Think Tanks 2023 Review
How do think tanks operate?
Vary in size.
Publish policies on issues that interest them - Adam Smith Institute June 2022 published
'Countdown: reforming the Cabinet Office' which explored how to make the Cabinet Office
more effective (e.g. reducing size of cabinet office by 90%), released this as opposed to
bureaucracy and pro-small gov.
Present their original social or economic research and suggest responses - Joseph Rowntree
Foundation's 2022 UK Poverty Report was a wide-reaching examination of the causes of
poverty.
Publish books - Chatham House (international affairs) publishes 'Insights' series which
explain key international issues today.
Pressure groups - meetings with backbenchers and ministers to promote agendas.
Links with media outlets.
Experts in their fields - work with academics and being asked to give evidence before
select/public bill committees provides respect.
How influential are they?
'more than ever'.
Provide info that gov depts draw on when drafting legislation - top think tank most cited in
policy documentation 2015-2021 = The Joseph Rowntree Foundation, charity researching
social policy, cited in 157 documents.
Directly influence gov policy - Institute for Economic Affairs and Legatum Institute did much
to guide Brexit policy such as decision to withdraw from customs union and single market.
Help form wider priorities of political parties - 2019 C manifesto co-authored by Colville and
Wolf (both part of Centre for Policies Studies), L manifesto influenced by Institute for Public
Policy Research and New Economics Foundation.
Some political catch phrases originate from them - 'levelling up' from Centre for Policy
Studies.
How far do they influence policy vs how far they have influence simply because the gov
views happen to align with theirs?
Over time they can normalise what first seems outlandish - Adam Smith Institute argue for
Hong Kong nationals to have Brit citizenship since 1980s -> eased its introduction in 2021.
Many MPs work for them before entering Parl - 2022, the Institute of Economic Affairs = 4 of
its former employees were at the top of the Johnson gov = Priti Patel, Liz Truss, Dominic
Raab, Kwasi Kwarteng - during Truss' time in office, she held a series of meetings with the
Institute for Economic Affairs.
Clout within the media - some of those that work for them also employed as political
communicators (Colville is director of Centre of Policy Studies and writes regularly for The
Times).
Why are they controversial?
Much of their work takes place in private - unease about unelected bodies what wield power
in not completely visible ways, further amplified the longer the Cs stay in power - Feb 2018
Johnson allowed Initiative for Free Trade to use the Map Room at the Foreign Office for free
for their launch event.
The Atlas Network - especially close to Cs, British and US think tanks, 450+, independent
organisations that cooperate to advance partners' aims, influence and leverage increased;
How do think tanks operate?
Vary in size.
Publish policies on issues that interest them - Adam Smith Institute June 2022 published
'Countdown: reforming the Cabinet Office' which explored how to make the Cabinet Office
more effective (e.g. reducing size of cabinet office by 90%), released this as opposed to
bureaucracy and pro-small gov.
Present their original social or economic research and suggest responses - Joseph Rowntree
Foundation's 2022 UK Poverty Report was a wide-reaching examination of the causes of
poverty.
Publish books - Chatham House (international affairs) publishes 'Insights' series which
explain key international issues today.
Pressure groups - meetings with backbenchers and ministers to promote agendas.
Links with media outlets.
Experts in their fields - work with academics and being asked to give evidence before
select/public bill committees provides respect.
How influential are they?
'more than ever'.
Provide info that gov depts draw on when drafting legislation - top think tank most cited in
policy documentation 2015-2021 = The Joseph Rowntree Foundation, charity researching
social policy, cited in 157 documents.
Directly influence gov policy - Institute for Economic Affairs and Legatum Institute did much
to guide Brexit policy such as decision to withdraw from customs union and single market.
Help form wider priorities of political parties - 2019 C manifesto co-authored by Colville and
Wolf (both part of Centre for Policies Studies), L manifesto influenced by Institute for Public
Policy Research and New Economics Foundation.
Some political catch phrases originate from them - 'levelling up' from Centre for Policy
Studies.
How far do they influence policy vs how far they have influence simply because the gov
views happen to align with theirs?
Over time they can normalise what first seems outlandish - Adam Smith Institute argue for
Hong Kong nationals to have Brit citizenship since 1980s -> eased its introduction in 2021.
Many MPs work for them before entering Parl - 2022, the Institute of Economic Affairs = 4 of
its former employees were at the top of the Johnson gov = Priti Patel, Liz Truss, Dominic
Raab, Kwasi Kwarteng - during Truss' time in office, she held a series of meetings with the
Institute for Economic Affairs.
Clout within the media - some of those that work for them also employed as political
communicators (Colville is director of Centre of Policy Studies and writes regularly for The
Times).
Why are they controversial?
Much of their work takes place in private - unease about unelected bodies what wield power
in not completely visible ways, further amplified the longer the Cs stay in power - Feb 2018
Johnson allowed Initiative for Free Trade to use the Map Room at the Foreign Office for free
for their launch event.
The Atlas Network - especially close to Cs, British and US think tanks, 450+, independent
organisations that cooperate to advance partners' aims, influence and leverage increased;
