The ‘Policy Research’ Knowledge Elite and Global Policy Processes

Abstract

During the 1990s there was a boom in think-tank numbers around the world. International organizations such as the World Bank and the United Nations have joined foundations and aid agencies in promoting new think-tanks, strengthening existing ones, and sponsoring transnational networks. With generous foundation and corporate support, as well as government contract research opportunities, the proliferation of think-tanks has been especially noticeable in the USA, where the constitutional architecture and weak party system are said to provide a peculiarly conducive environment. Hellebust (1997) estimates that the USA now contains up to 1,200 think-tanks. Around 600 have been identified in western Europe (Day 2000), although there are undoubtedly more. A more specialized directory of ‘strategic studies centres’ world-wide listed over 300 organizations (IISS 1998). The 1999 Global Development Network (GDN) convened around 500 economic policy think-tanks and other knowledge institutions. A more elite gathering — Global ThinkNet — brings together around 30–40 directors of the world’s leading policy institutes. The International Center for Economic Growth (www.iceg.org) acts as a ‘clearing-house’ for the work produced by hundreds of market economy think-tanks that it counts as its ‘member institutes’ in 117 countries.