How think tanks can adapt to a contested global and domestic environment

Think tanks have long played a role in policymaking in many countries, democratic or otherwise. This role has often been as a conduit between more academic work and the policy community, as well as coming up with more innovative and politically feasible policy solutions to current challenges.

In a changing world with higher levels of conflict and tension, and endemically high levels of uncertainty and risk, the role of think tanks will also have to change. Inevitably, think tanks committed to democracy will increasingly become political actors, facing political opponents in the think tank world and beyond. They will also have to find ways to better defend themselves from those who seek to influence their direction, whether these actors are within the liberal democracy camp or not.

The role of think tanks will also become broader. They need to be engaged in framing the debates and in defining and stretching the decision-making space. They will be increasingly involved in global  diplomacy and  drawn into the global battle of narratives. Their work also needs to focus much more on the global commons and big picture questions to address the scale and scope of current challenges.

It remains to be seen whether think tanks can rise to this challenge. The heterogeneity of the sector and the lack of common action are complicating factors. But the key is long-term funding without strings attached, which is vital for think tanks to fulfil their new role, but which is becoming ever more scarce.




Fabian Zuleeg is Chief Executive and Chief Economist at the European Policy Centre.

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