The Challenges and Opportunities Facing Think Tanks In Western Europe

February 17th, 2021 8:30-9:30am EST

We are pleased to invite you to the 2021 Virtual State of Think Tanks Western Europe Mapping Workshop hosted by the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program (TTCSP) on February 17, 2021 at 8:30 am - 9:30 am EST.

The Wetern Europe Think Tank Landscape Mapping Workshop is intended to present the findings of the TTCSP comprehensive analysis of a large and representative sample of think tanks in Western Europe. The study included a detailed literature review, exhaustive data collection process and an assessment of the trends and challenges facing Western European think tanks. The study utilizes the data gathered on over 1,500 think tanks by the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program (TTCSP) during 2020 to provide new refined estimates for the number of think tanks in the region and analyze a sample of think tanks across six key think tank characteristics. Our empirical analysis reveals a landscape defined by the wide resource disparities between institutions and strongly confirms previous claims about the growth pattern of think tanks in the region. These observations raise questions about the current definition of think tanks in Western Europe and around the world. Specifically, if the term think tank accurately and effectively captures the full range of activities that are currently conducted by public policy research, analysis and engagement institutions. Looking toward the future of Western European think tanks, we conclude that trends, including a slowing institutional growth rate, the degradation of the trust in expertise, especially at the EU level, and shocks brought on by COVID-19 will require institutions to adapt and develop new approaches to policy research and advocacy.

This is one in a series of workshops that will present the data, research analysis of the state on think tanks in key countries and regions of the world including but not limited to: Western Europe, Africa, Middle East and North Africa, Central and Eastern Europe, India, Vietnam, China, Portugal, Brazil, Korea and Japan.