From Generation to Generation

This study offers a series of reflections on the evolution of think tanks in Europe and the United States. In addition to exploring how these organizations have come to place a higher premium on political advocacy than rigorous policy research, the article raises a series of questions about how the...

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Main Author: Donald E. Abelson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: OpenEdition 2019-12-01
Series:International Review of Public Policy
Subjects:
Online Access:http://journals.openedition.org/irpp/672
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author Donald E. Abelson
author_facet Donald E. Abelson
author_sort Donald E. Abelson
collection DOAJ
description This study offers a series of reflections on the evolution of think tanks in Europe and the United States. In addition to exploring how these organizations have come to place a higher premium on political advocacy than rigorous policy research, the article raises a series of questions about how the preoccupation of think tanks with their global rankings, and their desire to inundate stakeholders with quick response policy research, can have serious implications for how policymakers formulate public policy. In the end, this study argues that for think tanks to serve the public interest, they need to engage in scientific research that adheres to proper and verifiable academic standards. Otherwise, these organizations will join the growing chorus of voices whose only interest is to serve their own institutional goals and those of their benefactors.
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spelling doaj.art-5d4779ee9f4a4b68bf1268a932dda5822022-12-21T19:05:49ZengOpenEditionInternational Review of Public Policy2679-38732019-12-01123824910.4000/irpp.672From Generation to GenerationDonald E. AbelsonThis study offers a series of reflections on the evolution of think tanks in Europe and the United States. In addition to exploring how these organizations have come to place a higher premium on political advocacy than rigorous policy research, the article raises a series of questions about how the preoccupation of think tanks with their global rankings, and their desire to inundate stakeholders with quick response policy research, can have serious implications for how policymakers formulate public policy. In the end, this study argues that for think tanks to serve the public interest, they need to engage in scientific research that adheres to proper and verifiable academic standards. Otherwise, these organizations will join the growing chorus of voices whose only interest is to serve their own institutional goals and those of their benefactors.http://journals.openedition.org/irpp/672think tankspublic policypolitical advocacyUnited StatesEurope
spellingShingle Donald E. Abelson
From Generation to Generation
International Review of Public Policy
think tanks
public policy
political advocacy
United States
Europe
title From Generation to Generation
title_full From Generation to Generation
title_fullStr From Generation to Generation
title_full_unstemmed From Generation to Generation
title_short From Generation to Generation
title_sort from generation to generation
topic think tanks
public policy
political advocacy
United States
Europe
url http://journals.openedition.org/irpp/672
work_keys_str_mv AT donaldeabelson fromgenerationtogeneration