Think tanks

Abstract

Think tanks first proliferated in Anglo-American countries during the mid-twentieth century but by the twenty-first century had become prevalent throughout the world. These organizations vary dramatically in size, legal status, policy concerns, and organizational structure but share a mission to inform policy, educate political elites, and shape decisions. The political influence and social impact of policy institutes waxes and wanes across time and policy issue, as well as from one political culture to the next. They have become key informants to policy making at local, national, and transnational levels of governance.