4.04 page 2 What is a Think Tank?

History of Think Tanks

Think tanks in American society grew out of the Progressive Era (1890–1920), and these institutions gained prominence as important players in U.S. policymaking. After World War II, the United States and Western Europe saw an explosion both in the number and activities of their think tanks, particularly in the 1960s and 1970s. These think tanks recommended policy pertaining to the Cold War, foreign aid, and domestic issues such as the health of the economy. They became increasingly specialized and influential in the policymaking process.

This specialization increased after the end of the Cold War in 1990, and think tanks began to research and recommend policy on a variety of highly technical and specialized issues. Their specialized research allowed them to offer expert advice on policy issues to both policymakers and the public.

Defining Think Tanks

Broadly, a think tank can be defined as an “institution that provides public policy research, analysis, and advice.”

Because that's such a broad definition, though, it can include nongovernmental and governmental groups. For example, many interest groups, university research centers, and other civil society organizations conduct policy research and provide advice as components of their primary activities. Similarly, many government agencies, such as the Interstate Commerce Commission, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency, are required to conduct policy research and provide advice to the public.

Most describe think tanks as nonprofit, independent public policy research organizations. Some add that they are private organizations. Others also describe them as nonpartisan and tax-exempt. Other scholars say that think tanks can be either affiliated or independent, as long as they are permanent and not ad hoc institutions.

For our purposes, we will use the following definition from James McGann's The Fifth Estate: Think Tanks, Public Policy, and Governance: