Think tank

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.