offices in Washington, DC, New York, Miami, London, Abu Dhabi, and Singapore. It publishes research and hosts conferences that apply market-based p ...
* Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies, Tel Aviv University *
The Begin-Sadat Center ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the ...
Bar Ilan University * The Center for the Study of Philanthropy in Israel at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem * Israel Institute for Advanced Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem * The Jewish Arab Center (JAC), University of Haifa *
The Jewish People Policy Institute The Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI; he, המכון למדיניות העם היהודי; formerly: The Jewish People Policy Planning (JPPPI)) is a non-profit organization with the purpose of promoting and securing the Jewish people and Isra ...
(JPPI) *
The Shalem Center The Shalem Center ( he, מרכז שלם, ''Merkaz Shalem'') was a Jerusalem research institute that supported academic work in the fields of philosophy, political theory, Jewish and Zionist history, Bible and Talmud, Middle East Studies, archaeolo ...
* Institute for National Security Studies, affiliated with Tel Aviv University.


Japan

Japan has over 100 think tanks, most of which cover not only policy research but also economy, technology and so on. Some are government related, but most of the think tanks are sponsored by the private sector. *
Asian Development Bank Institute The Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI) is an Asian think tank focused on identifying effective development strategies for Asia and the Pacific, and on providing support to ADB member countries in managing development challenges. It was esta ...
*
Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry The Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (CRIEPI; 電力中央研究所) is a Japanese non-profit foundation that conducts research and development of technologies in a variety of scientific and technical fields related to the e ...
*
Genron NPO Genron NPO (言論NPO) is a Japanese think tank A think tank, or policy institute, is a research institute that performs research and advocacy concerning topics such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, technolog ...
* Global Industrial and Social Progress Research Institute *
Institute for International Monetary Affairs The Institute for International Monetary Affairs, or IIMA, is a Tokyo-based economic research institute which provides information and policy recommendations on financial and monetary issues. The IIMA was formed in 1995. Its founder, and curren ...
* Institute of Developing Economies * The International Academic Forum * Japan Center for International Exchange * Japan Institute for National Fundamentals *
Japan Institute of International Affairs The Japan Institute of International Affairs (abbreviated as JIIA, Japanese: 日本国際問題研究所 ''nihon kokusai mondai kenkyūjo'') is a foreign policy and security think-tank in Japan. It was established in December 1959. It was modelled ...
*
Mitsubishi Research Institute Mitsubishi Research Institute, Inc. (in Japanese, 三菱総合研究所 or 三菱総研 for short) (), often called MRI, was established at the centennial anniversary of Japan's Mitsubishi Group in 1970, invested by the various companies of the g ...
* National Institute for Research Advancement *
Rousoukai Rousoukai (老壮会, The Society for Old Combatants) was a Japanese Japanese may refer to: * Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia * Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan * Japanese people, the ethnic group that ...
* Shōwa Kenkyūkai * Tokyo Foundation


Kazakhstan

Institute of World Economics and Politics (IWEP) at the Foundation of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan was created in 2003. IWEP activities aimed at research problems of the world economy, international relations, geopolitics, security, integration and Eurasia, as well as the study of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan and its contribution to the establishment and strengthening of Kazakhstan as an independent state, the development of international cooperation and the promotion of peace and stability. The Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the RK (KazISS) was established by the Decree of the President of RK on 16 June 1993. Since its foundation the main mission of the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as a national think tank, is to maintain analytical and research support for the President of Kazakhstan.


Malaysia

Most Malaysian think tanks are related either to the government or a political party. Historically they focused on defense, politics and policy. However, in recent years, think tanks that focus on international trade, economics, and social sciences have also been founded. Notable think tanks in Malaysia include: *
Academy of Sciences Malaysia The Academy of Sciences Malaysia (Malay: Akademi Sains Malaysia) is a statutory body in the Malaysian government established under an act of Parliament (Academy of Sciences Malaysia Act 1994). The Academy, abbreviated as ASM, is the highest sci ...
(ASM) *
Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs The Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) is a Malaysian think tank dedicated to promoting solutions to public policy challenges. It was founded on 8 February 2010. IDEAS is headquartered at Jalan Hang Lekir, Kuala Lumpur. His ...
(IDEAS) *
Institute for Pioneering of Education and Economic Excellence Institute for Pioneering of Education and Economic Excellence (INSPIRE) is a Malaysian first national think tank dedicated on promoting entrepreneurship and business based education excellence. It is the first Malaysia Non profit organisation, No ...
(INSPIRE) * Maritime Institute of Malaysia (MIMA) *
Jauhar Academy of Social Sciences Jauhar, sometimes spelled Jowhar or Juhar, was a Hindu practice of mass self-immolation by women, in the Indian subcontinent, to avoid capture, enslavement and rape by an invading army, when facing certain defeat during a war. Some reports of ...
(JASS) *
Jeffrey Cheah Institute on Southeast Asia The Jeffrey Cheah Institute on Southeast Asia (JCI) is an independent Malaysian think tank established in March 2014 with a focus on key public policy concerns in Southeast Asia. It is based at Sunway University in the Malaysian state of Sela ...
(JCI) *
Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology The Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT) is an independent non-profit technology think tank under the purview of the Prime Minister's Department. It was established in 1993 to support the Science Advisor to the Prime ...
(MIGHT) *
Islamic Renaissance Front Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God (or ''Allah'') as it was revealed to Muhammad, the ma ...
(IRF)


Pakistan

Pakistan's think tanks mainly revolve around social policy, internal politics, foreign security issues, and regional geo-politics. Most of these are centered on the capital, Islamabad. One such think tank is the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), which focuses on policy advocacy and research particularly in the area of environment and social development. Another policy research institute based in Islamabad is the Institute of Social and Policy Sciences (I-SAPS) which works in the fields of education, health, disaster risk reduction, governance, conflict and stabilization. Since 2007 - 2008, I-SAPS has been analyzing public expenditure of federal and provincial governments.


Philippines

Think tanks in the Philippines could be generally categorized in terms of their linkages with the national government. Several were set up by the Philippine government for the specific purpose of providing research input into the policy-making process.


Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has a number of think tanks that are in the form of governmental, non-governmental and corporate organizations. *The Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies is a policy-studies institute that is often referred to as a think tank. * LIRNEasia is a think tank working across the Asia-Pacific on regulatory and policy issues. Their main focus is the ICT sector, although they do work in other sectors, such as agriculture and health, which can benefit from ICT. *
Verité Research Verité Research is an independent interdisciplinary think tank providing strategic analysis and advice for governments and the private sector in Asia. Its main research divisions are economics, politics, law, and media. Based in Colombo, Sri L ...
is an interdisciplinary think tank in Colombo.


Singapore

There are several think tanks in Singapore that advise the government on various policies and as well as private ones for corporations within the region. Many of them are hosted within the local public educational institutions. Among them are the
Singapore Institute of International Affairs The Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA) is a Singaporean research institute and think tank which focuses on international relations, especially in ASEAN and the Asia-Pacific (APAC). The Institute conducts research, hosts events, a ...
(SIIA), Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS), and the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.


Taiwan

In 2017 Taiwan had 58 think tanks. As in most countries there is a mix of government- and privately-funded think tanks. Taiwanese think tanks in alphabetical order: * Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research * Institute for National Defense and Security Research *
Prospect Foundation Prospect Foundation (), is a think tank based in Taiwan, established in 1997, which aims to analyze the Cross-Taiwan-Strait relations and international politics and economy and provide suggestions of policies for Taiwan government. There are ab ...
* Taiwan Asia Exchange Foundation * Taiwan Competitiveness Forum *
Taiwan Foundation for Democracy The Taiwan Foundation for Democracy (TFD; ) is a non-profit organisation headquartered in Taipei. Originally initiated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China, the foundation's purpose is to promote democracy around the world ...
* Taiwan Institute of Economic Research


Thailand

*
Thailand Development Research Institute The Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI – th, สถาบันวิจัยเพื่อการพัฒนาประเทศไทย) is a non-profit non-government Thai policy think tank focused on social and economic d ...
* iLaw


United Arab Emirates

The UAE has been a center for political oriented think tanks which concentrate on both regional and global policy. Notable think tank have emerged in the global debate on terrorism, education & economical policies in the MENA region. Think tanks include: *
Al Mesbar Studies and Research Centre Al Mesbar Studies & Research Center is a Dubai based cultural phenomena think tank concentrating on the study of Islamic Movements. The Center focuses on "contemporary Islamic Movements, their thoughts and practices, symbolisms and ideologies and ...
*
Dubai Economic Council Dubai Economic Council ( ar, مجلس دبي الاقتصادي) is a think tank and policy-making advisory body specialising on the economy of Dubai. It is affiliated with the Government of Dubai The Government of Dubai ( ar, حكومة دبي) is ...
*
Gulf Research Center The Gulf Research Center (GRC) is a privately funded, non-partisan think tank, education provider and consultancy specializing in the Persian Gulf region. The GRC produces research from a Gulf perspective which redresses a current area studies imb ...
*
Orient Research Centre The Orient Research Centre (ORC) is a think tank based in Dubai that focuses on risks and geopolitical issues in the Persian Gulf and the MENA region. Background ORC was first established in Syria as a decision-making support platform that worke ...


Uzbekistan

* CED –
Center for Economic Development Center or centre may refer to: Mathematics *Center (geometry), the middle of an object * Center (algebra), used in various contexts ** Center (group theory) ** Center (ring theory) * Graph center, the set of all vertices of minimum eccentrici ...
(Центр Содействия Экономическому Развитию) is a think tank whose major tasks are: analytic support in economic reforming and development in Uzbekistan; improving knowledge and skills of the subjects of economic development; assistance in productive dialogue between the government, civil society and private sectors on the economic development matters. Key projects: Preparation of the National human development report for Uzbekistan, Sociological "portrait" of the Uzbek businessman, Preparation of an analytical report on export procedures optimization in Uzbekistan, various industry and marketing researches in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.


Oceanian think tanks


Australia

Most Australian think tanks are based at universities – for example, the Melbourne Institute – or are government-funded – for example, the Productivity Commission or the CSIRO. Private sources fund about 20 to 30 "independent" Australian think tanks. The best-known of these think tanks play a much more limited role in Australian public and business policy-making than do their equivalents in the United States. However, in the past decade the number of think tanks has increased substantially. Prominent Australian conservative think tanks include the Centre for Independent Studies, the Sydney Institute and the Institute of Public Affairs. Prominent leftist Australian think tanks include
the McKell Institute The McKell Institute is an Australian public policy institute dedicated to developing practical policy ideas and contributing to public debate. History The McKell Institute was launched in April 2012. It is named after William McKell, the 27th Pre ...
, Per Capita, the Australia Institute, the Lowy Institute and the Centre for Policy Development. In recent years regionally-based independent and non-partisan think tanks have emerged. Some think tanks, such as the Illawarra's i-eat-drink-think, engage in discussion, research and advocacy within a broader civics framework. Commercial think tanks like the Gartner Group, Access Economics, the Helmsman Institute, and others provide additional insight which complements not-for-profit organisations such as CEDA, the
Australian Strategic Policy Institute The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) is a defence and strategic policy think tank based in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, founded by the Australian government and funded by the Australian and overseas governments, industry ...
, and the Australian Institute of Company Directors to provide more targeted policy in defence, program governance, corporate governance and similar. Listed in alphabetical order, think tanks based in Australia include: *
Air Power Australia Air Power Australia is a private non-profit Australian think tank A think tank, or policy institute, is a research institute that performs research and advocacy concerning topics such as social policy, political strategy, economics, mili ...
* Asia Education Foundation * Asialink * The Australia Institute * Australian Fabian Society *
Australian Institute of International Affairs The Australian Institute of International Affairs (AIIA) is an Australian research institute and think tank which focuses on International relations. It publishes the '' Australian Journal of International Affairs''. It is one of the oldest act ...
*
Australian Institute of Policy & Science The Australian Institute of Policy and Science (AIPS) is an Australian non-partisan and non-profit organisation that aims to further public understanding of the public policy and science in Australia. Founded in 1932 as the Australian Institute of ...
*
Australian Strategic Policy Institute The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) is a defence and strategic policy think tank based in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, founded by the Australian government and funded by the Australian and overseas governments, industry ...
* The Brisbane Institute * Centre for Independent Studies * Centre for Policy Development * Chifley Research Centre *
Committee for Economic Development of Australia The Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) is a bipartisan, non-profit organisation providing thought leadership and policy perspectives on the economic and social issues affecting Australia. Its expressed aim is to "promote nat ...
* Consumer Policy Research Centre (CPRC) * Crowther Centre for Learning and Innovation *
Development Policy Centre The Development Policy Centre (Devpol) is an aid and development policy think tank based at the Crawford School of Public Policy in the College of Asia and the Pacific at the Australian National University. Devpol undertakes independent research ...
*
Doctors Reform Society of Australia The Doctors Reform Society of Australia (DRS), established in 1973, is a medico-political thinktank and a medical association of medical practitioners and medical students that has advocated a range of alternative views to those of the Australian ...
*
Evatt Foundation The H.V. Evatt Memorial Foundation is an Australian think tank founded in memory of Australian politician, judge, historian and diplomat H. V. Evatt. It is based in Sydney, with members and supporters from around the world. It is a progressive ...
* Grattan Institute *
H. R. Nicholls Society The HR Nicholls Society is an Australian think tank that focuses on industrial relations. It advocates full workplace deregulation, contains some Liberal MPs as members and is seen to be of the New Right. It was created in March 1986 after John ...
* Infrastructure Partnerships Australia * Institute for Economics and Peace * Institute of Public Affairs * International Energy Centre * International WaterCentre * Issues Deliberation Australia/America *
Laboratory for Visionary Architecture Laboratory for Visionary Architecture (LAVA) is an international think tank set up in 2007 with a focus on research and design. Its stated goal is to reposition architecture at the forefront of cultural, technological and social change. It maintain ...
*
Lowy Institute for International Policy The Lowy Institute is an independent think tank founded in April 2003 by Frank Lowy to conduct original, policy-relevant research about international political, strategic and economic issues from an Australian perspective. It is based in Sydn ...
*
Mannkal Economic Education Foundation The Mannkal Economic Education Foundation is a free market think tank headquartered in Perth, Western Australia.Francis ThorntonManners' good work benefits students ''Kalgoorlie Miner'', February 9, 2012 Location The think tank is located at ...
* The Green Institute *
The McKell Institute The McKell Institute is an Australian public policy institute dedicated to developing practical policy ideas and contributing to public debate. History The McKell Institute was launched in April 2012. It is named after William McKell, the 27th Pre ...
*
The Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research The Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research (often simply referred to as "The Melbourne Institute") is an Australian economic research institute based in Melbourne, Victoria. The institute is a department of the Faculty of Bu ...
*
Menzies Research Centre The Menzies Research Centre Ltd is an Australian public policy think tank. It was founded in 1994 and is named in honour of Sir Robert Menzies, the founder of the Liberal Party of Australia and Australia's longest-serving Prime Minister. It is ...
*
National Civic Council The National Civic Council (or NCC) is a conservative Christian lobby group in Australia, founded by B.A. Santamaria in the 1940s. The NCC publishes a weekly magazine, ''News Weekly''. The NCC promotes policy based on Santamaria's Catholic valu ...
* New South Wales Institute for Educational Research * Per Capita * Samuel Griffith Society * Strategic and Defence Studies Centre * Sydney Institute *
Transport and Logistics Centre The Transport and Logistics Centre (TALC) is a national policy and practice research centre based in Sydney, Australia. Its prime objective is the building of capability in the transport and logistics sector in Australia. The Transport and Logis ...
* United States Studies Centre * Western Australia Policy Forum


New Zealand

Think tanks based in New Zealand include: *
Centre for Strategic Studies New Zealand The Centre for Strategic Studies: New Zealand (CSS:NZ) is an international and military affairs research ( strategic studies) centre located in Wellington, New Zealand. Formerly jointly supported by the New Zealand Ministry of Defence, New Zealand ...
* Child Poverty Action Group (Aotearoa New Zealand) *
Helen Clark Foundation The Helen Clark Foundation ( mi, Mahi a Rongo) is an Aotearoa New Zealand-based independent, non-partisan public policy think tank hosted by Auckland University of Technology. Formation The foundation was formed in 2019 and is named after Helen ...
*
Maxim Institute The Maxim Institute is a research and public policy think tank based in Auckland, New Zealand. The Institute's work is oriented toward a conservative perspective on its issues of primary concern, which are now education policy, tax and welfare poli ...
* McGuinness Institute *
Motu Economic and Public Policy Research Motu Economic and Public Policy Research is an economic and public policy research institute based in Wellington, New Zealand. Founded in September 2000New Zealand Centre for Global Studies New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created. New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz Albums and EPs * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, ...
*
New Zealand Initiative The New Zealand Initiative is a pro-free-market public-policy think tank and business membership organisation in New Zealand. It was formed in 2012 by merger of the New Zealand Business Roundtable (NZBR) and the New Zealand Institute. The Initia ...
* New Zealand Institute of Economic Research


European think tanks


Belgium

Brussels hosts most of the European Institutions, hence a large number of international think tanks are based there. Notable think tanks are Bruegel, the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), Centre for the New Europe (CNE), the European Centre of International Political Economy (ECIPE), the European Policy Centre (EPC), the
Friends of Europe Friends of Europe is a Brussels-based, not-for-profit think-tank for European Union policy analysis and debate. The organisation, established in 1999, has no political or national allegiance and is independent of the EU institutions. Its declare ...
, the Global Governance Institute (GGI), Liberales, and Sport and Citizenship, among others.


Bulgaria

Bulgaria has a number of think tanks providing expertise and shaping policies, including Institute of Modern Politics.


Czech Republic

* The
European Values Think-Tank European Values () is a Czech non-governmental organisation founded in 2005 and financed from some governments. Its incentive is to raise political culture in the Czech Republic as well as on the European level. It defines European Values as pers ...
* The
Prague Security Studies Institute The Prague Security Studies Institute (PSSI, cs, Pražský Institut Bezpečnostnich Studii; ''PIBS'') is a non-profit, nongovernmental organization established in early 2002 to advance the building of a just, secure, democratic and free-market soc ...
(PSSI)


Denmark

*
CEPOS Centre for Political Studies, also known as CEPOS, is an independent association which works as a classical liberal/ free-market conservative think-tank in Denmark. It is a strongly right-leaning and highly political association. History Inspired ...
is a classic liberal/free-market conservative think tank in Denmark.


Finland

Finland has several small think tanks that provide expertise in very specific fields. Notable think tanks include: * Åland Islands Peace Institute * Demos Helsinki * European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats (Hybrid CoE) * Crisis Management Initiative (CMI) * Research Institute of the Finnish Economy (Etla) *
Finnish Institute of International Affairs The Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA, fi, Ulkopoliittinen instituutti, sv, Utrikespolitiska institutet, UPI) is an independent research institute that produces topical information and research on international relations and the ...
In addition to specific independent think tanks, the largest political parties have their own think tank organizations. This is mainly due to support granted by state for such activity. The corporate world has focused their efforts to central representative organization
Confederation of Finnish Industries The Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK, fi, Elinkeinoelämän Keskusliitto, sv, Finlands Näringsliv) is the largest employers' association in Finland. It was formed at the beginning of 2005 when the two employers' associations ''Palvelutyö ...
, which acts as think tank in addition to negotiating salaries with workers unions. Furthermore, there is the Finnish Business and Policy Forum (''Elinkeinoelämän valtuuskunta'', EVA). Agricultural and regional interests, associated with The Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (''Maa- ja metsätaloustuottajain Keskusliitto'', MTK) and the Centre Party, are researched by Pellervo Economic Research (''Pellervon taloustutkimus'', PTT). The
Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions The Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions, usually referred to by the acronym SAK ( fi, Suomen Ammattiliittojen Keskusjärjestö; sv, Finlands Fackförbunds Centralorganisation, FFC) is the largest trade union confederation in Finland. It ...
(''Suomen Ammattiliittojen Keskusjärjestö'', SAK) and the
Social Democratic Party The name Social Democratic Party or Social Democrats has been used by many political parties in various countries around the world. Such parties are most commonly aligned to social democracy as their political ideology. Active parties For ...
are associated with the Labour Institute for Economic Research (''Palkansaajien tutkimuslaitos'', PT). The Finns Party established its own think tank, '' Suomen Perusta'', in 2012. Each of these organizations often release forecasts concerning the national economy.


France

The
French Institute of International Relations French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Fran ...
(IFRI) was founded in 1979 and is the third oldest think tank of western Europe, after Chatham House (UK, 1920) and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sweden, 1960). The primary goals of IFRI are to develop applied research in the field of public policy related to international issues, and foster interactive and constructive dialogue between researchers, professionals, and opinion leaders. France also hosts the European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS), a
Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. Si ...
-based agency of the European Union and think tank researching security issues of relevance for the EU. There are also a number of pro-business think tanks, notably the Paris-based Fondation Concorde. The foundation focuses on increasing the competitiveness of French SME's and aims to revive entrepreneurship in France. On the left, the main think tanks in France are the Fondation Jean-Jaurès, which is organizationally linked to the French Socialist Party, and Terra Nova. Terra Nova is an independent left-leaning think tank, although it is nevertheless considered to be close to the Socialists. It works on producing reports and analyses of current public policy issues from a progressive point of view, and contributing to the intellectual renewal of social democracy. The only French Think Tank mentioned in the "think tanks to watch" list of the 2014 Global Go To Think Tank Index Report is a French think tank created by Gaspard Koenig in 2013, independent from all political parties, which aims at promoting freedoms in France, in terms of fundamental rights, economics and societal issues. GenerationLibre is described as being able to connect to the right on pro business freedom and regulations issues but also to the left on issues such as basic income, gay marriage and the legalization of marijuana.


Germany

In Germany all of the major parties are loosely associated with research foundations that play some role in shaping policy, but generally from the more disinterested role of providing research to support policymakers than explicitly proposing policy. These include the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung ( Christian Democratic Union-aligned), the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (
Social Democratic Party The name Social Democratic Party or Social Democrats has been used by many political parties in various countries around the world. Such parties are most commonly aligned to social democracy as their political ideology. Active parties For ...
-aligned), the
Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung The CSU-associated Hanns Seidel Foundation (german: Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung) is a German party-associated and taxpayer-money funded political research foundation. It was founded in November 1966 after most of the other party-associated foundations ...
( Christian Social Union-aligned), the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung ( aligned with the Greens),
Friedrich Naumann Foundation The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (german: Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung für die Freiheit) (''FNF''), is a German foundation for liberal politics, related to the Free Democratic Party. Established in 1958 by Theodor Heuss, the first pre ...
( Free Democratic Party-aligned) and the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation (aligned with
Die Linke The Left (german: Die Linke; stylised as and in its logo as ), commonly referred to as the Left Party (german: Die Linkspartei, links=no ), is a democratic socialist political party in Germany. The party was founded in 2007 as the result of th ...
). The German Institute for International and Security Affairs is a foreign policy think tank.
Atlantic Community The Atlantic Community was a German-American project to apply Web 2.0 ideas to transatlantic foreign policy strategy. Launched in April 2007 as an undertaking of the Atlantic Initiative, the Atlantic Community aims at facilitating discussion betwe ...
is an independent, non-partisan and non-profit organization set up as a joint project of Atlantische Initiative e.V. and Atlantic Initiative United States. The Institute for Media and Communication Policy deals with media-related issues. Transparency International is a think tank on the role of corporate and political corruption in international development.


Greece

In Greece there are many think tanks, also called research organisations or institutes.


Ireland

* The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) is an independent research institute in Dublin, Ireland. Its research focuses on Ireland's economic and social development to inform policy-making and societal understanding. * The Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA) focuses on European and International affairs. * The Iona Institute is a conservative, Catholic think tank. * TASC (Think tank for Action on Social Change) is an Irish left-wing think tank. * Transhuman Corporation is a research think tank that focuses on cyber and technology development.


Italy

*
Bruno Leoni Institute The Bruno Leoni Institute, named after philosopher and scholar Bruno Leoni, is an Italian libertarian think-tank promoting classical liberal ideas in Italy and in Europe. It was founded in 2003 by three libertarian scholars Carlo Lottieri, A ...
*
Future Italy Future Italy (''Italia Futura'', IF) was an Italian liberal-centrist think tank, formed in 2009 by Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, chairman of Alitalia (since 2014) and former chairman of Ferrari (1991–2014), FIAT (2004–2010) and Confindustria (2 ...
* ISPI – Italian Institute for International Political Studies * Istituto Affari Internazionali *
Trinità dei Monti The church of the Santissima Trinità dei Monti, often called merely the Trinità dei Monti ( French: ''La Trinité-des-Monts''), is a Roman Catholic late Renaissance titular church in Rome, central Italy. It is best known for its position abo ...


Latvia

While think tanks are not widespread in Latvia, as opposed to single-issue advocacy organizations, there are several noticeable institutions in the Latvian think tank landscape: * The oldest think tank in Latvia is the Latvian Institute of International Affairs. LIIA is a non governmental and non partisan foundation, established in 1992, and their research and advocacy mainly focuses on Latvian foreign policy; Transatlantic relations; European Union policies, including its neighborhood policy and Eastern Partnership; and multilateral and bilateral relations with Russia. * Centre for Public policy PROVIDUS is a non governmental and non partisan association, established in 2002. Providus focuses their work (both research and advocacy) on topics especially relevant in transition and post-transition environments and Latvia in particular: good governance; criminal justice policy; tolerance and inclusive public policy and European policy. Several think tanks are established and operate under the auspices of Universities, such as: * Centre for European and transition studies is a think tank working under the auspices of the University of Latvia, the largest public university in the country. CETS was established in 2000. * or Defense research centre in 1992 under the auspices of the National Academy of Defense.


Lithuania

Vilnius Institute for Policy Analysis (VIPA) is an independent non-governmental, non-profit, non-partisan policy think tank in Lithuania whose mission is to stand for the principles of open society, liberal democracy, rule of law and human rights. VIPA acts via advocacy for strong and safe European Union, analyzing and advocating for anti-authoritarian, transparent, and open governance ideas in Central and Eastern Europe, is an opinion leader offering an alternative opinion to the public versus populism, radicalism, and authoritarian trends, reinforcing active citizens' participation in decision making, analyzing fake news, disinformation, and offering media literacy initiatives, putting forward solutions to improve the accountability, transparency, and openness of Lithuania's public sector, building a network of open society values oriented experts, civil activists and NGO's.


Netherlands

All major political parties in the Netherlands have state-sponsored research foundations that play a role in shaping policy. The Dutch government also has its own think tank: the Scientific Council for Government Policy. The Netherlands furthermore hosts the Netherlands Institute of International Relations Clingendael, or Clingendael Institute, an independent think tank and diplomatic academy which studies various aspects of international relations.


Poland

There is a large pool of think tanks in Poland on a wide variety of subjects. The oldest state-sponsored think tank is The Western Institute in Poznań (Polish: ''Instytut Zachodni''). The second oldest is the
Polish Institute of International Affairs The Polish Institute of International Affairs (PISM, pl, Polski Instytut Spraw Międzynarodowych) in Warsaw is a Polish think tank which carries out research and training in international relations. In this field, it ranks as one of the mos ...
(PISM) established in 1947. Another notable state-sponsored think tank is the
Centre for Eastern Studies The Centre for Eastern Studies ( pl, Ośrodek Studiów Wschodnich, OSW) is a Warsaw-based think tank that undertakes independent research on the political, economic and social situation in Central and Eastern Europe, Balkans, Caucasus and C ...
(OSW), which specializes in the countries neighboring Poland and in the Baltic Sea region, the Balkans, Turkey, the Caucasus and Central Asia. Among the private think tanks notable organizations include the Institute for Structural Research (IBS) on economic policy,
The Casimir Pulaski Foundation The Casimir Pulaski Foundation (''Fundacja im. Kazimierza Pułaskiego, FKP'') is an independent, non-profit, and non-partisan think tank based in Warsaw, Poland specializing in foreign policy and security research. The foundation is named after Ca ...
on foreign policy, the Institute of Public Affairs (ISP) on social policy, and the Sobieski Institute.


Portugal

Founded in 1970, the SEDES is one of the oldest Portuguese civic associations and think tanks. Contraditório think tank was founded in 2008. Contraditório is a non-profit, independent and non-partisan think tank.


Romania

The Romanian Academic Society (SAR), founded in 1996, is a Romanian think tank for policy research.


Serbia

The Foundation for the Advancement of Economics (FREN) was founded in 2005 by the
Belgrade University The University of Belgrade ( sr, / ) is a List of universities in Serbia, public university in Serbia. It is the oldest and largest modern university in Serbia. Founded in 1808 as the Belgrade Higher School in revolutionary Serbia, by 1838 i ...
's Faculty of Economics.


Slovakia

Think tanks originating in Slovakia: * GLOBSEC – Global think tank committed to enhancing security, prosperity and sustainability in Europe and throughout the world. * Central European Labour Studies Institute or ''CELSI'' (''Stredoeurópsky inštitút pre výskum práce'' in Slovak) – Central-european think tank which specializes in broadly defined labor issues, labour markets, and labor policy. *
Forum Minority Research Institute The Forum Minority Research Institute or Forum Institute (''Fórum Kisebbségkutató Intézet'' or ''Fórum Intézet'' in Hungarian and ''Fórum inštitút pre výskum menšín'' or ''Fórum inštitút'' in Slovak) is a Slovak think tank with i ...
(''Fórum Kisebbségkutató Intézet'' or ''Fórum Intézet'' in Hungarian and ''Fórum inštitút pre výskum menšín'' or ''Fórum inštitút'' in Slovak) – Think tank focusing on ethnic minorities living in Slovakia, especially Hungarians. International think tanks with presence in Slovakia: * Institute of Public Affairs (''Inštitút pre verejné otázky'' or ''IVO'' in Slovak) – Australian-based think tank focusing on public policy issues. * Open Society Foundations or ''OSF'' – US-based think thank with an aim of advancing justice, education, public health and independent media. *
Martens Centre The Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies, also known as the Martens Centre and previously as the ''Centre for European Studies'', is a think tank and political foundation of the European People's Party (EPP). As the central link of a la ...
(via the Anton Tunega Foundation) – Belgium-based think tank and political foundation of the European People's Party (EPP) which embodies a pan-European mindset and promotes Christian-democratic and liberal-conservative political values.


Spain

The
Elcano Royal Institute The Elcano Royal Institute for International and Strategic Studies (Spanish: ''Real Instituto Elcano de Estudios Internacionales y Estratégicos''; RIE) is a think tank based in Madrid, Spain. It was created on 26 November 2001 as private foundat ...
was created in 2001 following the example of the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) in the UK, although it is closely linked to (and receives funding from) the government in power. More independent but clearly to the left of the political spectrum are the Centro de Investigaciones de Relaciones Internacionales y Desarrollo (CIDOB) founded in 1973; and the Fundación para las Relaciones Internacionales y el Diálogo Exterior (FRIDE) established in 1999 by Diego Hidalgo and main driving force behind projects such as the Club de Madrid, a group of democratic former heads of state and government, the Foreign Policy Spanish Edition and DARA. Former Prime Minister
José Maria Aznar José is a predominantly Spanish and Portuguese form of the given name Joseph. While spelled alike, this name is pronounced differently in each language: Spanish ; Portuguese (or ). In French, the name ''José'', pronounced , is an old vernacu ...
presides over the Fundación para el Analisis y los Estudios Sociales ( FAES), a policy institute that is associated with the conservative Popular Party (PP). Also linked to the PP is the Grupo de Estudios Estratégicos (GEES), which is known for its defense- and security-related research and analysis. For its part, the Fundación Alternativas is independent but close to left-wing ideas. The Socialist Partido Socialista Obrero Español (PSOE) created Fundación Ideas in 2009 and dissolved it in January 2014. Also in 2009, the centrist Union, Progress and Democracy (UPyD) created Fundación Progreso y Democracia (FPyD).


Sweden

Timbro is a free market think tank and book publisher based in
Stockholm Stockholm () is the capital and largest city of Sweden as well as the largest urban area in Scandinavia. Approximately 980,000 people live in the municipality, with 1.6 million in the urban area, and 2.4 million in the metropo ...
.


Switzerland

Think tanks based within Switzerland include: *
Avenir Suisse Avenir Suisse is a classical liberal think tank focused on Switzerland’s future in political, economical and social areas. Its main goal is to stimulate the public debate and to provide new ideas through the publication of studies and the regul ...
, founded in 1999 by fifteen of the largest Swiss companies. It is supported by over 130 companies to date. * DCAF, the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces, founded in 2000 to research security sector governance and reform. * Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute (GDI), conceived by the
Migros Migros () is Switzerland's largest retail company, its largest supermarket chain and largest employer. It is also one of the forty largest retailers in the world. It is structured in the form of a cooperative federation (the Federation of Mig ...
-founder Gottlieb Duttweiler in 1946. *
Horasis Horasis is an independent, international think tank, headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. Founded in 2005, by Frank-Jürgen Richter, former director of the World Economic Forum, Horasis is dedicated to the innovation and development of sustaina ...
, which hosts the annual Horasis Global Meeting *
Liberal Institute Liberal or liberalism may refer to: Politics * a supporter of liberalism ** Liberalism by country * an adherent of a Liberal Party * Liberalism (international relations) * Sexually liberal feminism * Social liberalism Arts, entertainment and m ...
, founded in 1979.


Ukraine

There are more than 100 registered think tanks in
Ukraine Ukraine ( uk, Україна, Ukraïna, ) is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which it borders to the east and northeast. Ukraine covers approximately . Prior to the ongoing Russian inva ...
. For example: * Centre of Policy and Legal Reform (CPLR) * Razumkov Centre is a non-governmental think tank founded in 1994. It carries out research of public policy in the following spheres: domestic policy; state administration; economic policy; energy; land relations; foreign policy; social policy; international and regional security; national security and defense.


United Kingdom

In Britain, think tanks play a similar role to the United States, attempting to shape policy, and indeed there is some cooperation between British and American think tanks. For example, the London-based think tank Chatham House and the Council on Foreign Relations were both conceived at the Paris Peace Conference, 1919 and have remained sister organisations. The Bow Group, founded in 1951, is the oldest centre-right think tank and many of its members have gone on to serve as Members of Parliament or Members of the European Parliament. Past chairmen have included
Conservative Party The Conservative Party is a name used by many political parties around the world. These political parties are generally right-wing though their exact ideologies can range from center-right to far-right. Political parties called The Conservative P ...
leader Michael Howard, Margaret Thatcher's longest-serving Cabinet Minister Geoffrey Howe, Chancellor of the Exchequer Norman Lamont and former British Telecom chairman
Christopher Bland Sir Francis Christopher Buchan Bland (29 May 1938 – 28 January 2017) was a British businessman and politician. He was deputy chairman of the Independent Television Authority (1972), which was renamed the Independent Broadcasting Authority in t ...
. Since 2000, a number of influential centre right think tanks have emerged including Policy Exchange, Centre for Social Justice and most recently Onward.


Transcontinental countries (Asia-Europe)


Armenia

According to a 2020 report, there are 32 think tanks or similar institutions in Armenia. The government closed the Noravank Foundation, a government-affiliated think tank, in 2018 after almost two decades of operation. However, other think tanks continue to operate, include the
Caucasus Institute The Caucasus Institute is a think tank and postgraduate institution. Its focus is on encouraging pluralistic discourse in the South Caucasus, including the countries of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. Its goal is to promote inclusive policy-mak ...
, the Caucasus Research Resource Center-Armenia (CRRC-Armenia) (which publishes the "Caucasus Barometer" annual public opinion survey of the South Caucasus, the "Enlight" Public Research Center, and the AMBERD research center at the Armenian State University of Economics.


Azerbaijan

According to research done by the University of Pennsylvania, there are a total of 12 think tanks in Azerbaijan. The Center for Economic and Social Development, or CESD; in Azeri, Azerbaijan, İqtisadi və Sosial İnkişaf Mərkəzi (İSİM) is an
Azeri Azerbaijanis (; az, Azərbaycanlılar, ), Azeris ( az, Azərilər, ), or Azerbaijani Turks ( az, Azərbaycan Türkləri, ) are a Turkic people living mainly in northwestern Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan. They are the second-most nume ...
think tank, non-profit organization, NGO based in Baku, Azerbaijan. The center was established in 2005. CESD focuses on policy advocacy and reform, and is involved with policy research and capacity building. The Economic Research Center (ERC) is a policy-research oriented non-profit think tank established in 1999 with a mission to facilitate sustainable economic development and good governance in the new public management system of Azerbaijan. It seeks to do this by building favorable interactions between the public, private and civil society and working with different networks both in local (EITI NGO Coalition, National Budget Group, Public Coalition Against Poverty, etc.) and international levels (PWYP, IBP, ENTO, ALDA, PASOS, WTO NGO Network etc.). The Center for Strategic Studies under the President of Azerbaijan is a governmental, non-profit think tank founded in 2007. It focusses on domestic and foreign policy.


Russia

According to the Foreign Policy Research Institute, Russia has 112 think tanks, while Russian think tanks claimed four of the top ten spots in 2011's "Top Thirty Think Tanks in Central and Eastern Europe". Notable Russian think tanks include: *
Analytical Center for the Government of the Russian Federation Analytical Center for the Government of the Russian Federation (russian: Аналитический центр при Правительстве Российской Федерации) is the source of prompt expert views on a wide range of soci ...
* Carnegie Moscow Center * Institute for US and Canadian Studies *
Institute of World Economy and International Relations The Institute of World Economy and International Relations (russian: Институт мировой экономики и международных отношений), or IMEMO, is a leading independent research institute based in Moscow, Rus ...
* Moscow State Institute of International Relations


Turkey

Turkish think tanks are relatively new. There are at least 20 think tanks in the country, both independent and supported by government. Many of them are sister organizations of political parties, universities or companies some are independent and others are supported by government. Most Turkish think tanks provide research and ideas, yet they play less important roles in policy making than American think tanks. Turksam, Tasam and the ''
Journal of Turkish Weekly ''Journal of Turkish Weekly'' was an English language Turkish news website run by the International Strategic Research Organization The International Strategic Research Organization (USAK, acronym from its Turkish name ''Uluslararası Strateji ...
'' are the leading information sources. The oldest and most influential think tank in Turkey is ESAM (The Center for Economic and Social Research; tr, Ekonomik ve Sosyal Araştırmalar Merkezi) which was established in 1969 and has headquarters in Ankara. There are also branch offices of ESAM in Istanbul, Bursa, Konya and elsewhere. ESAM has strong international relationships, especially with Muslim countries and societies. Ideologically it performs policies, produces ideas and manages projects in parallel to Milli Görüş and also influences political parties and international strategies. The founder and leader of Milli Görüş, Necmettin Erbakan, was very concerned with the activities and brainstorming events of ESAM. In The Republic of Turkey, two presidents, four prime ministers, various ministers, many members of the parliament, and numerous mayors and bureaucrats have been members of ESAM. Currently the General Chairman of ESAM is Recai Kutan (former minister for two different ministries, former main opposition party leader, and founder and General Chairman of the
Saadet Party The Felicity Party ( tr, Saadet Partisi, SP) is an Islamist Turkish political party. It was founded in 2001, and mainly supported by conservative Muslims in Turkey. It was founded on 20 July 2001 after the Virtue Party (FP) was banned by the C ...
). The
Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation The Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation ( tr, Türkiye Ekonomik ve Sosyal Etüdler Vakfı, TESEV), based in Istanbul, is Turkey's leading think tank. The Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV) is an independent non-gover ...
(TESEV) is another leading think thank. Established in 1994, TESEV is an independent non-governmental think tank, analyzing social, political and economic policy issues facing Turkey. TESEV has raised issues about Islam and democracy, combating corruption, state reform, and transparency and accountability. TESEV serve as a bridge between academic research and policy-making. Its core program areas are democratization, good governance, and foreign policy. Other notable Turkish think tanks are the
International Strategic Research Organisation The International Strategic Research Organization (USAK, acronym from its Turkish name ''Uluslararası Stratejik Araştırma Kurumu'') is an independent think-tank established in 2004. It pursues interdisciplinary studies on national and internati ...
(USAK), the Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA), and the Wise Men Center for Strategic Studies (BİLGESAM).


North American think tanks


Canada

Canada has many notable think tanks (listed in alphabetical order). Each has specific areas of interest with some overlaps. * Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada * Atlantic Institute for Market Studies * Broadbent Institute *
C.D. Howe Institute The C. D. Howe Institute (french: Institut C. D. Howe) is a Canadian nonprofit policy research organization in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It aims to be distinguished by "research that is nonpartisan, evidence-based, and subject to definitive exper ...
*
Caledon Institute of Social Policy The Caledon Institute of Social Policy, also Caledon Institute, is a private Canadian think tank focused on social policy Social policy is a plan or action of government or institutional agencies which aim to improve or reform society. Some p ...
* Canada West Foundation * Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives *
Canadian Global Affairs Institute The Canadian Global Affairs Institute (Global Affairs) is an independent, non-partisan research institute based in Calgary with offices in Ottawa. Incorporated as a charitable organization in 2000, the institute pursues new ideas to focus the na ...
* Canadian Institute for Advanced Research * Canadian International Council *
Canadian Policy Research Networks Canadian Policy Research Networks (CPRN) was a non-profit, non-partisan socio-economic think tank based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, with a focus on citizen engagement and policy research and analysis. History Founded in 1994, CPRN produced sever ...
(disbanded) *
Canadian Tax Foundation The Canadian Tax Foundation was founded in 1945 as an independent, non-partisan, non-profit tax research organization under the joint sponsorship of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants and the Canadian Bar Association. It provides a u ...
* Cardus * Centre for International Governance Innovation * Conference Board of Canada * Council of Canadians *
Fraser Institute The Fraser Institute is a libertarian-conservative Canadian public policy think tank and registered charity. The institute describes itself as independent and non-partisan. It is headquartered in Vancouver, with additional offices in Calgary, ...
*
Frontier Centre for Public Policy The Frontier Centre for Public Policy (FCPP) is a Canadian public policy think tank, founded to undertake research and education projects in support of economic growth and social outcomes that enhance quality of life. 2012 Annual Report http://ww ...
*
Institute for Quantum Computing The Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC) is an affiliate scientific research institute of the University of Waterloo located in Waterloo, Ontario with a multidisciplinary approach to the field of quantum information processing. IQC was founde ...
* Institute for Research on Public Policy *
Institute on Governance Institute on Governance (IOG) is a Canadian think-tank focused on developing better governance in the public sphere both in Canada and internationally. IOG is headquartered in Ottawa with a second office in Toronto and extensive operations in ...
*
International Institute for Sustainable Development The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) is an independent think tank founded in 1990 working to shape and inform international policy on sustainable development governance. The institute has three offices in Canada - Wi ...
*
International Policy Forum International is an adjective (also used as a noun) meaning "between nations". International may also refer to: Music Albums * ''International'' (Kevin Michael album), 2011 * ''International'' (New Order album), 2002 * ''International'' (The T ...
*
Montreal Economic Institute The Montreal Economic Institute (MEI) is a non-profit research organization (or think tank) based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It aims at promoting economic liberalism through economic education of the general public and what it regards as effici ...
* Mowat Centre for Policy Innovation *
National Citizens Coalition The National Citizens Coalition (NCC) is a Canadian conservative lobby group that was incorporated in 1975 by Colin M. Brown, a successful insurance agent who strongly opposed public health insurance—medicare. In response to what he perceive ...
* North-South Institute *
Parkland Institute The Parkland Institute is an Alberta-wide, non-partisan research institute, situated within the Faculty of Arts at the University of Alberta. The Institute studies economic, social, cultural, and political issues using the intellectual approach of ...
* Pembina Institute *
Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics (PI, Perimeter, PITP) is an independent research centre in foundational theoretical physics located in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. It was founded in 1999. The institute's founding and major benefactor ...
* Public Policy Forum


Mexico

*
CIDAC Centro de Investigacion para el Desarrollo A.C. is a non-profit independent think tank devoted to the study and interpretation of Mexican reality and the presentation of viable proposals for the development of Mexico in the medium and long term. ...
– The Center of Research for Development (Centro de Investigación para el Desarrollo, Asociación Civil) is a not-for-profit think tank that undertakes research and proposes viable policy options for Mexico's economic and democratic development. The organization seeks to promote open, pluralistic debate pursuing: the Rule of Law & Democracy, market economics, social development, and strengthening Mexico-United States relations. * CIDE – The Center of Research and Economics Teaching (Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económicas) is a think tank institute focussing on "public policies", "public choice", "democracy", and "economy". *COMEXI – The Mexican Council of International Affairs (Consejo Mexicano de Asuntos Internacionales).


United States

As the classification is most often used today, the oldest American think tank is the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, founded in 1910.Thomas Medvetz, "'Think Tanks in America" (2012) Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press The Institute for Government Research, which later merged with two organizations to form the Brookings Institution, was formed in 1916. Other early twentieth century organizations now classified as think tanks include the
Hoover Institution The Hoover Institution (officially The Hoover Institution on War, Revolution, and Peace; abbreviated as Hoover) is an American public policy think tank and research institution that promotes personal and economic liberty, free enterprise, a ...
(1919), The Twentieth Century Fund (1919, and now known as the Century Foundation), the National Bureau of Economic Research (1920), the Council on Foreign Relations (1921), and the
Social Science Research Council The Social Science Research Council (SSRC) is a US-based, independent, international nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing research in the social sciences and related disciplines. Established in Manhattan in 1923, it today maintains ...
(1923). The Great Depression and its aftermath spawned several economic policy organizations, such as the
National Planning Association National may refer to: Common uses * Nation or country ** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen Places in the United States * National, Maryland, c ...
(1934), the Tax Foundation (1937), and the Committee for Economic Development (1943). In collaboration with the Douglas Aircraft Company, the Air Force set up the RAND Corporation in 1946 to develop weapons technology and strategic defense analysis. The Hudson Institute is a conservative American think tank founded in 1961 by futurist, military strategist, and systems theorist Herman Kahn and his colleagues at the RAND Corporation. Recent members include Mike Pompeo, the former secretary of state under Donald Trump who joined in 2021. More recently, progressive and liberal think tanks have been established, most notably the Center for American Progress and the Center for Research on Educational Access and Leadership (CREAL). The organization has close ties to former United States President Barack Obama and other prominent Democrats. Think tanks help shape both foreign and domestic policy. They receive funding from private donors, and members of private organizations. By 2013, the largest 21 think tanks in the US spent more than US$1 billion per year. Think tanks may feel more free to propose and debate controversial ideas than people within government. The progressive media watchdog Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) has identified the top 25 think tanks by media citations, noting that from 2006 to 2007 the number of citations declined 17%. The FAIR report reveals the ideological breakdown of the citations: 37% conservative, 47% centrist, and 16% liberal. Their data show that the most-cited think tank was the Brookings Institution, followed by the Council on Foreign Relations, the American Enterprise Institute, The Heritage Foundation, and the Center for Strategic and International Studies. In 2016, in response to scrutiny about think tanks appearing to have a "conflict of interest" or lack transparency, executive vice president, Martin S. Indyk of Brookings Institution – the "most prestigious think tank in the world" admitted that they had "decided to prohibit corporations or corporate-backed foundations from making anonymous contributions." In August 2016, ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'' published a series on think tanks that blur the line. One of the cases the journalists cited was Brookings, where scholars paid by a seemingly independent think tank "push donors' agendas amplifying a culture of corporate influence in Washington." For example, in exchange for hundreds of thousands of dollars the Brookings Institution provided Lennar – one of the United States' largest home builders – with a significant advantage in pursuing a US$8 billion revitalization project in Hunters Point, San Francisco. In 2014, Lennar's then-regional vice president in charge of the San Francisco revitalization, Kofi Bonner was named as a Brookings senior fellow – a position as 'trusted adviser' that carries some distinction. Bruce Katz, a Brookings vice president, also offered to help Lennar "engage with national media to develop stories that highlight Lennar's innovative approach."


= U.S. Government think tanks

= Government think tanks are also important in the United States, particularly in the security and defense field. These include the Center for Technology and National Security Policy at the National Defense University, the Center for Naval Warfare Studies at the Naval War College, and the
Strategic Studies Institute The Strategic Studies Institute (SSI) is the U.S. Army's institute for strategic and national security research and analysis. It is part of the U.S. Army War College. SSI conducts strategic research and analysis to support the U.S. Army War Co ...
at the U.S. Army War College. The government funds, wholly or in part, activities at approximately 30 Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs). FFRDCs, are unique independent nonprofit entities sponsored and funded by the United States government to meet specific long-term technical needs that cannot be met by any other single organization. FFRDCs typically assist government agencies with scientific research and analysis, systems development, and systems acquisition. They bring together the expertise and outlook of government, industry, and academia to solve complex technical problems. These FFRDCs include the RAND Corporation, the MITRE Corporation, the Institute for Defense Analyses, the Aerospace Corporation, the MIT Lincoln Laboratory, and other organizations supporting various departments within the United States Government. Similar to the above quasi-governmental organizations are Federal Advisory Committees. These groups, sometimes referred to as commissions, are a form of think tank dedicated to advising the US Presidents or the Executive branch of government. They typically focus on a specific issue and as such, might be considered similar to special interest groups. However, unlike special interest groups these committees have come under some oversight regulation and are required to make formal records available to the public. As of 2002, about 1,000 of these advisory committees were described in the FACA searchable database.


South American think tanks

Research done by Enrique Mendizabal shows that South American think tanks play various roles depending on their origins, historical development and relations to other policy actors. In this study, Orazio Bellettini from Grupo FARO suggests that they: * Seek political support for policies. * Legitimize policies – This has been clearer in Ecuador, Bolivia and Peru. New governments in Ecuador and Peru have approached policy institutes for support for already defined policies. In Bolivia, the government of Evo Morales has been working with Non-Government Organizations ( NGOs) and other research institutes to do the same. However, in Chile, many think tanks during the 1990s seemed to endorse and maintain the legitimacy of policies implemented during the previous decade by the military dictatorship headed by Pinochet. * Spaces of debate – In this case think tanks serve as sounding boards for new policies. In
Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the southernmost country in the world, and the closest to Antarctica, occupying a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes to the eas ...
, during the Pinochet dictatorship, many left wing intellectuals and researchers found 'asylum' in think tanks. In Ecuador, think tanks are seen as spaces where politicians can test the soundness of their policies and government plans. * Financial channels for political parties or other interest groups – In Ecuador and Bolivia, German foundations have been able to provide funds to think tanks that work with certain political parties. This method has provided support to the system as a whole rather than individual CSOs. * Expert cadres of policy-makers and politicians – In Peru after the end of the Fujimori regime, and in Chile after the fall of Pinochet, think tank staff left to form part of the new governments. In the United States, the role of major think tanks is precisely that: host scholars for a few months or years and then lose them to government employ. How a policy institute addresses these largely depends on how they work, their ideology vs. evidence credentials, and the context in which they operate including funding opportunities, the degree and type of competition they have and their staff. This functional method addresses the inherit challenge of defining a think tank. As Simon James said in 1998, "Discussion of think tanks...has a tendency to get bogged down in the vexed question of defining what we mean by 'think tank'—an exercise that often degenerates into futile semantics." It is better (as in the Network Functions Approach) to describe what the organisation should do. Then the shape of the organisation should follow to allow this to happen. The following framework (based on Stephen Yeo's description of think tanks' mode of work) is described in Enrique Mendizabal's blog "onthinktanks": First, policy institutes may work in or base their funding on one or more of: * Independent research: this would be work done with core or flexible funding that allows the researchers the liberty to choose their research questions and method. It may be long term and could emphasize 'big ideas' without direct policy relevance. However, it could emphasize a major policy problem that requires a thorough research and action investment. * Consultancy: this would be work done by commission with specific clients and addressing one or two major questions. Consultancies often respond to an existing agenda. * Influencing/advocacy: this would be work done by communications, capacity development, networking, campaigns, lobbying, etc. It is likely to be based on research based evidence emerging from independent research or consultancies. Second, policy institutes may base their work or arguments on: * Ideology, values or interests * Applied, empirical or synthesis research * Theoretical or academic research According to the National Institute for Research Advancement, a Japanese policy institute, think tanks are "one of the main policy actors in democratic societies ..., assuring a pluralistic, open and accountable process of policy analysis, research, decision-making and evaluation". A study in early 2009 found a total of 5,465 think tanks worldwide. Of that number, 1,777 were based in the United States and approximately 350 in Washington, DC, alone.


Argentina

As of 2009,
Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the List of South American countries by area, second-largest ...
is home to 122 think tanks, many specializing in public policy and economics issues. Argentina ranks fifth in the number of these institutions worldwide.


Brazil

Working on public policies, Brazil hosts, for example,
Instituto Liberdade Instituto Liberdade do Rio Grande do Sul is a Brazilian independent think tank, formed by intellectual entrepreneurs, based in Porto Alegre. Instituto Liberdade is not endowed and does not accept government funding. All of its programs depend upon ...
, a University-based Center at Tecnopuc inside the
Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul The Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul ( pt, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, PUCRS) is a private non-profit Catholic university. With campuses in the Brazilian cities of Porto Alegre and Viamão, it is th ...
, located in the South Region of the country, in the city of Porto Alegre. Instituto Liberdade is among the Top 40 think tanks in Latin America and the Caribbean, according to the 2009 Global Go To Think Tanks Index a report from the University of Pennsylvania's Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program (TTCSP). Fundação Getulio Vargas (Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV)) is a Brazilian higher education institution. Its original goal was to train people for the country's public- and private-sector management. Today it hosts faculties (Law, Business, Economics, Social Sciences and Mathematics), libraries, and also research centers in Rio, São Paulo and Brasilia. It is considered by '' Foreign Policy'' magazine to be a top-five "policymaker think tank" worldwide. The Igarapé Institute is a Brazilian think tank focusing on public, climate, and digital security.


Public opinion

A poll by the British firm Cast From Clay found that only 20 percent of Americans trust think tanks.


See also

* Collective intelligence *
Futurists Futurists (also known as futurologists, prospectivists, foresight practitioners and horizon scanners) are people whose specialty or interest is futurology or the attempt to systematically explore predictions and possibilities abou ...
* Internet think tanks * List of think tanks * Lobbying * Mass collaboration * Mass communication * Overton window * School of thought * Strategic studies * TED (conference)


References


Further reading

* Abelson, Donald E. ''Do Think Tanks Matter? Assessing the Impact of Public Policy Institutes.'' Montreal: McGill-Queen's University Press, 2002. * Arin, Kubilay Yado: ''Think Tanks, the Brain Trusts of US Foreign Policy''. Wiesbaden: VS Springer 2013. * Boucher, Stephen, et al., ''Europe and its think tanks; a promise to be fulfilled. An analysis of think tanks specialised in European policy issues in the enlarged European Union'', Studies and Research No 35, October, Paris, Notre Europe, 200
PDF
* Cockett, Richard, ''Thinking the unthinkable: think tanks and the economic counter revolution; 1931–1983'', London: Fontana, 1995. * * Dickson, Paul. "Think Tanks". New York: Ballantine Books, 1972. 397 pages.

* ttps://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/15/AR2005051501035.html Fan, Maureen. "Capital Brain Trust Puts Stamp on the World", ''Washington Post'' (16 May 2005): B01.* Patrick Dixon. '' Futurewise – Six Faces of Global Change'' – issues covered by Think Tanks and methodology for reviewing trends, impact on policy 2003): Profile Books * Kelstrup, Jesper Dahl (2016): The Politics of Think Tanks in Europe. Abingdon & New York: Routledge. * Lakoff, George. ''
Moral Politics ''Moral Politics: How Liberals and Conservatives Think'' is a 1996 book by cognitive linguist George Lakoff. It argues that conservatives and liberals hold two different conceptual models of morality. Conservatives have a strict father model in ...
: What Conservatives Know That Liberals Don't.'' Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1996. * Ladi, Stella. ''Globalisation, Policy Transfer And Policy Research Institutes'', Edward Elgar, 2005. * McGann, James (2006)
Comparative Think Tanks, Politics And Public Policy
', Northampton, MA: Edward Elgar Publishing * Mendizabal, Enrique and Kristen Sample (2009)
Dime a quien escuchas... Think Tanks y Partidos Politicos en America Latina
, ODI/IDEA: Lima * Medvetz, Thomas (2012)

", Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press. * Phelps, Richard P. (2015).

'' New Educational Foundations, 4. * Ranquet, Robert. ''Think Tanks and the National Security Strategy Formulation Process: A Comparison of Current American and French Patterns'', 1997
PDF
* * Smith, James. A. ''The Idea Brokers: Think Tanks and the Rise of the New Policy Elite, New York: The Free Press'', 1991.

* Stone, Diane. Knowledge actors and transnational governance: The private-public policy nexus in the global agora. Palgrave Macmillan, 2013. * * Stone, Diane. ''Capturing the Political Imagination: Think Tanks and the Policy Process'', London: Frank Cass, 1996 * * Stone, Diane, and Andrew Denham, eds. ''Think Tank Traditions: Policy Research and the Politics of Ideas.'' Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2004. * Struyk, Raymond J. ''Managing Think Tanks: Practical Guidance for Maturing Organizations'', Budapest, Local Government and Public Service Reform Initiative Washington DC., Urban Institute 2002 * UNDP – United Nations Development Program. ''Thinking the Unthinkable'', Bratislava, UNDP Regional Bureau for Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States, 2003 {{Authority control