Exploring Think Tanks offers a comprehensive examination of the complex and evolving role of think tanks. As dramatic changes to the political, economic and social contexts in which they operate unfold, think tanks are experiencing both unprecedented opportunities and new pressures.Enrique Mendizabal is the founder of On Think Tanks, the only global initiative focused on the study and support of think tanks. Drawing on the author's extensive research and experience, and fieldwork in countries such as Peru, Zambia, Indonesia, and Serbia, this book unpacks the conceptual, methodological, and operational challenges in studying think tanks in different contexts. It critically engages with the proliferation of diverse organisations labeled as think tanks — ranging from academic research centers and advocacy networks to NGOs and government institutes — and questions whether adopting Anglo-American models is appropriate or even feasible in vastly different political, social, and economic environments.By exploring various schools of thought — from pluralist, statist, and elitist perspectives to functionalist and normative approaches — the book encourages a nuanced understanding of how think tanks operate within local policy spaces. It highlights how definitions shape expectations and influence funding relationships, and it challenges assumptions about the universal applicability of Western think tank models.This book advocates for context-sensitive definitions and approaches, offering insights that are both practical and theoretically grounded for scholars, policymakers, funders, and practitioners interested in the intersection of knowledge, policy, and development.
