think tank
Let an agent explain think tanks and their kinds, relay how they are funded, governed and evaluated from scholarly and transparency sources, describe party and regional forms, and distinguish think tanks from lobbying firms, universities and advocacy groups.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent explain think tanks and their kinds, relay how they are funded, governed and evaluated from scholarly and transparency sources, describe party and regional forms, and distinguish think tanks from lobbying firms, universities and advocacy groups.
An organisation that conducts research and advocacy on public policy, economics, security, science or social issues to inform government, business and public debate, ranging from independent and academic institutes to party-affiliated policy research institutes and European political foundations, networks such as the Jacques Delors think tanks, reflection groups, and specialised bodies such as China-focused think tanks; think tanks vary in independence, funding transparency and ideology, and are ranked and studied for their influence.
What it is for: Informing policy through research and advocacy.
It can be explain kinds and roles; relay funding and governance; describe party and regional forms; distinguish from lobbyists and universities.
Distinguishing features
Policy focus
Research and advocacy mix
Varied independence
Influence on debate
What it looks like
Not a visible object; research organisations publishing reports and events.
Physical character
think tanks worldwide: over 11000 count - Global Go To Think Tank Index 2020
How it is recognised
Policy research and advocacy organisation
Independent, academic, party-affiliated and government think tanks; European political foundations; reflection groups; networks
Lobbying firms advocate for clients; universities teach and research broadly; advocacy groups campaign
Related models
is a kind of - in registry terms
is a kind of - in registry terms
is a kind of - in registry terms
influences - through research and advocacy
In practice
Families and kinds
independent and non-partisan think tanks
academic and university-affiliated institutes
party-affiliated policy research institutes and European political foundations
government-linked think tanks
advocacy think tanks
networks such as the Jacques Delors think tanks and reflection groups
regional and country-focused think tanks such as China-focused institutes
Standards and regulation
Non-profit and charity law
Lobbying and transparency registers
EU regulation of European political foundations
Funding disclosure standards such as Transparify ratings
Failure modes and hazards
Opaque funding and conflicts of interest
Presenting advocacy as neutral research
Confusing think tanks with lobbyists
Registry aliases misfiling media companies
Also called
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Understand What a think tank is.
Definition.
Definition
Definition and kinds.
Definition
Definition.
- What is a think tank, and what kinds exist from independent institutes to party foundations and reflection groups? definition
- Is the question about think tanks in general, a specific organisation or a lobbying or advocacy group? boundary
Roles
Roles.
Roles
Roles.
- How do think tanks research, publish, convene and advise? definition
- Which entry fits the specific think tank? action
Govern Funding and governance.
Regulation.
Funding
Funding and transparency.
Funding
Funding.
- How are think tanks funded, and how is funding transparency assessed? provenance
- Which references are standard? provenance
Regulation
Regulation.
Regulation
Regulation.
- What laws and registers apply to think tanks and European political foundations? provenance
- Which entry fits European political foundation? action
Evaluate Influence and evaluation.
Attribution.
Influence
Influence.
Influence
Influence.
- How do scholars assess think tank influence and independence, with positions attributed? provenance
- Is the presentation neutral? boundary
Rankings
Rankings.
Rankings
Rankings.
- What rankings exist, and what are their limits? provenance
- Which sources are cited? provenance
Context History and regions.
Context.
History
History.
History
History.
- How did think tanks develop from early twentieth-century institutes to global networks? provenance
- Which entry fits the history of think tanks? action
Regions
Regional landscapes.
Regions
Regions.
- How do think tank landscapes differ in the United States, Europe, China and elsewhere? provenance
- Which entry fits the specific region? action
What the second pass must settle
- Should European political foundation be a separate entry?
- How should transparency sources be linked?
- The registry entry has merged aliases naming networks and unrelated organisations; should they be split off?