Think tank

Some groups help people solve problems. They study how the world works. They write books and papers. This helps leaders make good choices.

These groups are called think tanks. They study many things. They look at money and rules. They also look at how people live.

People give money to these groups. Some groups work for the government. Other groups work for big businesses.

Long ago, people used different names. Some called them "brain boxes."

Today, there are many think tanks. Most started after 1980. They help us learn new things.

A think tank is a group that does research. They study many topics. These include money, war, and technology. They also look at how people live. These groups write reports and books. Leaders use this work to make rules for society.

Think tanks have a long history. In the 1600s, groups in France shared ideas. In the 1800s, more groups started in London. The first big group in the United States was the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. It started in 1910. It wanted to stop wars.

Many groups started after 1945. During the Cold War, many American groups grew. They helped guide government plans. Today, there are about 6,500 think tanks in the world. Most of them started after 1980. This happened because the world became more connected.

Some groups work for the government. Others work for businesses or political parties. Some groups have a strong set of ideas. They want to push for certain rules. Most think tanks get money from donations or grants. They help us understand our changing world.

A think tank is an organization that studies many important topics. These groups perform research on things like politics, money, and technology. They also look at culture and how the military works. Most think tanks are independent groups. However, some work for governments or political parties. Some are even linked to big businesses. They get money from donations or government grants.

Think tanks work in several specific ways. They write articles and studies to share what they learn. Sometimes they even write drafts of new laws. These ideas are used by many different people. Governments and businesses read their reports to make decisions. Media groups also use this information for news. Even social movements use these studies to help their cause. They can also hold large meetings or conferences.

These organizations have a very long history. Some experts trace their roots back to the 800s. Back then, kings used lawyers to argue about taxes. In the 1600s, the Dupuy brothers started a group in Paris. Another group called the Club de l'Entresol was active in the 1700s. In the 1800s, the Royal United Services Institute formed in London. The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace started in the United States in 1910.

Many things changed for think tanks in the 20th century. During the Second World War, people called them "brain boxes." In 1946, the RAND Corporation was founded as a military planning group. Many more groups grew during the Cold War era. Today, there are about 6,500 think tanks around the world. More than half of them started after 1980. This happened because the world became more connected through globalization.

Think tanks can have many different goals. Some are very academic and focus on deep learning. Others have strong ideas and push for specific rules. Some groups try to influence how people vote. Others want to help experts get government jobs. Because they have different views, they are not always neutral. Some even work to defend the interests of large companies. It is important to know which ideas a group supports.

A think tank, also called a public policy institute, is a specialized organization. These groups perform research on many important topics. They study social policy, political strategy, and economics. They also look at military matters, technology, and culture. Most think tanks are non-governmental organizations. However, some are semi-autonomous agencies within a government. Others are linked to political parties, businesses, or the military. They use their research to influence how society functions.

Think tanks operate through research and advocacy. They publish articles, books, and detailed studies. Sometimes, they even draft specific legislation for policy matters. This information reaches many different audiences. Governments and businesses use these studies to make big decisions. Media organizations use them to report on news. Social movements also use this data to support their causes. Some groups hold public conferences to broadcast their ideas. They also engage with social media to reach more people.

These organizations vary greatly in their goals and methods. Some are highly academic and focus on scholarly work. Others are overtly ideological, meaning they push for specific political views. They can be classified by their independence and funding. Some are autonomous and independent. Others are quasi-independent or affiliated with universities. Some are directly linked to political parties or corporations. Funding sources also change how they act. Individual donations and government grants are common. In the United States, some donors aim to influence Congressional votes. Others want to position experts for future government jobs.

The history of these groups goes back many centuries. Historian Jacob Soll traces their roots to the 16th and 17th centuries. However, evidence shows similar patterns in Europe during the 800s. During that time, kings and emperors hired lawyers to advise them. These lawyers helped monarchs argue about taxes and political rights. In 1620, the Dupuy brothers created a group in Paris. Later, the Club de l'Entresol focused on economics and foreign affairs. In the 1800s, the Royal United Services Institute was founded in London. In 1910, Andrew Carnegie founded the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

The 20th century brought major changes to how we name these groups. Before the 1950s, the phrase "think tank" did not describe organizations. In the 1940s, people often called them "brain boxes." In the 1960s, the term was used for expert meetings and computers. The RAND Corporation, founded in 1946, became a famous example. By the 1970s, the term became more specific to research institutes. During the Cold War, many Western think tanks helped guide government policy. Since 1991, more institutes have appeared in non-Western regions.

Today, the number of think tanks is very large. As of October 2025, there are about 6,500 think tanks globally. Some reports suggest there may be over 11,000 institutions worldwide. Two-thirds of all current think tanks were established after 1970. More than half were created after 1980. This growth happened because of globalization and the end of the Cold War. Many new groups appeared in Africa, Eastern Europe, and Southeast Asia. The median think tank publishes 138 articles every year. Some very active groups, like the Brookings Institution, publish thousands of reports.

Social scientists study how think tanks affect the world. Some theorists see them as "knowledge actors" in a large network. They connect academics, the media, and political groups. This can create a "discourse coalition," which is a group with a common aim. For example, some argue they helped deregulate industries in the 1970s. Other theories look at how an "elite" group might influence these institutes. This involves analyzing the social backgrounds of the people who work there. While some see this as a way to bypass politics, others say it ignores the power of new ideas.