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A new trend, resulting from [[globalization]], is collaboration between policy institutes in different countries. For instance, the [[Carnegie Endowment for International Peace]] operates offices in Washington, D.C., Beijing, Beirut, Brussels and Moscow.<ref name="Singer" />
The Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program (TTCSP) at the [[University of Pennsylvania]] annually rates policy institutes worldwide in a number of categories and presents its findings in the "Global Go-To Think Tanks" rating index.<ref name="Go-To Think Tanks 2010">{{cite web|last=McGann|first=James|title=The Global "Go-To Think Tanks"|url=http://www.fpri.org/research/thinktanks/GlobalGoToThinkTanks2010.pdf|publisher=the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program}}</ref> However, this method of the study and assessment of policy institutes has been criticised by researchers such as Enrique Mendizabal and Goran Buldioski, Director of the Think Tank Fund, assisted by the Open Society Institute.<ref name=Mendizabal>{{cite web|last=Mendizabal|first=Enrique|title=Another year, another ranking of think tanks (and surprise surprise, Brookings is still the best)|url=http://onthinktanks.org/2011/01/21/another-year-another-ranking-of-think-tanks-and-surprise-surprise-brookings-is-still-the-best/|publisher=On Think Tanks|accessdate=28 November 2011}}</ref><ref name=Buldioski>{{cite web|last=Buldioski|first=Goran|title=Mirror, mirror on the wall… tell me who is the best think tank in the world?|url=http://goranspolicy.com/mirror-mirror-wall-tank-world/|publisher=Goran's Musings|accessdate=28 November 2011}}</ref>
Several authors have indicated a number of different methods of describing policy institutes in a way that takes into account regional and national variations. For example from Diane Stone [http://www.adbi.org/discussion-paper/2005/09/09/1356.think.tanks/think.tanks.definitions.development.and.diversification/ Diane Stone (2005)]:
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==Functional method in Latin America==
Research
# Seek political support for policies.
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How a policy institute addresses these largely depends on how they work, their ideology vs. evidence credentials, and the context in which they operate (including funding opportunities, the degree and type of competition they have, their staff, etc.).
This functional method addresses the inherit challenge of defining a think tank. As Simon James said in 1998, "Discussion of think tanks...has a tendency to get bogged down in the vexed question of defining what we mean by ‘think tank’—an exercise that often degenerates into futile semantics.<ref>{{cite web|author=USA |url=http://www.ssrc.org/publications/view/A2A2BA10-B135-DE11-AFAC-001CC477EC70/ |title="Think Tanks as an Emergent Field" — Publication — Social Science Research Council |publisher=Ssrc.org |date= |accessdate=2011-11-02}}</ref> It is better (as in the Network Functions Approach) to describe what the organisation should do. Then the shape of the organisation should follow to allow this to happen. The following framework (based on Stephen Yeo’s description of think tanks’ mode of work) is described in [[Enrique Mendizabal]]'s blog "onthinktanks":
First, policy institutes may work in or based their funding on one or more ways, including:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://onthinktanks.wordpress.com/2010/10/03/on-the-business-model/ |title=on the business model and how this affects what think tanks do « on think tanks |publisher=Onthinktanks.wordpress.com |date= |accessdate=2011-11-02}}</ref>
# Independent research: this would be work done with core or flexible funding that allows the researchers the liberty to choose their research questions and method. It may be long term and could emphasize ‘big ideas’ without direct policy relevance. However, it could emphasize a major policy problem that requires a thorough research and action investment.
# Consultancy: this would be work done by commission with specific clients and addressing one or two major questions. Consultancies often respond to an existing agenda.
# Influencing/advocacy: this would be work done by communications, capacity development, networking, campaigns, lobbying, etc. It is likely to be based on research based evidence emerging from independent research or consultancies.
Second, policy institutes may base their work or arguments on:
# Ideology, values or interests
# Applied, empirical or synthesis research
# Theoretical or academic research
According to the [[National Institute for Research Advancement]], a Japanese policy institute, think tanks are "one of the main policy actors in democratic societies ..., assuring a pluralistic, open and accountable process of policy analysis, research, decision-making and evaluation".<ref>[http://www.nira.go.jp/ice/nwdtt/2005/intro/intro2002.html "Introduction"] NIRA's World Directory of Think Tanks 2002.</ref> A study in early 2009 found a total of 5,465 think tanks worldwide. Of that number, 1,777 were based in the United States and approximately 350 in Washington DC alone.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=4598&page=0 |title=Foreign Policy, January/February, 2009 |publisher=Foreignpolicy.com |date= |accessdate=2011-11-02}}</ref>
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*[[Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria|National Agricultural Technology Institute]]
*[[Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Industrial|National Industrial Technology Institute]]
*[[Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biologia Vegetal|Multidisciplinary Vegetable Biology Institute]]
*[[Leloir Institute]]
*[[Balseiro Institute]]
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[[Fundação Getulio Vargas]] (Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV or GV)) is a Brazilian higher education institution founded on December 20, 1944. It offers regular courses of Economics, Business Administration, Law, Social Sciences and Information technology management. Its original goal was to train people for the country's public- and private-sector management. Other courses began to be offered as the institution grew. It is considered by ''[[Foreign Policy]]'' magazine to be a top-5 "policymaker think-tank" worldwide.
[http://www.pvblica.org.br/EN/ PVBLICA] is an independent think tank established in Florianópolis, Brazil, that engages in policy relevant research and advocacy. PVBLICA works in a stem cell organizational structure, and has as principles innovation, design and protection of diffuse interests.
===Mexico===
IMCO<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imco.org.mx |title=Instituto Mexicano para la Competitividad A.C |publisher=Imco.org.mx |date= |accessdate=2011-11-02}}</ref> – The [[Mexican Institute for Competitiveness]] (''Instituto Mexicano para la Competitividad'' A.C.) is a think-tank that focuses on public-policy research and solutions. IMCO was created in 2004 with the goal of promoting public policies to boost Mexico's competitiveness -defined as a country's capacity to attract and keep investments and talent. IMCO regularly undertakes projects with various international organizations such as the World Bank and its Doing Business report, the OECD and the Inter American Development Bank (IADB).
Fundación Ethos is a non profit, non partisan think tank, committed to the analysis of issues of relevance for Mexico and Latin America’s development, as well as to the evaluation and design of technically sound public policies.
[[CIDAC]]<ref>[http://www.cidac.org/es/index.php] {{Dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref> – The Center of Research for Development (Centro de Investigación para el Desarrollo, Asociación Civil) is a not-for-profit think tank that undertakes research and proposes viable policy options for Mexico's economic and democratic development. The organization seeks to promote open, pluralistic debate pursuing: the Rule of Law & Democracy, market economics, social development, and strengthening Mexico-U.S. relations.
CIDE, acronym for Economic Research and Teaching Center (Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económicas), is one of the most important think tank institutes. The researching lines are the "public policies", "public choice", "democracy", and "economy".
===Venezuela===
Consejo Venezolano de Relaciones Internacionales (COVRI)
Centro Internacional Miranda
Centro de Divulgación del Conocimiento Económico para la Libertad (CEDICE).
==Asian think tanks==
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===[[Malaysia]]===
Most Malaysia think tanks are government or political party related. They focus on defence, politicsm and policies. Notable ones include the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS), Malaysian Strategic Research Centre (MSRC), [http://www.iais.org.my/en/ International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies (IAIS) Malaysia], [[IDEAS (Think Tank)|Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs]] (IDEAS),
===[[Pakistan]]===
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===Belgium===
[[Brussels]] hosts most of the European Institutions, hence a large number of international think tanks are based there. Among them there is the [[Centre for European Policy Studies]] (CEPS), [[Bruegel (institution)|Bruegel]], the [http://www.globalgovernance.eu Global Governance Institute] (GGI), the [[European Policy Centre]] (EPC), [[ThinkYoung]], the [[Friends of Europe]], the Lisbon Council, [[ECIPE|the European Centre of International Political Economy]] (ECIPE), and the [[Centre for the New Europe]] (CNE). Although headquartered in the Netherlands the [[European Centre for Development Policy Management]] (ECDPM) also maintains an office in Brussels. The [[Centre for Economic Policy Research]] (CEPR), though based in London, is a network of researchers based throughout Europe that contributes actively to European policy debates.
===Bulgaria===
Bulgaria has a number of think tanks providing expertise and shaping policies. Most active
*[[Institute of Modern Politics]] – focused on legislation and parliamentary conduct from human rights and [[good governance]] perspective *[http://www.csd.bg Center for the Study of Democracy] – working on anti-corruption and judicial reform issues;
*[http://www.ime.bg Institute on Market Economy] – budget and macroeconomy.
*[http://www.cls-sofia.org Centre for Liberal Strategies] - The research activities of CLS pursue academic depth while at the same time reacting to the current problems of the political, economic and social life in Bulgaria and taking into account the context of today's global world.
===Croatia===
In Croatia, [http://www.innovation-institute.eu Innovation Institute] is a NGO with a mission to develop innovative potential by promoting creativity, innovativeness, unorthodox thinking and questioning existing dogmas. It aims at changing the culture from being focused on redistribution of value to being focused on value creation. The key target segments include: managers, entrepreneurs, policy makers, academics and students.
===Czech Republic===
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===France===
The [[Institut français des relations internationales|French Institute of International Relations]] (IFRI) was founded in 1979 and is the third oldest think tank of western Europe, after the Chatam House (UK, 1920) and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sweden, 1960). The primary goals of IFRI are to develop applied research in the field of public policy related to international issues, and foster interactive and constructive dialogue between researchers, professionals, and opinion leaders. France also hosts the [[European Union Institute for Security Studies]] (EUISS), a [[Paris]]-based [[agency of the European Union]] and think tank researching security issues of relevance for the [[EU]]. There are also a number of pro-business think tanks, notably the Paris-based [http://www.fondationconcorde.com/ Fondation Concorde]. The foundation focuses on increasing the competitiveness of French SME's and aims to revive entrepreneurship in France.
===Germany===
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===Italy===
* [[Bruno Leoni Institute]]
* [[Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei]]
* [[Future Italy]]
* [[Istituto Affari Internazionali]]
* [[Venezie Institute]]
===Latvia===
While think tanks are not widespread in Latvia, as opposed to single issue advocacy organizations, there are several noticeable institutions in the Latvian think tank landscape:
* The oldest think tank in Latvia is [http://liia.lv/en/about-us/ Latvian Institute of International Affairs]. LIIA is a non governmental and non partisan foundation, established in 1992, their research and advocacy mainly focuses on: Latvian foreign policy, Transatlantic relations, European Union policies, including its neighborhood policy and Eastern Partnership, and multilateral and bilateral relations with Russia.
* [http://www.providus.lv/ Centre for Public policy PROVIDUS] is a non governmental and non partisan association, established in 2002. Providus focuses their work (both research and advocacy) on topics especially relevant in transition and post-transition environments and Latvia in particular: good governance; criminal justice policy; tolerance and inclusive public policy and European policy.
There are several think tanks that are established and operate under the auspices of Universities. Such as:
* [http://www.lu.lv/cets/ Centre for European and transition studies] is a think tank working under the auspices of the University of Latvia,- the largest public university in the country. CETS was established in 2000.
* or [http://www.naa.mil.lv/lv/Zinatne/Zinatnu_centra_merkis_un_darbiba.aspx Defense research centre] established in 1992 under the auspices of the National Academy of Defense.
===Netherlands===
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*[[Institute of World Economy and International Relations]]
*[[Moscow State Institute of International Relations]]
*[http://www.cefir.ru/?l=eng Center for Economic and Financial Research]
*[[Institute for US and Canadian Studies]]
*[http://www.svop.ru/ Council on Foreign and Defense Policy] (in Russian)
*[http://www.socpol.ru/eng/about/index.shtml Independent Institute for Social Policy]
===Serbia===
Serbia's best known think thank is the Foundation for the Advancement of Economics - FREN, founded in 2005 by the Belgrade University’s Faculty of Economics. Thanks to the quality and relevance of its research, FREN has established itself as one of the leading economic think tanks in Serbia. FREN's team comprises a network of over 30 associates who regularly and systematically monitor economic trends in Serbia, conduct in-depth research and encourage and facilitate the exchange of information and availability of economic data.
===Slovakia===
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===Spain===
In [[Spain]], think tanks are progressively raising their public profile. There are now at least 30 think tanks in the country.
One of the most influential Spanish think tanks is the [[Elcano Royal Institute]], created in 2001 following the example of the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) in the UK, although it is closely linked to (and receives funding from) the Socialist government in power. More independent but clearly to the left of the political spectrum are the Centro de Investigaciones de Relaciones Internacionales y Desarrollo (CIDOB) founded in 1973; and the Fundación para las Relaciones Internacionales y el Diálogo Exterior (FRIDE) established in 1999 by Diego Hidalgo and main driving force behind projects such as the Club de Madrid, a group of democratic former heads of state and government, or the Foreign Policy Spanish Edition. Former Prime Minister José Maria Aznar presides over the Fundación para el Analisis y los Estudios Sociales ([[FAES]]), a policy institute that is associated with the conservative Popular Party (PP). Also linked to the PP is the Grupo de Estudios Estratégicos (GEES), which is known for its defense- and security-related research and analysis. For its part, the [[Fundación Alternativas]] is independent but close to left-wing ideas. The Socialist Partido Socialista Obrero Español (PSOE) has created a new think tank called the [http://www.fundacionideas.es/en Fundación Ideas]. More specialized think tanks has also emerged in Spain during the past 10 years, like the Future Trends Forum from [http://www.fundacionbankinter.org/en Bankinter Foundation], a unique think tank in Europe, focused on detecting social, economic, scientific and technological trends and analyzing their possible application and impact on current business models.
===Sweden===
The two biggest think tanks in Sweden is the liberal oriented [[Timbro]] and center-left oriented [[Agora]].
Others are [[Sektor3]], [[SNS]], [[FORES]], Arbetarrörelsens Tankesmedja (sociodemocratic oriented), Civitas (Christian democratic oriented) and Cogito (Green oriented).
===Turkey===
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===Ukraine===
[[Razumkov Centre]]
Razumkov Centre is a non-governmental think tank founded in 1994. It carries out research of public policy
* domestic policy;
* state administration;
* economic policy;
* energy;
* land relations;
* foreign policy;
* social policy;
* international and regional security;
* national security and defence.
Razumkov Centre united experts in the fields of economy, energy, law, political sciences, international relations, military security, land relations, sociology, history and philosophy. The Centre has about 35 full-time employees, and over 100 persons work on contractual basis. The Ukrainian-wide public opinion polls of Razumkov Centre Sociological Service are carried out by over 300 interviewers.
Analytical materials of Razumkov Centre are:
* recognized and used by different political forces;
* recognized by scientific and expert community;
* presented on the web sites of the Government, some ministries and departments;
* used as analytical and reference materials during the parliamentary heariings
in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine;
* listed as recommended for the students of Ukrainian universities;
* have high index of quoting in Ukrainian and foreign mass media and scientific literature.
In 2004, on the International Economic Forum in Krynica (Poland) Razumkov Centre was named the best non-governmental organisation of Eastern Europe.
The Razumkov Centre is listed among top-25 think tanks of the Central and Eastern Europe.
The average Centre’s yearly budget is approximately $600,000.
http://www.razumkov.org.ua/eng/pro_centr.php
===United Kingdom===
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Think tanks help shape both foreign and domestic policy. They receive funding from private donors, and members of private organizations. Think tanks may feel more free to propose and debate controversial ideas than people within government. The progressive media watchgroup [[Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting]] (FAIR) has identified the top 25 think tanks by media citations, noting that from 2006 to 2007 the number of citations declined 17%.<ref>FAIR. [http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=3322 The Incredible Shrinking Think Tank].</ref> The FAIR report reveals the ideological breakdown of the citations: 37% conservative, 47% centrist, and 16% liberal. Their data show that the most-cited think tank was the [[Brookings Institution]], followed by the [[Council on Foreign Relations]], the [[American Enterprise Institute]], the [[Heritage Foundation]], and the [[Center for Strategic and International Studies]].
A database of articles released by these organizations can be found here: [http://www.think-bank.org The Think Bank].
===Government===
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===Canada===
Canada has many think tanks (listed in no particular order). Each has their specific areas of interest with some overlaps:
* [http://www.aims.ca/en/home/default.aspx Atlantic Institute for Market Studies]
* [[Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada]]
* Franco-Canadian Research Centre (could not locate website)
* [[Canadian Defence and Foreign Affairs Institute]]
* [http://www.cardus.ca/ Cardus]
* [[C. D. Howe Institute|C.D Howe Institute]]
* [[Centre for International Governance Innovation]]
* [[The Conference of Defence Associations]]
* [[Conference Board of Canada]]
* [[Caledon Institute of Social Policy]]
* [[Council of Canadians]]
* [http://cwf.ca/ Canada West Foundation]
* [[Fraser Institute]]
* [http://www.fcpp.org/ Frontier Centre for Public Policy]
* [[Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives]]
* [http://www.ipe.ualberta.ca/ Institute for Public Economics]
* [http://www.ccsd.ca/ Canadian Council on Social Development]
* [[Institute for Research on Public Policy]]
* [http://www.cerforum.org/ Canadian Employment Research Forum]
* [[International Institute for Sustainable Development]]
* [[International Policy Forum]]
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* [[North-South Institute]]
* [[Canadian International Council]]
* [http://parklandinstitute.ca/ Parkland Institute]
* [http://www.clbc.ca/ Canadian Labour and Business Centre]
* [[Pembina Institute]]
* [[Public Policy Forum]]
* [[Canadian Tax Foundation]]
* [http://www.business.ualberta.ca/Centres/wcer.aspx Western Centre for Economic Research]
* [http://www.ctpl.ca/ Centre for Trade Policy and Law]
Note: The [[Canadian Policy Research Networks]] (CPRN) is a Canadian think-tank that has disbanded.
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One such think tank was [[The Institute of Economic Affairs, Ghana]], which was founded in 1989 when the country was ruled by the [[Provisional National Defence Council]]. The IEA undertakes and publishes research on a range of economic and governance issues confronting [[Ghana]] and [[Sub-Saharan Africa]]. It has also been involved in bringing political parties together to engage in dialogue. In particular it has organised Presidential debates every election year since the [[Ghanaian presidential election, 1996]].
Some of the active think tanks in Ghana include:
* [[Africa Centre for Development & Integrity]] (CeDI-Africa)
* [[IMANI Centre for Policy and Education]]
* [[The Institute of Economic Affairs, Ghana]] (IEA)
* [[The Center for Policy Analysis]] (CEPA)
* [[Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research]](ISSER)
* [[Centre for Democratic Development]] (CDD)
* [[The Integrated Social Development Centre]] (ISODEC)
* [[Civil Society Platform on Oil and Gas]]
===Israel===
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*[[George Lakoff|Lakoff, George]]. ''[[Moral Politics]]: What Conservatives Know That Liberals Don't.'' Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1996.
* Ladi, Stella. ''Globalisation, Policy Transfer And Policy Research Institutes'', Edward Elgar, 2005.
* Mendizabal, Enrique and Kristen Sample (2009) "[http://www.idea.int/publications/thinking_politics/index.cfm?renderforprint=1 Dime a quien escuchas... Think Tanks y Partidos Politicos en America Latina]", ODI/IDEA: Lima
* McGann, James (2006) ''[http://www.e-elgar.co.uk/Bookentry_Main.lasso?id=2756 Comparative Think Tanks, Politics And Public Policy]'', Northampton, MA: Edward Elgar Publishing
* Medvetz, Thomas (2012) "[http://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/T/bo13181062.html Think Tanks in America]", Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.
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==External links==
*[http://onthinktanks.org On Think Tanks: a free resource for think tanks]
*[http://marketplace.publicradio.org/features/under_the_influence/ The Economist Magazine and NPR's Marketplace report: "Under the Influence: Think Tanks and The Money That Fuels Them"]
*[http://fpri.org/research/thinktanks/ Foreign Policy Research Institute, Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program] directory of over 5000 think tanks and research on the role and impact of think tanks.
*[http://www.pbs.org/thinktank/transcript1209.html PBS: ''Think Tank with Ben Wattenberg'': "Thinking About Think Tanks"] – interview with Christopher DeMuth, President of AEI, October 13, 2005
*Enrique Mendizabal (Former head of programme at the [[Overseas Development Institute]] [http://onthinktanks.org/2010/11/09/on-the-definition-of-think-tanks-towards-a-more-useful-discussion/ on the definition of think tanks: towards a more useful discussion] -a new way of studying think tanks that focuses on their functions rather than form.
* [http://www.sas.upenn.edu/irp/documents/2009GlobalGoToReportThinkTankIndex_1.31.2010.02.01_000.pdf 2009 Global Think Tank Rating]
* [http://www.odi.org.uk/resources/details.asp?id=579&title=humanitarian-network-functions-approach Network Functions Approach]
* [http://www.ethos.org.mx Fundación Ethos]
* [http://www.vifindia.org Vivekananda International Foundation]
* [http://www.rakshakfoundation.org Rakshak Foundation]
* [http://www.thinksyncmalta.com ThinkSync Malta]
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